The Smartest Night of 2026
On June 6, Berlin hosted the Long Night of Science and also the Fritz Haber Institute participated with a colorful program featuring hands-on experiments, lab tours, lectures, and entertainment – all based on the science currently pursued at the institute. A highlight of the evening was the opening of the new exhibition on “Electron Microscopy: Life and Legacy of Ernst Ruska.”
Every year in early summer, Berlin’s scientific institutions open their doors to the public and invite visitors to the Long Night of Science. The Fritz Haber Institute has been participating in this event for many years, offering interested visitors a unique opportunity to take a look behind the scenes at the institute.
As each year, the program at FHI was very varied: Visitors could gain exclusive insights into the day-to-day work of the various departments during lab tours and deepened their understanding of the fascinating world of physics and chemistry through hands-on experiments. The program in the laboratory buildings was complemented by the “Science Fair” held around the Haber Linde, as well as engaging talks, including one by the managing director of the institute, Prof. Dr. Karsten Reuter. Scientific entertainment included an escape room that playfully guided visitors through the research areas of lab automation, catalysis, and renewable energy, and a science quiz with questions about the history of the institute and current research topics.
The evening was also highlighted by an important anniversary in the institute’s history: 40 years ago, Ernst Ruska, former director at the institute, was awarded the Nobel Prize for the development of the electron microscope. In recognition of this lifetime achievement, the new exhibition “Ernst Ruska – Gateway to the Microcosm” opened on June 6. The exhibition pays tribute to the creative genius of the brilliant engineer Ernst Ruska and explores electron microscopy - from the physics behind the method and historical developments to current research projects at the FHI. What makes the exhibition unique is its location: it is located directly at the historic site in one of the Ruska Towers on the institute campus. Thanks to the unique design of the towers, dampening ground vibrations, Ruska and his team were able to capture electron microscope images of such high resolution that individual atoms became visible. Today, a historic electron microscope, Ruska’s masterpiece, is standing at the center of the exhibition in its original location within the tower.
Many curious visitors and science enthusiasts from the Dahlem neighborhood and from all over Berlin came to the FHI and were amazed by the dedication of our institutes staff to the Long Night of Science. We express our sincere gratitude for the public’s keen interest in our research and for the fantastic contribution of our staff organizing the event. We are already looking forward to next year!
