{"id":3,"date":"2022-12-21T10:20:38","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T13:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/xlabstiftung.vwebfile-test.gwdg.de\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-04-16T08:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T08:19:58","slug":"news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/xlab-stiftung.de\/en\/news\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction project"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEWS<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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April 16, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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XLAB Foundation Opens New Community Center in G\u00f6ttingen-Weende<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The XLAB Foundation officially opened its new meeting center with residential wing<\/strong> in G\u00f6ttingen-Weende with a ceremony on April 15, 2026<\/strong>. The new building expands the XLAB Experimental Laboratory with seminar rooms, accommodation, and communal areas, thereby creating new opportunities for multi-day courses, science camps, university seminars, and other educational programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new building will create a space where education, social interaction, and scientific exchange<\/strong> come together in a unique way. In addition to seminar rooms, the building features living quarters, common areas, a dining room, and a large catering kitchen. This will make it possible to host multi-day events directly connected to XLAB in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The completion of the community center marks the successful conclusion of a long planning and construction process. For many years, there had been a desire to expand the XLAB Experimental Laboratory to include spaces that would facilitate not only scientific work but also communal living and learning in a single location. Until now, there had been a lack of suitable accommodation and communal spaces, particularly for programs lasting several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the opening ceremony, the XLAB Foundation welcomed numerous guests from the academic, political, and civic communities. Opening remarks were delivered by Falko Mohrs<\/strong>, Lower Saxony\u2019s Minister of Science and Culture; Prof. Dr. Axel Sch\u00f6lmerich<\/strong>, President of the Georg-August University of G\u00f6ttingen; and Petra Broistedt<\/strong>, Mayor of the City of G\u00f6ttingen. In their remarks, they emphasized the importance of XLAB and the new meeting center for the educational and scientific landscape. It became clear that the facility serves as a hub for fostering young talent, scientific exchange, and collaboration far beyond G\u00f6ttingen.\n\nTranslated with DeepL.com (free version)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another highlight of the event was the presentation by Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Neher<\/strong>, Chair of the XLAB Foundation. In her talk, she described the long and often difficult history of the construction project, which was marked by challenges, design changes, and financing issues over many years. This made the joy all the greater that the community center has now been successfully completed and opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the new building, a long-held goal is becoming a reality: a place where young people from different regions and countries can not only learn together, but also engage in conversation, spend time together, and experience science as a vibrant, unifying experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

XLAB is one of Germany\u2019s largest student laboratories for STEM subjects \u2014physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science<\/strong>. As a multi-award-winning extracurricular learning center, it offers students hands-on experimental courses, in-depth programs for particularly interested young people, and professional development for teachers. The new community center will significantly expand these opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new building is primarily intended for XLAB students, but is also available for seminars, workshops, and retreats organized by researchers from the research institutes on the science campus. It thus provides the physical space needed to bring learning, socializing, and collaboration even closer together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For G\u00f6ttingen as a hub of education and science, the meeting center sends an important signal. The combination of an experimental laboratory, seminar rooms, and lodging opens up new possibilities for innovative event formats and reinforces G\u00f6ttingen\u2019s reputation as a center of scientific excellence and effective support for young researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 24, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The XLAB Foundation is opening its new community center with residential quarters<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

A new venue for education, socializing, and scientific exchange in G\u00f6ttingen<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On April 15, 2026<\/strong>, the XLAB Foundation will officially open its new community center with residential quarters<\/strong> in G\u00f6ttingen-Weende. The new building expands the XLAB Experimental Laboratory with seminar rooms, living spaces, and common areas, thereby creating new opportunities for multi-day courses, science camps, university seminars, and other educational programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new building will create a space where science education, exchange, and collaborative learning are closely intertwined. In addition to seminar rooms, the building includes living quarters, common areas, a dining room, and a large catering kitchen. This will, for the first time, provide the ideal conditions for hosting multi-day programs in direct connection with the XLAB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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XLAB Communication Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The completion of the community center marks the successful conclusion of a long planning and construction process that began as far back as 2006<\/strong>. It became clear early on that the XLAB Experimental Laboratory was reaching its limits due to high demand and its national and international reach. Until now, there has been a lack of suitable accommodation and meeting spaces, particularly for programs lasting several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new community center marks the realization of a long-held goal: a place where young people from different regions and countries can not only learn together, but also engage in conversation, spend time together, and experience science as a vibrant, unifying experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

