Long Night of Science 2026 at the Dahlem Research Campus

Visitors can expect a wide range of activities spanning research, museum practice, art, music, and hands-on activities.

The focus is on behind-the-scenes insights into scientific and museum work: from current research projects to the examination of collection items from colonial contexts, and collaborative approaches in museum work.

The program is complemented by guided tours, workshops, information stations, films, and live events that bring science to life from different perspectives.

PROGRAM AT THE DAHLEM RESEARCH CAMPUS

Information Stations and Insights

5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Plaster Casting Workshop

Insights into the work of the plaster cast workshop as a “repository” of cultural heritage. The exhibition demonstrates how historical plaster casts preserve originals and their significance for research, restoration, and dealing with losses.

Collections from Colonial Contexts (IFM)

The Institute for Museum Research presents the Germany Portal for Collection Items from Colonial Contexts. Brief presentations explain the portal’s development and the partner institutions involved. Visitors will gain a live insight into search functions and data sets. The focus is on transparency, accountability, and participation in dealing with colonial collections.

Project Station “The Collaborative Museum” (CoMuse)

The project station invites visitors to learn about international CoMuse projects. It showcases collaborative working methods between cultural practitioners and museum staff that open up new perspectives on collections and demonstrate how museums can be reimagined together.

Guided Tours

5:45 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:45 PM | Duration: 20 min.

Pop-up Tours: “Story Material – New Perspectives on Literature”

Short, interactive guided tours through the exhibition. Selected objects take center stage, demonstrating how objects tell stories and open up new perspectives on literature beyond the book. Visitors are actively involved in the interpretation.

5:15 PM | 6:45 PM | Duration: 60 min.

Science Meets Wall Painting

In the Asian Art Display Depot, conservators provide insight into scientific analyses of ancient murals. How do microscopy, spectroscopy, and other techniques help us understand and preserve centuries-old works of art? Discover fascinating details and learn how research prepares the ground for restoration.

Please note: Limited number of participants. Please register.

5:30 PM | 7:00 PM | Duration: 60 min.

A Look Behind the Scenes: The Move to the Humboldt Forum and the Restoration Street in Dahlem

During the guided tour of the Restoration Street, visitors will get an exclusive look inside one of the restorers’ workshops. How were the restorers involved in the move from Dahlem to the Humboldt Forum, and how were thousands of objects prepared for the move and the exhibition? Exciting insights and expert explanations await you.

Please note: Limited number of participants. Please register.

Workshops

6:45 PM | Duration: 60 min.

Mats from the Swahili CoastMats from the Lamu Archipelago (Kenya’s northern coast) are the focus of this workshop. Using reproductions and archival material, we will explore how patterns, meanings, and colonial contexts can be uncovered. Together, we will bring to light the stories, relationships, and life stages reflected in the objects.

Please note: Limited number of participants. Please register.

5:00 PM | Duration: 180 min.

Graphic Novel

In this workshop with Reem Helou, participants will develop their own visual stories based on personal experiences, memories, or themes. Using simple drawing techniques, they will create short graphic novels that translate thoughts, moods, and experiences into visual form.

Please note: Limited number of participants. Please register.

Starting at 5:00 PM LEGO® Makerspace – Museum of the Future

Creative building and programming with LEGO® Education. From robotics to their own visions of a museum of the future, visitors can experiment and create. Drop-in anytime.

Films, Talks, and Live Formats

5:00 PM | Duration: 60 min.

Films: Rethinking Museums (CoMuse)

Film program about the “The Collaborative Museum” fellowship of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art. International projects showcase new, multi-perspective approaches to collections as well as issues of collaboration, transparency, and decolonization.

7:00 PM | Duration: 60 min.

Discussion: Pop Music and Research

Insights into pop music and pop culture in museum collections with Prof. Veit Erlmann. The focus is on research recordings from Southern Africa and their digital processing.

8:00 PM | Duration: 120 min.

Live podcast

“The Lightness of Science” with Claudia Linzel, Patricia Rahemipour, artist Asta Gröting, and a surprise guest.

A conversation about the intersections of science, art, and institutions—live in front of an audience.

Evening program

Starting at 10:00 PM

Documentary film: Archive of the Future by Joerg Burger in the basement cinema

Like a guided tour, ARCHIVE OF THE FUTURE explores the institution, particularly those places that remain invisible during a regular museum visit: Between taxidermy, digitization, and research, a fascinating world of craftsmanship, science, and history unfolds. Observant and compelling, the film shows how knowledge is created—and reexamines the role of humanity. The documentary portrays the museum as a world in a state of constant change.

Reading and Performance: “People in the Museum” with actress Julia Malik on the ground floor

Experience actress Julia Malik live as she recites and brings to life fascinating texts from the book *People in the Museum*—a collection of stories and images—a multifaceted work full of moving narratives and picture stories from the world of museums. Refreshing drinks and cocktails will be served—an evening of literature, drama, and enjoyment that draws you right into the heart of the action.

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