On Saturday, May 17, the weather was beautiful as laboratories, workshops, and seminar rooms opened their doors and offered a glimpse behind the scenes of science and technology. “This is real knowledge transfer—you can touch, try, and participate,” said many guests, including alumni, who enjoyed the varied program.
Prospective students also took advantage of the open house, including a young man who earned his bachelor's degree at Rottenburg University and wants to pursue his master's degree in Lemgo. Although he had a long journey to get there, he said that the Master's program in Production and Management at TH OWL is so unique. He is determined to continue his studies and earn additional qualifications. Staff at both locations had the impression that many prospective students were visiting with their parents or friends.
In Detmold, visitors were thrilled by the view of the Hermann Monument from the basket of a hot-air balloon suspended from a construction crane, creative hands-on activities related to architecture and civil engineering, and insights into digital planning via augmented reality. Germany's first built-in kitchen – the “Frankfurter Küche” – and its social background also attracted a great deal of interest. In the media production department, guests were able to experience how a television production is made, look over the shoulders of the editorial team at the campus radio station Triquency, and enjoy student film art in the short film cinema.
The bridge crash test also attracted a lot of attention: ten teams of students competed against each other with bridges they had built themselves from specified materials. The aim was to create a structure that was as light as possible yet stable. At 12 noon, the moment of truth arrived: amid cheers, the bridge that held up the longest was revealed. The team consisting of Johanna Specht, Linus Moersener, and Andre Marx took first place—their bridge withstood a load of 4.2 kN before giving way. The crash test event was supported by the Förderverein Bauingenieurwesen e.V. (Civil Engineering Association), which sponsored the event with 1,000 euros, enabling a prize of 500 euros to be awarded to the winning team.
The AKNW Interior Design Day, which took place at the same time on the Detmold campus, also attracted a number of interested professionals to the seminar rooms and laboratories. Just a few hundred meters away, at the KreativInstitut.OWL (KIO), the focus was on the technology of the future: visitors could experience the Hermann monument as a 3D hologram or lose themselves in specially programmed games. Right next door, the large green screen studio of the media production department offered exclusive insights into an ongoing TV production: Here, guests were able to become part of the picture themselves, experience directing, and try their hand at camera work. Like Nina: The 17-year-old is interested in audiovisual media and was not only there live for the dolly ride, but also in front of the camera herself. “I've known for a while that I want to study media production at TH OWL,” she says enthusiastically. “But today really convinced me.”
Of course, the Lemgo campus also showed itself from its best side once again: technical know-how to take home was offered by the CNC lathe, on which individual chess pieces were manufactured, as well as free water analysis and the field robot from the Sustainable Campus Höxter, which visitors could even remote control themselves.
Those who felt like getting some exercise tried out a wooden cargo bike or tested their handball skills at the wheel of fortune stand run by Bundesliga handball club TBV Lemgo. Ten-year-old Judy was particularly lucky here and won tickets to a handball game. The young winner was accompanied by her mother and siblings. The family is originally from Saudi Arabia. The mother is particularly interested in studying food technology or medical and health technology at TH OWL. “Both fields offer a wide range of career prospects and will be in high demand in the future. I can't wait to obtain the necessary language certificate and enroll at the university,” she explains enthusiastically.
Falk Willecke also traveled to the open house with his mother and two younger brothers: "I come from the Sauerland region, near Arnsberg, and am currently completing my vocational baccalaureate after training as a wastewater technology specialist. I'm very interested in the environmental sciences program in Höxter, which is why I came to Lemgo today for the open house to get a feel for the university," said the 20-year-old.
19-year-old Julia took advantage of this open day to get a taste of what it's like: “I'm currently finishing my high school diploma in Göttingen. Starting in the winter semester, I'll be studying data science at TH OWL – I've already enrolled and am currently looking for an apartment in Lemgo. Storing data, working with numbers, structuring tables – that's exactly my thing! I'm really looking forward to getting started and am excited to see what awaits me here.”
The hop-on/hop-off campus tours, which anyone could join, attracted around 30 to 40 people at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Chocolate from a 3D printer, freeze-dried snacks, and a scent trail delighted visitors of all ages. Face painting was also available, of course.
Another highlight was the Smart Factory OWL Open Factory Day. This event focused on modern manufacturing technologies, soldering techniques that visitors could try out for themselves, and the creative use of artificial intelligence. Particularly exciting was seeing how deceptively real AI-generated images can appear—and the risks associated with this.
“I graduated from TH OWL myself in 2012 – back then, the degree program was still called Mechanical Engineering. When I see the modern laboratories today, I can't help but be amazed. The Lemgo campus has changed incredibly – in the best possible way! It's impressive to see how technology, research, and teaching have developed here,” said Matthias, who attended the open house with his son.
The world's oldest diesel engine still in operation was both historic and forward-looking: built in 1903, it was powered by modern HVO fuel – an impressive sign of the changes taking place in the energy sector. Speaking of which, regional partners such as Phoenix Contact and Weidmüller presented their close cooperation with TH OWL at the CIIT and also drew attention to available training and dual study places.
Tech enthusiasts were able to take a look under the hood of the Formula Student racing car with the OWL Racing Team or, a few steps further on, see how CNC machines produce customized pen holders with engravings of the customer's choice. Those who liked spectacular things could marvel at rocket function tests or visit the wood laboratory to learn about machines that make building with this natural raw material a tangible experience. In another lab, demonstrations showed how microalgae, fungi, and bacteria produce sustainably usable materials.
The mobility project “NeMo.bil” and the gyroscope-stabilized MONOCAB also impressively demonstrated how TH OWL is working with its partners to develop sustainable solutions for rural areas.
Whether you were driven by technical curiosity, scientific interest, or simply the desire for an eventful family day with cotton candy, popcorn, French fries, and currywurst, the open house at TH OWL on the Creative Campus Detmold and the Innovation Campus Lemgo offered something for everyone—and even featured great live music, including an open rehearsal of the university choir. The electric piano and technical equipment are sponsored by the Lippe District Location Security Foundation.
