The COSMO Science Forum at the Dresden Kulturpalast makes current research accessible to a wide audience. The goal is to bring science to life through engaging exhibits, immersive storytelling formats, and direct dialogue with researchers. As part of the "Dr. Zukunft" (Dr. Future) exhibition, we developed a multisensory, interactive exhibit that playfully and vividly conveys the highly complex research being done on "lab-on-a-chip" systems.

What is a Lab-on-a-Chip?
These innovative systems simulate living conditions for cells on a microscopic scale. This allows medications to be tested on cultivated cells—a significant advancement for medical research with the potential to replace animal testing in the long term.

Interactive Knowledge Transfer through Storytelling
To make the topic tangible, two avatars—a professor from TU Dresden and a research group leader from Fraunhofer IWS—guide visitors through the experiment. The story unfolds interactively, leading visitors through the process with easy-to-understand explanations and direct involvement.

Hands-on Research
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a laboratory setup that can be experienced both physically and digitally. Using a touchscreen and haptic interfaces, users learn step-by-step how research works:

• A physical pipette is used to apply cell substance to the chip on the touchpad.

• Electrodes are placed via drag-and-drop, causing the cells to start beating.

• The frequency and reaction of the cells change depending on the dosage applied.

In this way, we succeeded in making complex research intuitive and exciting through storytelling, interaction, and design. Because when research becomes relatable, it has the power to inspire and move people.