UHasselt hosts interactive exhibition on the Einstein Telescope
Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) and Hans Plets, CEO of ET Flanders, officially opened the interactive Einstein Telescope (ET) exhibition on Friday at the UHasselt campus in Diepenbeek. The travelling exhibition, which focuses on the future gravitational wave detector that could be built in the border region between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, aims to introduce visitors of all ages to the project and the pioneering research behind it.
“The Einstein Telescope is much more than just science. It’s a moonshot project, a unique opportunity to bring science, technology, and society together,” said Plets. “It’s about collaboration, innovation and how we build the science of tomorrow together.”
An interactive journey through the universe
The exhibition offers visitors an immersive introduction to the universe and the science behind the ET. It includes a virtual reality experience of the cosmos, a demonstration of how even the slightest vibration can disrupt the telescope’s operation and a hands-on display using marbles to show how planets orbit the sun.
According to scientist Daniel Mayerson, the exhibition seeks to raise awareness of the ET in Flanders. “We’ll show everything, from relativity and gravitational waves to how they’re measured. And we’ll explain why the telescope belongs here in the region.”
Scientific ambition and economic opportunity
Diependaele, who has been actively advocating in recent months to bring the project to the Drielandenpunt (Three-Country Point), highlighted both its scientific and economic potential. “It’s about science in its purest form, about the origins of the Earth and the universe,” he said. “But it also offers economic opportunities. Companies and research institutions can join in, and hopefully, young people will be inspired to choose STEM fields.”
However, he remains cautious about Limburg’s chances of being selected as the telescope’s site. “I’m convinced that the scientifically strongest project will be selected. Our proposal is strong, partly due to the triangular configuration.” Even if the telescope is ultimately built elsewhere, Diependaele stressed that Flanders would still benefit from the technological advances linked to the project. “We’re already encouraging companies to develop technologies that can be economically valorised, wherever the telescope is located.”
Next stops
The ET Roadshow runs at UHasselt until 27 November. “You can visit the expo freely during ET Wednesdays or during our evening opening on Friday, 14 November, and Science Day on Sunday, 23 November,” said Niels Bibert, head of science communication at UHasselt. “We’re also organising numerous lectures about the Einstein Telescope and the extensive research UHasselt is conducting on it, as well as workshops for all ages. During our nocturne, you can also go stargazing at the Science Tower, and we’re also hosting a literary evening. Finally, with our separate programme for secondary schools, we’re already welcoming around five hundred students.”
After Diepenbeek, the exhibition will travel to the University of Antwerp (February 2026), Ghent University (February–March 2026), KU Leuven (March 2026) and VUB (April–May 2026).
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO CARSTEN KOALL / DPA
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