New Science Exhibition at COSMO – [in]visible: How Data Visualization Helps Us Understand the World

This latest showcase at COSMO highlights the power of scientific visualization, featuring exhibits from current Dresden-based research alongside contributions from the international exhibition Places & Spaces: Mapping Science. Running until August 6, it invites visitors on an interactive journey into the world of complex systems and the ways data is made visible. The exhibition demonstrates how visualization is not only crucial for science but also for everyday life and democracy.

Why This Exhibition Matters Now

In times marked by pandemics, the climate crisis, and election research, data shapes our daily lives. But it’s through visualization that data becomes understandable. The [in]visible exhibition reveals how data transforms into images, what stories it can tell, and how we can learn to interpret them. Understanding visualizations enables us to make more informed decisions, grasp complex relationships, and identify manipulations.

What You’ll Discover – Interactive Highlights

• A 3D journey through the origins of the universe

• Interactive maps visualizing political networks on Twitter

• Visualizations of fungi and sea urchins that inspire urban planning and material innovation

• VR applications and “macroscopes” that explore global data networks

• Historic and modern visualizations from the internationally acclaimed Places & Spaces: Mapping Science (Indiana University, USA)

The exhibits were developed by the Technical University of Dresden (TUD), HTW Dresden, the Barkhausen Institute, and CASUS/HZDR. They show how research becomes visible—and how visualization builds bridges between science and society.

“Data tells stories—if we learn how to read them.”

“Data visualizations help us recognize patterns, understand connections, and make complex topics tangible. Our exhibition shows how this can be done—in a way that is understandable, impactful, and accessible.”

– Jörg Neumann, Exhibition Organizer and Deputy Director, CIDS CODIP, TU Dresden

International Collaboration: Places & Spaces: Mapping Science

A major highlight of [in]visible is the integration of exhibits from the international traveling exhibition Places & Spaces: Mapping Science, curated by Lisel Record and Prof. Katy Börner at Indiana University’s Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center. Having been presented in over 380 locations worldwide, this exhibition demonstrates how visualizations help tackle global challenges like climate change and healthcare. Thanks to support from the Society of Friends and Sponsors of TU Dresden, a part of this exhibition is now on display in Dresden for the first time.

Who’s Behind [in]visible?

The exhibition is organized by the Center for Open Digital Innovation and Participation (CODIP) and the Department of Speculative Transformation (DST) within the Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Sciences (CIDS) at TU Dresden.

Contributors also include:

• BCUBE

• JoDDiD – Research Center for the Didactics of Democracy

• SynoSys

• HTW Dresden

• Partner institutions: Barkhausen Institute and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) with CASUS

Visiting Information

Exhibition: [in]visible. Visualizations in Science
Location: COSMO Science Forum, Schloßstraße 2, 01067 Dresden
Opening Hours: Until August 6, Tuesday to Thursday, 1:00 – 6:00 PM (closed on public holidays)
Website: COSMO Science Forum – Current Exhibition

Press Contact:
Maria Matthes
Coordinator, Department of Speculative Transformation (DST)
📧 maria.matthes@tu-dresden.de
📞 +49 351 463 35755

About the COSMO Science Forum:
COSMO is an interactive science forum where cutting-edge research can be experienced live through various formats and interactive exhibits. It is run by the Department of Speculative Transformation at TU Dresden, the Barkhausen Institute, and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).