Presentation formats tested in the interdisciplinary project ‘Metabolat – Artistic Scientific Research on Marine Transformation Processes‘ are finding their way into the lecture hall of the Institute of Pharmacy at the University of Greifswald. The exhibition of the same name was realised last summer at the Koeppenhaus Greifswald by microbiologist Dr Marie-Katherin Zühlke, artist Susanne Gabler and myself. Among other things, we gave a lecture performance on the applicability of algae.

Dr Marie-Katherin Zühlke was a guest speaker at an event held on 23 January 2026 as part of the “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology” internship. Dr Britta Jürgen usually gives lectures to the students here. In addition to the practical exercises and traditional lectures she gives, she regularly invites colleagues from her working group, led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweder, to present their research areas and give students an insight into scientific work and everyday research life.

The recent event focused on the applicability and gel formation of alginate. Students not only gained theoretical insight, but were also invited to experiment on oneself at making beetroot bubbles for a refreshing algae cocktail. A process that had already proven itself in the lecture performance and thrilled the audience ultimately created a great atmosphere at the university as well.

But performative interventions not only put people in a good mood, they can also greatly facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and link complicated scientific content to experiences on different levels of perception. Facts are combined with experiences and thus become deeply anchored in our memory, unlike knowledge acquired solely through theory.