XLAB is one of Germany\u2019s largest student laboratories for STEM subjects \u2014physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science<\/strong>. As a multi-award-winning extracurricular learning center, it offers student groups hands-on experimental courses, in-depth programs for particularly interested young people, and professional development for teachers. The XLAB combines research-oriented experimentation with cutting-edge science, thereby providing direct access to scientific questions for many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new community center will significantly expand these opportunities. While the center is primarily intended for XLAB students, it is also available for seminars, workshops, and retreats organized by researchers from the scientific research institutes on the science campus. It provides the physical space needed to bring learning, socializing, and intellectual exchange even closer together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new building also sends an important signal for G\u00f6ttingen as a center of education and science. The combination of experimental laboratories, seminar rooms, and overnight accommodations opens up new possibilities for innovative event formats and reinforces G\u00f6ttingen\u2019s reputation as a hub of scientific excellence and effective support for young researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The implementation of this construction project presented significant challenges over many years. Financing issues and the need for redesigns repeatedly necessitated adjustments. This makes the joy of seeing the project successfully completed all the greater. The project was significantly shaped and driven forward with great perseverance by Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Neher<\/strong>, founder and chair of the XLAB Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWith the Community Center, a long-held dream is becoming a reality. Here, we are creating a place where young people can experience science not only in the lab, but also through interaction with one another and with researchers. For us, education, community, and collaborative thinking are inextricably linked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Neher<\/strong>, Chair of the XLAB Foundation<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Opening Ceremony on April 15, 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Numerous guests from the academic, political, and civic communities are expected to attend the official opening on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.<\/strong>. Opening remarks will be delivered by Falko Mohrs<\/strong>, Lower Saxony\u2019s Minister of Science and Culture, Prof. Dr. Axel Sch\u00f6lmerich<\/strong>, President of the University of G\u00f6ttingen, and Petra Broistedt<\/strong>, Mayor of the City of G\u00f6ttingen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following this, Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Neher<\/strong> will give a lecture titled \u201cFrom the XLAB Experimental Laboratory to the XLAB Meeting Center\u201d<\/strong>. A reception and a tour of the new building are scheduled to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Event location<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

XLAB Begegnungszentrum mit Wohntrakt<\/strong>
Stumpfe Eiche 20
37077 G\u00f6ttingen-Weende<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Press Contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

XLAB Stiftung<\/strong>
Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Neher
E-Mail: eneher1@gwdg.de<\/a>
Telefon: +49 (0) 551 79 77 47 \u2013 16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bildmaterial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pressefotos stehen hier zur Verf\u00fcgung.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 29, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights from the 2026 Science Festival<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

At the event, the presentations spanned a wide range of topics, from \u201cnanometers\u201d to \u201csociety\u201d: from novel light microscopes that break through the classical resolution limit, to the rapid evolution of RNA viruses and the data-driven tracking of variants, to the cosmic formation of heavy elements, and finally to the question of how the European dream has changed historically and what threatens it today. The humanities lecture took place in the auditorium building of Georg-August University of G\u00f6ttingen, while the natural sciences presentations were held in the new meeting center of the XLAB Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Neher, chair of the XLAB Foundation and organizer of the XLAB Science Festival, introduced the speakers at the newly opened community center and noted that all of the speakers had previously contributed to the festival in past years. This was in commemoration of the first XLAB Science Festival, which took place in 2005 to celebrate the completion of the XLAB student laboratory building. Prof. Dr. Erwin Neher (1991 Nobel Prize in Medicine) was present as patron of the Science Festival series. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Presentations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

