A fairy-tale-like tree fills the room, while lights change in a barely perceptible rhythm. Freely available real-time data on forest edges are translated into a play of color and brightness, revealing the current state of forests in different regions of the world. Interactive technical experiments from the research project Living the Forest Lab invite visitors to explore and try things out. They explore the complex interweavings of nature, culture, and technology using multiperspectival approaches to understand our environment, and they playfully experiment with different forms of data visualization.
Ultrasound waves and sounds hidden within fungi warn animals of approaching wildfires. A game experiments with climate variables that alter a digital forest. A buoy drifting on the water collects sensor readings and offers insight into the health of a body of water in Berlin. An open-source instrument makes invisible electromagnetic waves audible and invites visitors to listen, for a moment, with animal senses.
TechTales brings scientific topics to life through artistic installations and interactive elements, raising ecological awareness and communicating science. The exhibition highlights the importance of forests for biodiversity and climate regulation, as well as the mitigation of climate change. It also aims to emphasize the need to explore alternative epistemologies – those that recognize the agency of plants, animals, and machines – and how these might inform more relational and reciprocal modes of technological development.
The immersive space invites visitors to consider future scenarios, discuss them, and explore ways to shape them in fair and sustainable ways. Developed and produced at TU Berlin, the exhibition is a contribution to innovative science communication.
TechTales is a collaboration between the Living the Forest Lab research project in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Department of Communication Systems), the Master’s program in Stage Design and Scenography and the Science & Society department of the Executive Board at TU Berlin. The Living the Forest Labresearch initiative, which is funded by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education, focuses on knowledge transfer and forest fire prevention.
The exhibition will be presented in the UNI_VERSUM in the main building of the TU Berlin and will be part of Berlin Science Week 2025. The UNI_VERSUM is the pilot phase for the TULIUM project, a new transfer and exhibition building on the TU campus that is currently under construction. It tests various formats that are intended to be continued later in the building’s exhibition and event spaces.
Exhibition
UNI_VERSUM – TU Berlin Exhibition Space
Address: Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin
Main Building, Ground floor
Opening: Nov 6, 2025, 4PM
Exhibition: Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 13, 2026
Berlin Science Week Nov 1–11, 2025
Opening hours: Mon–Fri, 12–3 PM
Year-end closure: Dec 20, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026
tu.berlin.de
lifolab.de
tu-buehnenbild.de
Projektbeteiligte
Technische Universität Berlin
Masterprogram Bühnenbild_Szenischer Raum
Students
- Julia Mock,Scenography & exhibition realisation | Burning Flowers
- Chiara Poma Rinklef, Scenography & exhibition realisation | Burning Flowers, Animal Fire Alarm
- Catharina Rodrigues, Scenography & exhibition realisation | Burning Flowers
- Julie Savery, Scenography & exhibition realisation | Burning Flowers
- Michael Schulte-Austum, Scenography & exhibition realisation | Burning Flowers, Talking Treebot
Lecturers
- Annette Müller, Tutor Scenography, Mentoring for exhibition realisation
- Robert Niemann, Tutor Scenography, Mentoring exhibition realisation
Tutor
- Stefan Gehrt, Ausstellungsumsetzung
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Department of Communication Systems)
Students
- Karim Nicolae Costan, Elektrosluch
- Mahmoud Elsayed, BotanIdent
- Amelie Fettweis, Buzzing Hair
- Bright Kitsakul, BotanIdent
- Ipek Mertoglu, exhibition realisation
- Alex Siegmar Mohr, Spree.Berlin
- Karl Schmitz, EAGEL
- Sara-Shiva Speicher, Buzzing Hair
- Anton Syamken, Virtueller Wald
- Linhtan Trannguyen, Virtueller Wald, Burning Flowers
- Fathi Türkeli, Talking Treebot
Lecturers
- Sara Reichert, Research Assistant
- Athena Grandis, Research Assistant ‘Living the Forest Lab’
Science & Society at the Executive Board of TU Berlin
- Dr. Audrey Podann, Head of Science & Society at the Executive Board of TU Berlin
Hybrid Plattform
- Dr. Michael Fowler
Symbiotic Lab
- Jakob Kukula, Artist, Spree.Berlin
TU Delft
- Andjela Tomic, Burning Flowers, Virtueller Wald
Technologiestiftung Berlin
- Julia Zimmermann, Talking Treebot
- Jim Thakkolkaran, Talking Treebot
HTW Berlin
- Jabora Spender, Animal Fire Alarm
Sound Art & Research
- Selenay Kiray, Buzzing HairStudents
