Jul 06, 2026
"oha!" Science Festival on July 11 at the Zittauer Markt—right in front of the IHI!
Science Mile Brings Future Technologies to Zittau’s Market Square and Invites Visitors to Explore
For several years now, Lusatia has been emerging as a major hub for modern research—ranging from artificial intelligence to sustainable materials and radio astronomy. But what lies behind these projects? Will we be able to use 3D-printed bicycles in the future, have robots carry out construction work, or replace plastic with natural fibers? And how do technologies that make our energy supply more sustainable actually work?
Answers to these and many other questions will be provided by the “Oha! – Adventure in Science!” science fair, which will take place on July 11, 2026, as part of the Zittau City Festival. With support from the Saxon Agency for Structural Development (SAS), the partners of the Hi!Lusatia network will transform the market square and the area in front of St. John’s Church into an open-air laboratory for the whole family.
Following its successful premiere in Görlitz (photo on the left) last year, the science fair is now making its first stop in Zittau, bringing the latest research, innovative technologies, and exciting topics of the future right into the heart of the city festival, directly in front of the IHI building!
Hands-On Science
At numerous hands-on stations, children, teens, and adults can experience research up close. Visitors can conduct their own experiments, learn about new technologies, and talk with scientists. Complex topics such as sustainable technologies, automation, digitalization, and astronomical discoveries are presented in a way that’s easy to understand and engaging.
The diverse offerings from the participating institutions demonstrate just how exciting science can be: At the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) booth, visitors can test the electrical conductivity of pencils, assemble molecules using analog or digital methods, and playfully discover just how internationally oriented research in Lusatia already is.
The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences also promises hands-on technology. In its mobile learning center, 3D printers, laser cutters, drones, and robotic arms invite visitors to try them out and explore
. A small heat pump from the DLR_School_Lab at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences makes future technologies related to heat supply understandable and tangible. This turns research into an experience for the whole family.
The program is complemented by an exhibition on the career opportunities arising from structural change in Lusatia. It highlights the new training, academic, and career paths emerging as a result of research institutions and innovative companies establishing themselves in the region.
Research, Education, and Future Prospects
The Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research (ZLSB) at TU Dresden also demonstrates how closely science, education, and regional development are intertwined. With the opening of a new regional office for teacher education in Zittau, schools in eastern Saxony and TU Dresden will be even more closely connected—promoting shorter distances, strong partnerships, and better educational opportunities in the region.
Through the “High-Quality Career Change” program, more than 1,000 career changers have already been qualified for the teaching profession through a scientifically sound and practice-oriented approach. Alongside the teacher education program launched at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the winter semester of 25/26, this program makes an important contribution to meeting Saxony’s demand for teachers and highlights new pathways into the teaching profession at the local level.
Numerous partners from academia and research are involved
Participants in the Science Mile include, among others:
• 4transfer
• Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS)
• German Center for Astrophysics
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)
• Saxony Cooperative State University
• Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU)
• Hi!Lusatia e.V.
• Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences
• IBZ St. Marienthal
• International Institute (IHI) Zittau at TU Dresden
• Siemens Energy
• Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz
• Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research (ZLSB)
“Oha—that stands for ‘Upper Lusatia Knows Its Stuff,’” explains Lisa Bail of the Hi!Lusatia e.V. association and organizer of the event. “We want to spark curiosity, make research visible, and show what exciting developments are taking place right on our doorstep.
Science shapes the future of our region—and that’s exactly what we want to bring to life together.”
Shaping the Future Together
The Saxon Agency for Structural Development (SAS) is guiding the transformation of Saxony’s lignite mining regions and supporting regional stakeholders in developing and implementing projects for the future. As a supporter of the Science Mile, it helps highlight the opportunities presented by structural change and promotes dialogue between science, business, and society.
An Invitation to Marvel, Discover, and Get Involved
The event will take place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the market square and in front of St. John’s Church in Zittau. Admission is free.
The Science Mile will be opened in the presence of State Secretary Prof. Dr. Heike Graßmann, Mayor Zenker, and representatives of the participating partner institutions.
“Oha! – Adventure in Science!” is organized in cooperation with the Saxon Agency for Structural Development and the City of Zittau.
For more information: www.abenteuer-wissenschaft.de