on January 28 and 29, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Stefan Hell
\u201c<\/strong><\/strong>How to overcome a supposed scientific barrier\u2026 and what can be done with it\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Stefan Hell<\/strong> (2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry) took the audience on a journey that led him to the question of how to tackle an \u201cinsurmountable\u201d limit\u2014and why it is worth holding on to such an idea. The starting point was the diffraction limit formulated by Ernst Abbe: A resolution better than about 200 nm seemed impossible for a long time with focused light in the classical light microscope. Hell demonstrated how this limit can be practically circumvented using super-resolution techniques\u2014most notably STED\u2014and how subsequent developments are continually improving the localization of individual fluorophores. Newer approaches such as MINFLUX\/MINSTED achieve resolutions in the range of a few nanometers, reaching scales that are already approaching the dimensions of individual fluorescent molecules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Richard Neher<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coronavirus, the flu, HIV \u2026 Why are RNA viruses so adaptable?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Richard Neher<\/strong> explained why RNA viruses (e.g., influenza, RSV, or HIV viruses) are so \u201cadaptable\u201d: Due to their high mutation rate, their surface structures in particular are constantly changing. This makes it easier for the viruses to evade the immune system and repeatedly infect humans. A key focus was on how the spread of variants can be tracked in near real time using numerous genome sequences and modern analysis methods\u2014including well-founded predictions about which lineages are likely to prevail and how this information can inform better decisions for vaccine development. A clear example is the visualization on Nextstrain (e.g., RSV-A over several years).
https:\/\/nextstrain.org\/rsv\/a\/genome\/6y<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Anna Frebel<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cosmic origins of the heaviest elements<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Anna Frebel<\/strong> introduced the audience to \u201cstellar archaeology.\u201d Extremely old stars preserve chemical fingerprints of very early nucleosynthesis, thereby offering a glimpse into processes that were already at work some 13 billion years ago. The difference between the \u201cslow\u201d and \u201cfast\u201d production of heavy elements became particularly clear: In the s-process (slow neutron capture), nuclei grow gradually, whereas the r-process proceeds very rapidly under conditions of extreme neutron abundance. Neutron star mergers are among the locations in the cosmos being discussed as key sites for the formation of r-process elements\u2014and thus of silver, gold, or platinum. Their signatures can be found in the elemental patterns of old stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Aleida Assmann<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical Transformations of the European Dream<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Aleida Assmann<\/strong> shifted the focus from the limits of scientific measurement to historical crises of interpretation and orientation. Taking the post-1945 vision of Europe as her starting point, she asked what has become of this \u201cEuropean dream\u201d and what prospects it still holds in light of current conflicts and tensions. To provide a helpful framework, she offered phases of transformation and keywords such as polarization, pluralization, and division to describe how spaces for social debate change, harden, or drift apart, and what this means for social cohesion and democratic culture. The lecture took place in the auditorium of Georg August University of G\u00f6ttingen, thus also creating a deliberate spatial contrast to the natural science presentations held in the XLAB Foundation\u2019s new community center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Tobias Moser<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How hearing works, how it can be damaged, and how it can be restored<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Tobias Moser<\/strong> demonstrated just how astonishingly precise the physical and biological organization of hearing is, and at which points it typically \u201cbreaks down.\u201d Hair cells convert minute mechanical vibrations into electrical signals, and the downstream synapses function as high-performance transmitters with extreme precision. This mechanism also provides the targets for therapies ranging from molecular repair and gene therapy to improved cochlear implants. A particularly forward-looking approach is the \u201coptical cochlear implant\u201d with optogenetic stimulation, which promises more precise stimulation of the auditory nerve than classical electrical stimulation. The fact that the event\u2019s patron, Prof. Erwin Neher, was in the audience was also fitting from a technical standpoint, as modern hearing and synapse research is methodologically deeply rooted in the tradition of electrophysiology\u2014including patch-clamp measurements of individual ion channels, which are closely associated with Neher\u2019s Nobel Prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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December 15, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open House<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, December 14, 2\u20135 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Before the XLAB Foundation\u2019s new community center and residential wing is officially inaugurated, we are opening our doors exclusively to the neighborhood and the residents of Weende.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We cordially invite you to come see the new building at Stumpfen Eiche 20<\/strong> for yourself on Sunday, December 14, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. <\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting as early as Friday, December 12, 2025<\/strong>, anyone interested is cordially invited to attend a tour between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.<\/strong>. This event is aimed particularly at the North Campus, but everyone is welcome to take a look behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take this opportunity to explore the building\u2019s architecture and atmosphere at your leisure. Designed by bez+kock Architekten<\/em>, this complex\u2014consisting of two striking residential towers\u2014blends harmoniously into the hillside and creates a new connection between the Weende neighborhood and the North Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to expect:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n