In mid-April 2026, the Göttingen Experimental Laboratory for Young People opened a new community centre with an integrated residential wing for young researchers.

The new building complex expands the existing XLAB Experimental Laboratory on the University of Göttingen campus and facilitates the organisation of multi-day courses, science camps and other educational formats. The project was initiated by the founder and chair of the XLAB Foundation, Professor Eva-Maria Neher. The biochemist has had close ties with the GDNÄ for many years, including serving as its president from 2015 to 2016.

 © Stefan Rampfel

In front of the new XLAB meeting centre (from left): Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science, Falko Mohrs; Göttingen’s Lord Mayor, Petra Broistedt; XLAB founder, Eva-Maria Neher; and University President, Axel Schölmerich.

“With the meeting centre, a long-held wish is becoming a reality,” said Neher at the opening on 15 April 2026, which was attended by Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science, Falko Mohrs, Göttingen’s Lord Mayor, Petra Broistedt, and Axel Schölmerich, the interim President of the University of Göttingen. Schölmerich paid particular tribute to Eva-Maria Neher for her long-standing commitment and the great energy she continually brings to the XLAB and the new guest house.

Up to twelve thousand school students visit the XLAB every year. During events lasting several days, many of them had to rely on hotels or youth hostels, which made it difficult for them to interact with one another. This is set to change in the new meeting centre. Housed in two striking towers, it offers accommodation not only to XLAB guests but also to visiting professors, PhD students and teaching staff. Eva-Maria Neher: “Here, young people can experience science not only in the laboratory, but also through dialogue with one another and with the researchers.”

The project’s origins date back to 2006. Initially, construction costs were estimated at 4.4 million euros; in the end, they amounted to 8.1 million euros. Of this, the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony contributed around six million euros, with the XLAB Foundation covering the remainder.

XLAB is one of Germany’s largest school science laboratories in the STEM field. In the subjects of physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computer science, it offers practical experimental courses for school classes, in-depth programmes for particularly interested young people and further training for teachers. For many years, XLAB has successfully promoted dialogue between schools and the scientific community.