Forum Wissen, University museum in Göttingen, Germany
Forum Wissen is a science museum in Göttingen that displays objects and collections across roughly 1,200 square meters from more than 30 academic departments of the university. The exhibition brings together artifacts from diverse fields of study to show how research and learning take shape.
The building opened in 1879 as the university's Natural History Museum and later housed the Zoological Museum until 2018. After renovation from 2017 to 2022, it reopened in June 2022 as Forum Wissen. The project took shape in 2012, and federal funding secured by MP Thomas Oppermann helped bridge a three-year financing gap; total construction costs reached 38.6 million euros.
The museum displays collections from multiple academic departments of the university, reflecting how research and learning have shaped the city's identity over generations. Visitors can see how scientific work connects to broader human knowledge and discovery.
The museum sits near Göttingen's central station and welcomes visitors throughout the week except Mondays. Free admission allows you to walk through the exhibition areas at your own pace.
The name Forum Wissen came from a 2015 public competition with over 460 entries, replacing the earlier working title "Haus des Wissens" because a 1930s project at the NS-Ordensburg Vogelsang had used that name. Since autumn 2022 the museum has held Chalk Talks, in which Göttingen researchers present their work using only chalk and a blackboard.
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