Soapbox Science Rheinland back in Cologne

On June 29th, 2024, Soapbox Science Rheinland made a return to the streets of Cologne city center, after two years of being hosted in Bonn and Düsseldorf. Four soapboxes were set up, providing a platform for young female and non-binary researchers to present their work to the public. Pedestrians could stop at the boxes and listen to the scientists who shared their research using only a few props and their passion for the topic. These topics ranged from heredity principles and breeding to quantum computing and cell aging. Listeners were interested, motivated to ask questions and participated in discussions.

Shuttling electrons: a cool idea for quantum computing

Isabelle Sprave, another associated member of ML4Q, captivated the crowd with a model of a quantum computer, easily drawing the attention of pedestrians. In her PhD at RWTH Aachen University she researches on a Quantumbus (QuBus). It serves as a kind of highway for electrons on a quantum chip and allows to have more electrons on each chip. This is a necessary development to build large scale quantum computers in the future.

A soapbox is traditionally a wooden crate used for shipping dry goods like soap. In the 19th century, it became a platform for impromptu speeches by politicians, fostering informal political discussions in public spaces. The concept of Soapbox Science draws inspiration from this rich history, aiming to simplify and democratize scientific discourse.

Soapbox Science is an innovative public outreach event that began in London in 2011 and now takes place annually in more than forty cities across sixteen countries. The goal is to bring science directly to the people, making it accessible for all, and challenging the stereotype about who can be a scientist by providing a platform for female and non-binary researchers from various backgrounds.

Soapbox Science Rheinland is a local event in Germany organized since 2020 by a team of enthusiastic people from universities in the Rheinland-area: University of Bonn, Cologne and Düsseldorf.

Previous events