On 21st June 2013 the University of Bremen held an OPEN CAMPUS DAY under the motto: “Welten öffnen - Wissen teilen” [Opening worlds – sharing knowledge]. In spite of a rather ominous rainy start, the event attracted around 12,000 visitors,. They came to find out for themselves more about life on the campus, research made-in-Bremen, and the University’s teaching activities. Housed in 50 large tents, the University’s 12 Faculties, the many institutes belonging to the University of Bremen, as well as some of its administrative units, were on hand to explain their work to the public. Among the main attractions were various guided tours, workshops and talks.
Children and adults alike were given the opportunity to learn something about university research and even to participate in some scientific experiments. Beside the different events taking place in building NW1, the short talks and discussion forums were extremely popular. Visitors to the Garden of Nations in front of the main administration building were made acquainted with the international face of the University and its different international student communities.
The chief organizer of OPEN CAMPUS 2013, Prof. Yasemin Karaka?o?lu, Vice Rectress for Intercultural and International Affairs said: “Our aim was to show the University in all its colorful diversity. Everything that makes the University what it is was on display during OPEN CAMPUS DAY. Visitors could join in experiments, research, debates and information events to their hearts’ content”.
However, visitors from Bremen and its surroundings were not restricted to members of the public: Many employees of the University also took advantage of the opportunity to give their relatives, friends and acquaintances an insight into the diversity that permeates their place of work. “Even when you work here, it doesn’t mean you know everything there is to know about the University”, explains Birte Weishaupt, a computer expert in the University administration. She wanted to explain the work of the University to her daughter, who among other things visited the CHILDREN’S CAMPUS where she was thrilled to be able to make her own shower gel.
Two live concerts with barbeque master Flash and Flo Mega rounded off a splendid day, turning the event into a swinging party that went on to well past midnight. All in all, the whole event was a tremendous and well-organized success, made possible by the joint efforts of everyone concerned. The University management and the organizers are all of the same opinion: The first OPEN CAMPUS DAY ushered in a new tradition at the University of Bremen.
