HITS Open House 2026
Climate, Molecules, Galaxies: One Institute. Many Dimensions.
Every two years, the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) at Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35 in Heidelberg hosts an open house. The next event will take place on 11 July 2026 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Under the theme “Climate, Molecules, Galaxies. One Institute. Many Dimensions,” the program features talks, guided garden tours, and interactive hands-on stations.
Through public-friendly talks, visitors will learn how AI is used as a tool in protein design to create custom molecules, what happens when humans and AI make music together, and why language models such as ChatGPT must also meet ethical standards.
There will also be a wide range of hands-on stations where visitors can put their skills to the test – for example, by building a dam designed to withstand rising sea levels or crafting virus-shaped snowflakes. For younger guests, HITS will once again offer face painting.
This year’s program also includes guided walks through the historic garden in both German and English, scheduled throughout the day. A selection of food and beverages will be available on site. From 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., a free shuttle bus will run between the S-Bahn station Altstadt (Karlstor) and HITS. Visitors arriving by car can also park free of charge in the parking garage “Unter der Boschwiese.”
We look forward to welcoming you!
See the program here:
About HITS
HITS, the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, was established in 2010 by physicist and SAP co-founder Klaus Tschira (1940-2015) and the Klaus Tschira Foundation as a private, non-profit research institute. HITS conducts basic research in the natural, mathematical, and computer sciences. Major research directions include complex simulations across scales, making sense of data, and enabling science via computational research. Application areas range from molecular biology to astrophysics. An essential characteristic of the Institute is interdisciplinarity, implemented in numerous cross-group and cross-disciplinary projects. The base funding of HITS is provided by the Klaus Tschira Foundation.
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