Summer, Sunshine & Supercomputing – Curious Crowds Flocked to JSC at "Tag der Neugier"

Bright sunshine over Jülich: the organising team and more than 22,000 visitors of "Tag der Neugier" could not have wished for better weather on 7 September 2025.

The Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) was already a magnet for visitors during previous Open Days – but this time, interest was even greater. The reason for this was the media spotlight on JUPITER, Europe's fastest supercomputer, which had been officially inaugurated just two days earlier. Long queues already formed in front of the main entrance to the JSC buildings in the morning. To allow visitors to explore the JSC without being rushed, they were gradually admitted in small groups.

Curious visitors were in for a treat. They could learn about the role of supercomputers in weather and climate research, astronomy, and particle physics at science stations, engage in conversations with researchers in person, and experience science first-hand at interactive stations.

JUPITER and Quantum Computers Fascinated Visitors

Many visitors wanted to learn more about the new JUPITER supercomputer – and see it with their own eyes. A detailed LEGO model initially provided a playful overview of JUPITER's most important components. Afterwards, VR glasses were available to take participants on a virtual discovery tour: suddenly, they found themselves in the corridors of the JUPITER data centre, walking through impressive rows of server racks, climbing onto the roof of the building or rising into the air to view the large cooling structures from a bird's eye perspective.

Those who wanted could afterwards take JUPITER home in the form of a peel-off tattoo or sticker. Many also seized the opportunity to walk a few metres to the new JUPITER building and participate in question-and-answer sessions with JUPITER experts.

Anyone interested in a closer look at the supercomputers of earlier generations could peer through a glass wall at JSC directly into the computer hall. There, the rows of blue-lit server racks stood out clearly from the black rows of racks housing the supercomputers' short- and long-term memory.

The topic of quantum computing also attracted considerable interest. For the Open Day, JSC opened two buildings with a total of six quantum computers and a quantum research laboratory. Among other attractions, visitors were able to inspect the cryostats – specialised equipment that generates the extremely low temperatures required for quantum computers to operate.

Interactive Insights into Research and Supercomputing

Visitors could experience hands-on science with an interactive LEGO model of the ALMA telescope array in Chile's Atacama Desert, which gained worldwide fame in 2019 for its role in capturing the first image of a black hole. Visitors were able to try out for themselves how the quality of the images captured by ALMA changes when individual antenna dishes are added or removed – and thus playfully understand how a radio telescope array works.

At another station, the WeatherAI Lab offered insights into new approaches using artificial intelligence in weather and climate research. Using a weather forecast simulator, visitors could adjust parameters such as air pressure, temperature and humidity in selected regions based on the current weather conditions for that day – and then observe how these changes would affect the forecast for the coming days.

There was also great interest in the cloud chamber, where invisible cosmic particles, which normally fall down on us unnoticed, suddenly became visible. As if by magic, a downright firework of glowing lines and patterns appeared in a cooled air-alcohol blend under a glass plate. Different particles such as electrons, muons and alpha particles could be distinguished by the shape, length and movement of their patterns.

Great Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Research

The AI Campus tent showcased how artificial intelligence is developed and used in research at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The JSC had an information stand entitled "Artificial Intelligence (AI) from JSC – from research to application" and gave presentations on topics such as the Jülich AI Factory (JAIF) and AI foundation models that enable highly accurate climate and weather forecasts.

The CUPITER demonstrator offered a visually compelling introduction to the world of AI. Visitors could use a touchscreen to select topics like “Brain”, “Climate”, “Energy”, “Bioeconomy”, “Future Computing”, and “Society,” which an AI then wove into an almost oracular poetic phrase. Impressive, constantly changing dream images appeared on a large-format screen. On the back of the demonstrator, a large touchscreen provided a steady stream of background information on AI applications and current research projects at the Jülich institutes. One click revealed in-depth content on each topic.

MaTSE – Popular Dual Study Program in “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science”

The MaTSE information stand attracted great interest among children and young people. MaTSE is a dual study program in “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science” with integrated training to become a “Mathematical-Technical Software Developer,” which has long been offered at Forschungszentrum Jülich in cooperation with Aachen University of Applied Sciences.

Hands-on activities such as “Send the fox through the maze” gave children and young people the opportunity to try out the first steps of programming in a playful way, while “Mathematical functions in action” encouraged them to imitate the behavior of mathematical functions through their body movements.

A Big Thank You to the JSC Team

We are very happy about the great interest in the work of JSC during the Open Day. Many thanks to the numerous JSC employees who contributed to the success of the day with their dedication and enthusiasm. As a result of their efforts, thousands of visitors gained exciting insights into what goes on behind the scenes in research and were able to better understand the central role that supercomputing plays in helping to address the scientific, economic, and social challenges of the future.

Photo credits: Yen-Sen Lu, Maximilian Tandi, Andreas Hoffmann

Author: Andreas Hoffmann