Connecting Science with SocietyA playground for citizen scientists
A vibrant community of researchers, communicators and dreamers transforming ideas into impactful scientific breakthroughs.
Our mission
Our mission is to help non-scientists conduct their own research to answer their own questions. For this, we will organise science communication events for engaging people in a scientific discussion, and we will open calls for non-scientists to submit their questions and projects. Once we receive the projects, we will help the participants find experts to discuss how they can use the scientific method to answer their questions. We will assist in finding funding and host laboratories to support the project. At the end of the project, the participants will publish the results on publicly available open-access platforms and be a part of a science communication event to present the results to the public. We will organise training programs for the experts and the participants to make sure the science communication events are accessible, informative, and entertaining!
Our vision
Our vision is an accessible science, where science is not a pursuit of a few mysterious, grey-haired gurus, but it is a path for all people who want to try to push the boundaries of knowledge and find answers to their curious questions without dedicating many years of their lives to academia.
We believe that the demystification of academia is essential to establish bridges between laboratories and laymen, and it will engage non-scientists in active research and science communication more than ever.
How it works
From your first question to sharing your results — here’s how we help you turn curiosity into discovery.
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You come to us with your scientific question. We sit together and turn it into a falsifiable hypothesis. Then, we search for a mentor and initial funding for you.
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You work closely with a host lab to test your hypothesis at the bench. Who knows, maybe this idea is a beginning of a big research project?
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You communicate your journey and your results at a science communication event - inspiring others to ask follow up questions themselves!
Our Projects
Tardigrade-powered Awesome Space Potatoes
Is it science, is it art, or can it be both?
In 2024, Laura Schütz, at the time a master’s student at Heidelberg University, came up with a simple but crazy idea after she had read a recent scientific article: "Space Potatoes". She wanted to breed potatoes that could withstand high levels of radiation by transferring DNA repair genes from tardigrades to potatoes to prepare them for space travel. But how do you pitch a rather unconventional research idea? You present it to “The Idea Nurturing Institute – TINI” – and we come up with a plan!
Our events
Join the events we organize to absorb science in a fun way and win awards for best questions.
09.10.2026 | CambridgeScience-COM: COMmunication + COMedy + COMpetition
This show combine science communication, comedy and theatre elements, and consists of a few short talks by scientists followed by a discussion and awards to the audience for engaging with creative questions. Plus, our legendary quizzes.
This time the topic of the event is what does it mean that something is scientific? Or when it is not? You can hope for a dose of philosophy.
Science: Eggsplained 2 in Heidelberg
In September 2026 we came back to Heidelberg for Science: Eggsplained. We covered dancing chromosomes, mysterious cells supporting IVF, and self-replicating molecules way simpler than viruses.
Past events
In January 2026 we launched a new science communication series. Science: Eggsplained focuses on reproductive biology - whether in plants, humans, or hammams…
Science: Eggsplained in Heidelberg
In 2025 we travelled to Edinburgh to spread the love for Tardigrades! 7 shows in a week was our longest but also most rewarding theater marathon so far.
Romeo & Juliet & Tardigrade at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
In July 2024 we performed a small theater play with the pupils from the Heidelberg International School to explain and collect funds for the Space Potato Project.
Space Potato at DAI Heidelberg
Get in touch
Have questions or want to get involved? We'd love to hear from you.
ideanurturing@gmail.com