Universum in Bremen, Germany

Just when I was starting to think I had seen most of the models for science centers in Germany, I visited Universum in Bremen and found a totally new concept, both in terms of the exhibits and management.

This center is now owned by the City of Bremen and managed by a for-profit corporation that pays annual rent to Bremen. The building is a dramatic pod-like structure, surrounded by shallow water, reminiscent of a whale from one angle or a mussel shell from another. The building is clad in shiny metallic panels resembling fish scales that ensure a reflection (if the sun is out) no matter what time of day.

Almost all of the income comes from the gate, gift shop, and cafeteria, with a small amount from corporate sponsorships. Inspired by the Exploratorium, the center was planned by a group of university scientists, politicians, and representatives from what is now the management corporation. The center opened in 2000 and has a close relationship with the university nearby; of the 130 staff, about 100 are university students, who wear red jackets and are called “scouts.”



Universum is organized along three basic themes: the Expedition Earth, Expedition Mankind, and Expedition Cosmos. Visitors start one of these three essentially linear experiences high above the ground floor and follow a wavy path downward through various immersive environments and interactive exhibits.

This huge map of the world shows the distance between Bremen, Germany and New York City in nanometers. The distance increases as you watch because of continental drift (about 30 mm/year, or 1 nanometer per second).

In July, Universum opened a new outdoor science park (photo left) that includes many hands-on water exhibits, a small climbing wall, an outdoor amphitheater with regular demonstrations by university students. Visitors can also jump using the human yoyo or sit and play a huge wooden xylophone. A new 27-m-tall observation tower (photo below) in one corner of the park is full of both interactive exhibits (drop balls down a tube and see the speed at various points) and contemplative exhibits (wind harp; small room with seats at the top with a square hole in the roof that encourages observing the sky without anything else in view.


Under construction and due to open in October is a new building across the street called the “Show Box,” which will have a 750-sq-m area for temporary exhibitions, a bigger exhibits shop, and office space. The first exhibition, opening later this fall, will be on chocolate. I took part in a visitor survey to name the exhibition (my contribution: “Chocolate: Food for the Mind”) and to contribute an experience with chocolate (“For more than 30 years, my top priority whenever visiting San Francisco has always been a trip to Ghirardelli Square for a hot fudge sundae.”)

At the top of the center is an inviting and well-stocked program room (see photo below) where school groups can come for one of many exploration programs offered by Universum.





It will be interesting to see how the new traveling exhibition venue Show Box across the street works in attracting additional visitors. Because of the public-private funding model for Universum, it is not a simple matter to obtain funds to replace exhibits in the main exhibition space, and the linear, thematic exhibition concept will likely require wholesale re-design and re-construction of a large complex space and the associated exhibits.