Knowledge in Motion: NFDI4Health on the MS Wissenschaft

Press 17 March 2026 Hits: 11

Every day, large volumes of health data are generated – in doctor's offices, research projects and apps. It is only when these data are brought together that a clear picture of our health emerges. On board the MS Wissenschaft 2026, NFDI4Health demonstrates at an interactive station how new knowledge is created from many individual pieces of data – and why data protection is indispensable.

The bow of a white ship bearing the inscription “MS Wissenschaft” — MS Wissenschaft 2026: Interactive exhibition in the hull of a converted cargo ship. (c): Ilja C. Hendel / Wissenschaft im Dialog

Understanding Health Data
In the Science Year 2026 – Medicine of the Future, the focus is on how researchers are already shaping the medicine of tomorrow with their ideas and solutions. Health is also at the centre of attention on board the MS Wissenschaft. The NFDI4Health initiative presents an interactive exhibit entitled “Your Health is a Puzzle – From Data to Knowledge”. Visitors learn in a playful way that health data are generated in different places, that linking them can provide valuable insights, and that protecting personal data is of the utmost importance. As part of the “Meet the Scientist” format, members of NFDI4Health come on board and engage in conversation with visitors.

One Tour, 30 Exhibits, 35 Cities
This year’s MS Wissenschaft tour begins on 7 May 2026, bringing the interactive exhibition and a wide range of events to numerous ports. From Berlin, the exhibition ship first travels to Poland and then continues through Germany and Austria. In total, it will visit around 35 large and small cities. The exhibition showcases current medical research across around 30 exhibits on three levels: from the smallest processes within cells, to the interplay between body, mind and new technologies, and through to the external influences of society and the environment that shape our lives.

Hands-on Research
The exhibition ship MS Wissenschaft has toured Germany annually since 2002. The exhibition is organised by Wissenschaft im Dialog, with the support of the scientific organisations behind it, and on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. The exhibits on board come directly from research and make scientific topics tangible and engaging. Exhibition texts are available not only in German but also in English, Polish and Easy Read format. Additional event formats also take place on deck, including “Meet the Scientist” and “Dialogue on Deck”.

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