Representations of Future Energy: Student Explorations

Results from the course Interactive Visualisation at TUM & XR HUB

The relationship between technological developments and artistic representations has a long and rich history – from Jules Verne’s speculative visions to the dystopian cityscapes of Blade Runner, the hopeful futures of Star Trek, and the immersive worlds of games like Cyberpunk 2077. These cultural artifacts not only reflect technological hopes and fears but actively shape how we imagine the future.

Building on this tradition, our course challenged students to research the state of the art in emerging energy sources and translate their findings into inspirational representations for the Festival der Zukunft. From rethinking something as everyday as street lighting to representing bold ideas like celestial energy harvesting, students were tasked with creating works that provoke dialogue and, at the very least, leave a lingering thought in the viewer’s mind.

This session invites you to see the results of these explorations and how imagination and inquiry can show a path to our future.

This session is part of the "Energy of the Future" program, supported by Germany's Science Year 2025.