We are experimenta

In 2005, the department of the then Heilbronn mayor of culture Harry Mergel, come up with the idea of setting up a science center in the empty former Hagenbucher oilseed storehouse —the only remaining relic of a former industrial development on the Neckar Island. On October 5, 2006, the Heilbronn City Council passes the corresponding resolution. The Dieter Schwarz Stiftung gGmbH and other sponsors such as Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, GasVersorgung Süddeutschland GmbH, and Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke AG agree to sponsor the project. Dr. Wolfgang Hansch develops the initial thematic concept.

On March 30, 2007 “experimenta – Science Center der Region Heilbronn-Franken gGmbH” is founded as an operating company. Shareholders are the city of Heilbronn, the Dieter Schwarz Stiftung gGmbH, the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Heilbronn University, and the Akademie für Information und Management gGmbH. The Dieter Schwarz Stiftung gGmbH agrees to bear the costs for experimenta’s equipment and furnishings. Helmut Himmelsbach, senior mayor of the city of Heilbronn, is elected chairman of the supervisory board, and Dr. Wolfgang Hansch is appointed managing director.

By 30 July, 2017, the last day experimenta was open in its previous form, the science center inspired especially children, young people, and families for natural scientific and technological subjects. In total, experimenta welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors.

The new experimenta opened on 31 March, 2019 and, with its spectacular new building and the renovated existing building, is Germany’s largest science center. On around 25,000 square meters of area, it offers a unique world of knowledge and experience. It is a flagship project of the Dieter Schwarz Stiftung gGmbH.

In June, experimenta will host Ecsite, one of Europe’s largest conferences for museums and science centers. A temporary tent city will be set up on the Theresienwiese festival grounds in Heilbronn for the more than 900 participants from 50 countries. The conference will focus in particular on topics related to inclusion and equal opportunities, the challenges of the climate crisis, and the question of successful science communication in times of fake news.

On July 1, Prof. Dr. Bärbel G. Renner will become the new managing director of experimenta. The communications expert joined the science center in 2017, where she was responsible for managing the communications/administration department as an authorized signatory. In the summer of 2022, she will succeed long-time managing director Dr. Wolfgang Hansch, who is retiring. He had held the position since 2007 and created the conceptual foundations of experimenta.

experimenta is open to everyone. This is demonstrated by Discovery Day, which took place for the first time at the end of November and has since been held twice a year. People with disabilities have the opportunity to get to know experimenta in a protected environment.

Two becomes three: The AI Pavilion will open in April, completing the Experimenta Square complex with three buildings. Visitors can experience the topic of artificial intelligence in a playful way in the interactive exhibition.

The construction of the AI Pavilion is accompanied by the redesign of Experimenta Square. Large areas are being unsealed, and the existing green spaces are being significantly enlarged and increased. In June, Experimenta Managing Director Bärbel Renner and Mayor Harry Mergel will open the new, greener Experimenta Square.

As federal patron, experimenta will host the 59th Federal Youth Research Competition from May 30 to June 2. The 175 best young researchers from all over Germany will present their projects.

experimenta has finally outgrown its infancy. Fifteen years after its opening, what is now Germany’s largest science center will celebrate its birthday in November with an open house.

And once again, the AI Pavilion: In November, “Echo,” an AI-controlled interactive light installation, goes into operation. Passersby can make the façade light up by speaking or singing into a funnel equipped with a microphone. The art installation is awarded both the German Design Award and the German Lighting Design Prize.

In June, experimenta celebrates a special visitor milestone: 3,141,592 guests have visited the Science Center since it opened in November 2009. The anniversary figure is based on the number pi (3.141592), which describes the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

In the same month, Nico Wiest and Dr. Franziska Lang take over as co-CEOs. Prof. Dr. Bärbel Renner moves to the Dieter Schwarz Foundation as managing director for education. The new management duo comes from within the company’s own ranks: Nico Wiest was previously head of administration, while Franziska Lang was in charge of communication for experimenta’s daycare centers and schools.