From across Cologne, the Science Festival Cologne 2025 (Wissenschaftsfestival Köln 2025) brought together universities, research institutions and science communicators to create an open space for exploring knowledge. Hosted in and around the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, the festival invited visitors of all ages on the 15th of November to interact with current research, discover new ideas and experience science in a hands-on, creative environment.

Taking part at the festival, ML4Q offered visitors a welcoming introduction to the world of quantum physics. At the Speakers’ Corner, Selma Delic (M.Sc., Forschungszentrum Jülich) introduced the basics of quantum information and discussed why quantum states are extremely sensitive to disturbances. The presentation outlined the challenges of transmitting such states through optical fibers and highlighted the need for dedicated interfaces between light and matter. She also showcased her research on GaAs-based chips, where photons interact with individual electron spins, and provided insights into how these devices are fabricated in the cleanroom. The talk highlighted how such components could become key building blocks for future quantum networks and a potential quantum internet.

Throughout the day, visitors could meet the ML4Q team at their stand. Behind our quantum computer model, Finn Eckstein (M.Sc.), and Theo Haas (M.Sc.) from the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Cologne along with Selma Delic (M.Sc.) spoke with interested visitors about how qubits differ from classical bits; why quantum objects follow rules that often seem counterintuitive, and in what ways quantum technologies could transform computation and information processing in the future. They also showcased how researchers within ML4Q explore these questions in theory and experiment, and how different groups within the cluster work together.

The Cologne Science Festival is a network of universities and research institutions in Cologne. It was founded to intensify scientific collaboration and increase the visibility of science in the city.

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