Long Night of Science: Erlangen opens doors to history!

Long Night of Science: Erlangen opens doors to history!

On Saturday, October 25th, the “Long Night of Sciences” will be celebrated in Nuremberg, Fürth and Erlangen. The city of Erlangen has put together an interesting program, even if it is not directly responsible for the event. From 2 p.m., the little explorers can experiment with learning robots in the city library, accessible at Marktplatz 1. This children's program is aimed at kids aged six and over and ensures an exciting eagerness to learn.

The city museum, which is located at Martin-Luther-Platz 9, also opens its doors from 2:00 p.m. The program here includes creative hands-on activities for the exhibition “THAT ARE THERE! Questions worth asking about Erlanger’s history,” and there are guided tours for the whole family. Particularly noteworthy is the special exhibition “Children’s Drawings: World Heritage from the Classroom,” which presents historical drawings from the 1920s.

Hands-on science

The art museum at Nürnberger Straße 9 will show the exhibition “Viewpoints – Landscape in Contemporary Art” from 5:00 p.m. At the same time, the city archives (Schwabachanlage 6) are offering exciting lectures about the Nazi “euthanasia” crimes from 5 p.m. A hands-on activity about theater memories starts at 6:00 p.m., followed by a guided tour at 10:00 p.m. Private lecturer Nic Leonhardt will speak on the topic of “Foreign Ideas, Colonial Traces in Archives” at 8:00 p.m. in the city archives.

The lectures in the city archive are particularly relevant because they are embedded in the context of a planned memorial and learning site on the history of Nazi “euthanasia” in Erlangen. This place is intended to serve as a platform for short scientific lectures and discussions. Exciting topics are covered, such as “Mental illness in medical history” (Dr. Sabrina Freund) and the “culture of remembrance for everyone” (Prof. Dr. Nicolas Engel). [{nacht-der-Wissenschaft.de} reports that the sources in the archives will also be discussed here and should encourage the audience to participate.]

Memorial and learning place in Erlangen

Another important aspect of the scientific night is the presentation of the planned memorial and learning site symbolized by a feasibility study that was presented on January 10, 2025. This study outlines visions for a memorial trail and a basic exhibition on the history of the former Erlangen sanatorium and nursing home. [{fau.de} emphasizes that this project also addresses questions of inclusion and medical ethical responsibility and that citizens should actively participate in the culture of memory.]

The estimated costs of almost 45 million euros for the realization of the memorial site illustrate the long-term willingness to invest in establishing an inclusive culture of remembrance. The memorial will run between the Schwabachanlage and Maximiliansplatz buildings and will also develop educational programs that will promote encounters between people with and without disabilities.

Events and information

The event weekend is rounded off with further offers in Erlangen, which are supported by the Friedrich Alexander University and the University Hospital. For a complete overview of the events and ticket information, simply look online, because no one should miss the anticipation of this exciting night of science.

There are also public meeting dates for interested citizens, such as the meeting of the South District Advisory Council on Thursday, October 23rd, at 7:30 p.m. in the Otfried Preußler School, as well as a theme evening on the twinning between Erlangen and Stoke-on-Trent on the same day at 7:00 p.m. in the Club International at the adult education center. [In addition, Kosbacher Straße Am Deckersweiher will be closed until the end of November due to local heating network work, which drivers should take into account.] There are therefore numerous opportunities to actively participate or to obtain information.