Open Lab Evening: Into the Foodieverse

The food4future Open Lab evening takes you on a journey into conceivable food worlds. Immersive technologies allow you to take a collective look into this future. You’ll experience and shape new spaces with all your senses—including taste. All future-shapers are warmly welcome!

Keynote: Food transformation—what might it look like?

Food affects everyone—and has far-reaching consequences for human health and that of the planet. But the connections are complex: How do eating habits influence global agricultural and food systems? Will people have to say goodbye to what they’re used to? And should Europe be better able to feed and supply itself rather than import food?

Dr. Ferike Thom (Thünen Institute of Agricultural Economics, Braunschweig) will provide an in-depth keynote.

Digital Tasting Station & Mixed Reality

The algae reactor is enhanced with mixed reality: Additional layers of information reveal how innovative cultivation systems work and what role technology and design play in the food of the future. With a simple gesture, you can immerse yourself in this virtual space and experience how food production can be reimagined. The digital extension is designed and guided by Marino Gabel (HTW Berlin).

But it’s not just about what we produce—it’s also about how we eat. Edgar Weiss and Emma Schlegel (HTW Berlin) will show you what role communal cooking and dining formats like community kitchens could play in the future and how new foods—such as insects—can become part of our diet in surprising and practical ways.

Moderation & Introduction

-> Prof. Dr. Monika Schreiner, Jette Berend, and Leonhard Meitner from the Leibniz Institute for Horticultural Sciences (IGZ) will jointly introduce the central questions and facilitate the dialogue between today’s production and consumption decisions and the food worlds of tomorrow.

Workshop Leader:

-> Dr. Ferike Thom from the Thünen Institute of Agricultural Economics in Braunschweig studied economics and agricultural economics in Berlin and earned her doctorate in Göttingen. In her research, she examines how dietary behavior relates to the ecological and economic impacts of agriculture.

-> Marino Gabel, a research associate at HTW Berlin, is part of the Creative Media research group at the Research and Continuing Education Center for Culture and Informatics. His research focuses on mixed reality, virtual and augmented reality, gamification, interactive systems, and multi-user virtual environments.

-> Prof. Dr. Monika Schreiner heads the Plant Quality & Food Safety program at the Leibniz Institute for Horticultural Sciences (IGZ), is an honorary professor at the University of Hannover, and serves as coordinator of the food4future consortium.

-> Jette Berend is a project manager at food4future with a focus on science communication and new communication formats.

-> Leonhard Meitner is a project staff member at food4future with a focus on science communication, particularly in the context of economic, environmental, and climate policy.

Information

-> Venue: Futurium Lab Workshop

-> Admission: free

-> Event language: German

-> Maximum number of participants: 20 people

-> Requirements: No prior knowledge required

-> Recommended age: 16 and up

Tickets

-> You need a free ticket for this event.

-> Due to limited seating, only one ticket per person can be booked.

IN GERMAN