AI meets the classroom

The question of artificial intelligence: "How is it changing our lives, how is it shaping our spaces?" was addressed by 20 pupils from Sandow's Theodor-Fontane-Schule during a project week at the start of the new school year. The programme for the participants included a keynote lecture on robotics, getting to know humanoid robots and robot dogs, lectures on AI-related Urban Planning, excursions to urban spaces and a technology tour of the Staatstheater's main theatre.

Every year, the project week entitled "Theatre - Knowledge - Future: Research Theatre" offers young Cottbus residents a mixture of theatre education and scientific formats to explore socially relevant topics. The project is funded by the Max Grünebaum Foundation with 10,000 euros and implemented in collaboration with the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and the Cottbus State Theatre.

Prof. Dr Gesine Grande, President of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and board chairperson of the Max Grünebaum Foundation: "The project gives young people the opportunity to engage with topics scientifically and artistically and to get to know the different positions of their fellow students. It encourages them to reflect, funds cooperation and is fun at the same time - a successful start to our Research Theatre format."

Hasko Weber, Artistic Director of the Cottbus State Theatre: "I think our joint project is great simply because it invites creative exchange and makes it possible to experience the interplay of the most diverse impulses. If the pupils involved can also derive very individual ideas for their learning and their cultural self-image from this, that is valuable and wonderful."

In the pilot year, the young people were accompanied by theatre teachers Romy Fröhlich, Sonja Waldhaus and Marcel Sparmann, among others. It was a special experience for them, because "theatre becomes a research space with this project - not to provide answers, but to amaze, irritate and think ahead together."

Ines Strehlau, teacher at the Theodor-Fontane-Schule, adds: "When school and lessons become a place where young people work on important topics through research, creativity and dialogue with partners outside of school, it shows how valuable projects are."

The impressions and experiences of the participating young people were explored in scenic and performative exercises on the rehearsal stages of the Staatstheater and in various rooms of the BTU under theatre pedagogical guidance. The results were presented to invited guests at the end of the week. A compilation of the documentary accompaniment by the BTU Multimedia Centre will be shown at the ceremony for the awarding of the Max Grünebaum Prizes 2025. This will take place on 9 November 2025 at 11.00 a.m. in the main theatre of the Cottbus State Theatre. Admission to the award ceremony is free of charge, registration is not required.

The background

The Cottbus Max Grünebaum Foundation has been honouring young artistic and academic talent at the Cottbus State Theatre and BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg since 1997. Its mission to promote culture, education and science is now being continued through the funding and realisation of educational project work with Cottbus schools.