Social Impact Festival @ TU Braunschweig Getting to know and actively shaping social and innovative projects together
The Social Impact Festival will take place for the first time on 5 June 2024. The festival aims to bring together technology-oriented research and social issues at Technische Universität Braunschweig. Ideas will be collected, discussed and implemented together with students, lecturers and partners from practice. Lectures and workshops on the topic of Social Innovation will provide plenty of opportunities to get to know each other, exchange ideas and participate. A colourful supporting programme around the Architecture Pavilion will create a summer festival atmosphere.
A colourful supporting programme around the Architecture Pavilion creates a festival atmosphere at the event. Photo credit: Sandkasten/TU Braunschweig
Social and socio-technical projects and innovations that shape and drive social, ecological and societal change are created in particular at a technical university. Start-ups, research projects and (student) initiatives are working to address the most pressing social issues of our time.
Programme outlook
Social Impact
Photo credit: Transfer Service/ Knowledge Transfer Department/TU Braunschweig
Dr. Isabel Roessler (Centre for Higher Education Development, CHE) and Tobias Henkel (Chairman of the Board of the Evangelische Stiftung Neuerkerode) will introduce the topic in the Architecture Pavilion, and various start-ups and research projects at TU Braunschweig will present themselves. Dr. Laila Al-Halabi Frenzel of Abcalis GmbH, for example, will give an insight into the work of a successful biotech start-up and research into antibody production without animal experiments or animal components. Joschua Gosslar, a researcher at the Institute of Structural Design in the field of digital manufacturing with earth, talks about the potential of new manufacturing processes in revitalising millennia-old building techniques such as rammed-earth construction. Sarah Brauns, values enthusiast and founder of HeartJob, talks about how she came up with the idea for her start-up and how she brings together companies and employees with matching values. Matthias Hüttmann, co-founder and lead designer of VRalive GmbH, gives an insight into the transition from a research project to a social impact startup. He will share his experience in developing virtual reality experiences for senior citizens. Afterwards, the audience will be able to immerse themselves in virtual reality.
The Social Impact Meetup of (student) initiatives will take place on the first floor of the Architecture Pavilion. The Protohaus, the Erasmus Student Network, ArbeiterKind.de, Engineers without Borders and the AStA, among others, will present themselves and their projects.
Participatory theme tents
In the courtyard of the Historic Main Building, participants can work with a moderation team in three participatory theme tents to develop strategies and actions to enable and implement social impact and innovation projects. A Design Thinking course will explore sustainability and engagement, socio-technology and support services and needs. Participation is possible at any time.
Greens & Coffee
Create your own urban jungle: A workshop to create a closed ecosystem in glass. Participants will be able to plant individual laboratory test tubes for their home or office. Planting materials and coffee will be provided free of charge. The workshop is also suitable for children.
Festival atmosphere with Roundnet, Foodtruck & Music Lounge
The Roundnet Lions from Eintracht Braunschweig will be on site with two coaches and provide some sporting entertainment. There will also be a music lounge for a cosy break and a food truck to provide refreshments. In the evening, the Social Impact Festival will be rounded off with a party to the sounds of the Feierabend Beats.
The festival is part of the SQM project “tu4society” and is supported by the Braunschweig University Association. All students and staff of TU Braunschweig, interested parties and partners are cordially invited to the Social Impact Festival to familiarise themselves with the topic and to get creative together.