Medical Innovation of Tomorrow – Interactive Today
The COSMO Science Forum at Dresden’s Kulturpalast makes cutting-edge research accessible to a wide audience. The aim is to bring science to life through engaging exhibits, immersive storytelling and direct interaction with researchers. As part of the “Dr. Future” exhibition, we developed a multisensory, interactive exhibit that conveys the highly complex research on so-called lab-on-chip systems in a playful and vivid way.
What are lab-on-chip systems?
These innovative systems simulate living conditions for cells in a very small space. This enables drugs to be tested on cultured cells, which is a significant advance for medical research and has the potential to replace animal testing in the long term.
Interactive knowledge transfer through storytelling
To make the topic more accessible, two avatars — a professor from TU Dresden and a research group leader from Fraunhofer IWS — guide visitors through the experiment. The story unfolds interactively, providing explanations in simple language and offering direct involvement.
Inside the Lab – Research to Explore
At the heart of the exhibition is a laboratory setup that can be experienced both physically and digitally. Using touchscreens and haptic interfaces, visitors can learn how research works step by step.
- A physical pipette applies cell substance to the chip on the touchpad.
- Electrodes are set using drag-and-drop and the cells begin to beat.
- The frequency and reaction of the cells change depending on the dosage.
Through storytelling, interaction, and design, we have succeeded in conveying complex research in an intuitive and exciting way. After all, when research becomes understandable, it has the power to inspire and move people.
