Another professional partner has joined the Eusea community: The “Blue Square”, an open House of Science run by Ruhr-University Bochum, one of the largest universities in Germany.
“Science at your fingertips” – this motto guides our new Eusea member. Experiments, marvels, discovery: The “Blue Square” in the very centre of this Ruhr-City city, is a house where citizens are invited to experience science and culture. Visitors gain an insight into the research conducted at Ruhr-University Bochum in countless lectures, concerts, panel discussions and science slams.
With 20 faculties, Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) is home to 5,500 employees and more than 41,000 students from 130 countries. All major scientific disciplines are united under one roof on one compact campus. In the Blue Square, run by RUB, academics present their research in a way that is easily understood by people from all walks of life. Audiences are given the opportunity to talk to the researchers and to ask questions. Experts thus share their views on current social issues with the visitors. Children and teenagers are welcome at the Blue Square. Many programmes, including improv theatre and writing workshops, have been tailor-cut to meet their requirements. Families with younger and older children feel at home at events such as “WissensNacht Ruhr”, which took place at the Blue Square in 2014 and 2016.
The idea to set up the Blue Square first arose when the executive team were looking for ways of strengthening the ties between the university on the one hand and the city and its citizens on the other: in terms of space, as the campus is not exactly situated in a central location and therefore not really integrated into municipal life. And in terms of awareness, because a large percentage of the Ruhr population never had anything to do with a higher-education institution and often considers the university an ivory tower.
In 2013, the project was realised. The five-storey building, which is situated in the high street of Bochum, has been operated by Ruhr-Universität ever since. Employees of the Corporate Communications Department are in charge of running the Blue Square, and they compile an interesting programme for every semester.
