ON Campus Festival - A firework of science

At the ON Campus Festival 2023 on Friday 16 June, THI transformed the campus into a festival site for a whole day. Over 60 programme items attracted more than 6,000 visitors to the university campus. Varied insights into the life of the university were offered, combined with many activities and attractions for adults and children.

The various research areas of the THI were shown up close, for example during guided tours and experiments in the laboratories. Many programme points were also aimed specifically at children and young people. In children's university lectures, professors explained scientific correlations in a playful way and clarified important questions, such as whether artificial intelligence (AI) will be able to do their homework in the future. The youngest visitors also enjoyed a driving simulator, a Bobby Car race track, a robot that baked bread rolls, and a campus rally where junior researcher skills could be tested.

Numerous workshops and scientific demonstrations were also on offer. A live broadcast from the operating theatre of Klinikum-Ingolstadt showed how much technology and AI is currently necessary for the treatment of patients. Using a miniature model of a drop tower and a nut, scientists from the CARISSMA Research Centre vividly demonstrated how energy is absorbed by materials, construction methods, components and structures in the event of a crash.

There were also various opportunities to explore the campus: E-scooters and cargo bikes were available for this purpose. With a "History and Arts Tour" through the Villa Heydeck, the home of the Institute for Academic Continuing Education, it was possible to view works of art by renowned artists from the region and get to know a part of Ingolstadt's urban history.  The tour of the "Quartier G - Alte Gießerei" gave visitors the opportunity to visit the university, the brigk digital start-up centre and the Maritim Hotel Ingolstadt, including the new Congress Centre.

Those who wanted to fortify themselves were offered a variety of culinary delights, such as falafel, burgers, crepes and much more.

In the evening, the campus meadow was transformed into a large party zone. A salsa band, internationally known DJs, live percussion and a light show, as well as a techno stage, kept the atmosphere going until late into the night.

"With the ON Campus Festival, we want to show ourselves to the public as a technical university with our different competences. With over 6,000 visitors, this was once again a complete success in 2023," THI President Prof. Dr. Walter Schober was pleased to report. Chief organiser Petra Quenzler is also thrilled: "We have shown that scientific topics are fun and research can become an experience. And proved that the THI can really party."

The festival was made possible by the support of sponsors from industry and business: FMS (Future Mobility Solutions), ASAP, Capgemini Engineering, Siemens Healthineers, Bertrandt, the Spiegel Institute and the Friends of the THI.