Beyond cooperation between universities, the alliance also promotes interaction and collaboration between partner universities and societal stakeholders.
Open Labs
The CIVIS Open Lab is an interface and meeting place between university and society. Here, citizens work together with researchers and students to develop solutions for the major global challenges of the 21st century. Individuals, schools, companies, associations as well as local and regional authorities can participate – everyone is welcome to get involved.
What are the most pressing challenges we should address in Tübingen? We always welcome ideas and suggestions for new projects. Please contact us: mareike.kardinal@uni-tuebingen.de
Questions and answers on the CIVIS Open Lab
What is a CIVIS Open Lab?
The CIVIS Open Lab is an interface and meeting place between research and teaching and local society. In the lab, we plan and carry out transdisciplinary research projects – this is where citizens work together with researchers and students to develop possible solutions for the major global challenges of the 21st century.
How can I get involved in the Open Lab?
The Open Lab Tübingen is looking for ideas for new participatory research projects. In your opinion, what are the most pressing challenges that we should tackle in Tübingen? What topic should definitely be investigated? How could we overcome local problems or even crises in a resilient way? You can give us your ideas or even suggest entire research projects.
Who can participate in the Open Lab?
Anyone and everyone from the University and society is welcome to get involved. Individuals, schools, companies, associations, local and regional authorities as well as university students and researchers can participate. Some projects in the Open Lab take place via the Transdisciplinary Course Program.
Are there any prerequisites for taking part in the Open Lab?
No, there are not.
Which topics are suitable for Open Lab projects?
The projects in the Open Lab are closely linked to the research fields of CIVIS:
- climate, environment, energy
- health
- society, culture, heritage
- digital and technolgical transformation
- cities, spaces, mobilities
How can I start a project?
The best way is to take part in the ideas raffle and fill out a postcard. We will then draw winners at the Science & Innovation Days on 9 November 2023. Afterwards, we will also select one or more top winners whose project ideas we will implement together with them.
If you do not want to take part in the raffle, but still have a research idea: Just come up and talk to us or write to mareike.kardinal@uni-tuebingen.de.
Where is the Tübingen Open Lab located?
The Open Lab is currently coordinated from the city center of Tübingen (Rümelinstraße 32). However, we are looking for a suitable meeting place for the future that will be easily accessible for all those involved.
Which Open Lab projects have already been carried out?
Over the past two years, a range of projects have been realized in Tübingen with the help of the Open Lab:
- „Small business management and the emotional implications of the pandemic“
- „The ageing society – Inclusion, aging and care as a social challenge“
- „Lost places, lost memories? The legacy of Nazi terror along the Swabian Alb“
- „Inside - Out - Outside - In: Science meets Society at the Swabian Sea“
- „Transnational project on migration“
- „NaturaShare - Finding nature in the CIVIS cities“
In retrospect: Previous activies for the public
Science & Innovation Days 2023 science festival
The CIVIS Open Lab presented itself for the first time at the Science & Innovation Days 2023 of the University of Tübingen. An information booth at the Science Fair enabled a lively dialog with citizens. An ideas raffle was held to collect topics for future research projects in the Open Lab. Further information
CIVIS Days 2023
The annual conference of the CIVIS alliance in 2023 took place at the University of Tübingen with the theme "Sustainably Connected Universities".
