mikroVERSUM opens in Tyrol as Europe’s only dedicated microbe science center

mikroVERSUM has opened at the hollu Campus in Zirl, Austria, with 31 interactive stations focused on microorganisms and their role in daily life, climate, food and the environment. The University of Innsbruck and hollu Systemhygiene built the free, multilingual center to make microbial science accessible to visitors of all ages. Why it matters: - mikroVERSUM turns microbial science into a public exhibit at a time when climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable resource use depend on understanding microbial processes. - The free science center is designed for children, teenagers and adults, which expands access beyond specialist audiences. - The project adds a rare European attraction: an exclusive microbe-focused exhibition, alongside Micropia in Amsterdam. What happened: - mikroVERSUM opened at the hollu Campus in Zirl, Tyrol, Austria, on June 16, 2026. - The University of Innsbruck and hollu Systemhygiene GmbH developed the interactive science center as a joint project. - The exhibition presents the invisible world of microorganisms through 31 hands-on stations. - The center is open Friday through Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00. - Guided tours and workshops for school groups run Monday through Thursday. - Admission is free. The details: - The exhibition follows a 24-hour cycle to show where microbes appear in everyday life. - Stations cover oxygen production, food manufacturing and biological wastewater treatment. - Featured modules include “Morning” for cyanobacteria and oxygen production, “Forest Walk” for the soil microbiome, “Lunch” for microbial food production, and “Evening & Night” for bioluminescence. - The concept came from the MikroMondo® initiative led by microbiologists Heribert Insam and Judith Ascher-Jenull. - More than 100 researchers from the University of Innsbruck and MCI Innsbruck, along with students, helped shape the project. - The federal government, the state of Tyrol and the EU supported the project. - Heribert Insam said microbial processes are essential to solving major environmental challenges. - Judith Ascher-Jenull said the center is deliberately multilingual. Between the lines: - mikroVERSUM is both a science education project and a public-facing argument that microbes are central to daily life, not just laboratory research. - The multilingual format suggests the organizers want to reach tourists, schools and local families in a region that can serve both education and visitor traffic. - The mix of university research, public funding and a private hygiene company points to a broader push to connect science outreach with applied industry relevance. What’s next: - The center will likely build its audience through regular weekend access and weekday programming for schools. - The opening gives the MikroMondo initiative a physical venue to expand public understanding of microbial science. - The project could become a model for similar science centers focused on hidden biological systems. The bottom line: - mikroVERSUM makes microbes visible, interactive and public, while tying their importance directly to health, food, climate and sustainability.