What if robots could smell?
The sense of smell: the underestimated superpower
The sense of smell is a powerful, invisible navigator that in everyday life often gets overlooked. Compared to the sense of smell of many animals, however, that of humans is underdeveloped—in the animal kingdom, we find true champions of smell: They can detect food sources from kilometers away, analyze emotions in extraordinary detail, and even identify serious illnesses through body odor or before symptoms appear. Mastering a olfactory technology capable of harnessing these extraordinary natural abilities for humans would mark a major milestone in civilization.
The interactive science exhibition
The interactive science exhibition "The Future of Smelling - From the Nose to Smelling Machines" builds on the unique joint project. It makes the research of the three top Central German research institutions visible and tangible to the general public for the first time. It conveys knowledge by means of interactive hands-on objects, experimental models, media and software installations. Exhibits on the topics of medicine, biology, chemistry, psychology, history, nanotechnology and materials science are on display.
The exhibition takes visitors through three themed areas:
- Portal 1 - The biological nose
- Portal 2 - The cosmos of odours
- Portal 3 - The electronic nose
Each portal features video interviews with young female scientists and leading international experts from the top research institutions in Central Germany.
The exhibition was created in the Showcase of Research in the Dresden Technology Collections on behalf of TU Dresden. It is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation from the "Additional Funds for Science Communication" programme.
The exhibition was designed by Paul Bauer, Interaktive Medien Potsdam, Studio Klarheit Filmproduktion Dresden, Jörg-Peter Bauer, Detlef Schweiger, Henry Puchert and Tobias Ehlich.
www.interaktivemedien.com
www.studioklarheit.de
perceptronics.science
henrypuchert.de
schweigwerk.de
Text: © Paul Bauer - Interaktive Medien GbR, Photos: © TU Dresden, Crispin-Iven Mokry
Partner & Sponsor
Exhibition dates
Introductory course – On the trail of scent
Holiday workshop
It’s not very well known, but it’s fascinating: the sense of smell. In this workshop, you’ll get to put your nose to the test and create your own scent sample. You’ll learn how scents are created in the first place and how the nose actually knows what it’s smelling.
- Age: 7 to 12 years
- Cost: €5 per child
- Book online or via the visitor service at Dresden City Museums on +49 351 488 7272 (Mon–Fri)
Introductory course – On the trail of scent
Holiday workshop
It’s not very well known, but it’s fascinating: the sense of smell. In this workshop, you’ll get to put your nose to the test and create your own scent sample. You’ll learn how scents are created in the first place and how the nose actually knows what it’s smelling.
- Age: 7 to 12 years
- Cost: €5 per child
- Book online or via the visitor service at Dresden City Museums on +49 351 488 7272 (Mon–Fri)