🇬🇧 6 December 2025. In our Christmas-season tour we traced along the footsteps of (German) Christmas traditions, and we examined their traces in Leipzig. We took a fresh look at the christian and non-christian roots of traditions, markets, music, and myths — with a golden thread provided by Eric Kaplan’s quest concerning the existence of Santa: »Does Santa exist?«

🇩🇪🇬🇧 8.-16. November 2025. In the context of the „Tag des Vergessens. Und des Erinnerns.“ the class for Artistic Action and Research at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig contributed artistic interventions to the exhibition Forget it?! in the German Museum of Books and Writing. The interventions made use of research-based, site-specific, speculative, and power-critical working methods that question processes of remembering and forgetting from different perspectives. In doing so they also established references to thematic focal points of the permanent exhibition.

🇩🇪🇬🇧🧒 8 November 2025. On occasion of the first birthday of the WissensSpuren and the kickoff of the exhibition Forget It?! in the German Museum for Books and Writing we organized a KnowledgeFestival with hands-on activities, guided tours, and lectures. Together, we reflected what is worth remembering, what can be safely forgotten, and how to preserve what is important. And we discovered also some new aspects of the topic of forgetting.

10 October 2025. This tour addressed international students joining the universities in Leipzig. It was an opportunity to come to know each other, and it informed them about the contributions of researchers in Leipzig to the development of Quantum Mechanics and many other disciplines of Arts and Sciences. We also discussed challenges of international study programs, of living as an expat in a foreign country, and exchanged ideas about cultural and recreational activities.

13 September 2025. Climate change brought about the geological richness of the Leipzig Bay — and men turned it into a unique lakeland. On our tour we explored the traces of the climate history, and discuss the impact of human interferences.

09 August 2025. Time and again powerful political figures made deals that imposed their will on the nations of the world. On the other hand in the 20th century the American presidents also advocated multilateralism, like in the New Deal and upon establishing and supporting the UN — and grass roots political movements have resulted in some of the most momentous political changes. In our tour we explored the impacts of major political deals and societal developments on the inhabitants of Leipzig, and we discussed which type of deals are worth striving for.

05 July 2025. In July 1885 the second volume of Karl Marx’ “Das Kapital. Kritik der politischen Oekonomie” was printed in Leipzig. In view of this 140th anniversary we took a walk along the WissensSpuren where we explore the impact and repercussions of Karl Marx’s works in Leipzig. We are very grateful that Jun.-Prof. Dr. Niklas Venema joined us on this tour.

20 June 2025. In this tour we explored the historical, cultural, and political dimensions of remembrance of scientists and the canonization of their work. The evening started with a talk at the Museum of Books and Writing. Subsequently, we walked through the Linnéstraße and the Liebigstraße into the city center. On the way we visit research institutes and collections, and discussed the achievements of some well-known and less-known researchers. Against this backdrop we exchange views about whom we remember and for what reasons.

20 June 2025. In my contribution to the Langen Nacht der Wissenschaften Leipzig I explore the biographies of outstanding personalities who covered new ground and broke through glass ceilings. Which scientists had secure employments? Which qualifications did they emphasis in their applications? What were they payed for? What about female researchers? What do I advise students nowadays — 5 years after the hype concerning the hashtag #IchBinHanna.

7 June 2025. On occasion of the Wave-Gothic Festival and the accompanying Steampunk Picnic in Leipzig we explored how the industrial revolution and the accompanying scientific discoveries have been covered in science fiction and fantastic art during the past centuries. In this endeavor we were supported by Prof. Elmar Schenkel.

12 May 2025. We officially formed an association for the Leipziger WissensSpuren, and subsequently, we celebrated this achievement in the beer garden. We are greatful for our wonderful friends for their support and encouragement, and express our gratitude to the members who have agreed to serve on the steering board.

10 May 2025. We took a children tour (hosted in German) beginning in the Veterinary Anatomy building and progressing through the Alte Messe, arriving finally at the INSPIRATA: with lots of time for new inspirations, collaborative riddle solving, and mathematics recreation.

4 April 2025. We took a walk through the city where we explored gems of the history of knowledge and education that are hidden on our daily routes through Leipzig.

8 March 2025. 50 years ago the United Nations celebrated the International Women’s year, where they declared women’s rights, and addressed peace, education and development. On this occasion the tour revisited the agenda of the feminist movement and its important activists in Leipzig. We took a look back at the 1970s, and at Leipzig’s female Students, Teachers, Researchers, and strong women who contributed to the constitution of the Women’s Day.

8 February 2025. As concluding event of the studium universale, we took a walk through the city that addressed our blind spots: Which gems of our scientific knowledge and traditions are hidden on our daily routes through Leipzig?

In the winter term 2024/25 the studium universale of the University of Leipzig visited selected sites of the Leipzig Liberal Arts and Science Trail. We learned about the history of the places, and the contemporary research conducted in the places.

23 October 2024. In the winter term 2024/25 the WissensSpur is the topic of the lecture series studium universale of Leipzig University. In the first meeting, on October 23rd, we introduced the idea of the WissensSpuren and their new homepage to the public audience of the city of Leipzig.

10 August 2024. We took a first run of the entire Wissensspur with team members and friends.

2 August 2024. We had our first run of the WissensSpuren mit Kindern.