Museum at the Robert Koch Institute
The Public Health Visitor Centre
Video tour through the Museum at the RKI on YouTube.
The Robert Koch Institute focuses on the health of the population - public health. Scientists research diseases, assess risks and make recommendations on how to protect and improve the health of the people in Germany.
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An incubator from the 19th century and a modern protective suit from a high-security laboratory stand next to each other.
A special feature of the RKI is its modern museum and public health visitor centre. Across 180 m², exhibits from the Institute's daily work today, but also from Robert Koch's estate, can be seen - An incubator from the 19th century and a protective suit from the modern high-security laboratory.
When the museum reopens, guests and visitors will be able to learn more and come into dialogue with us about Robert Koch's work, the history of the Institute and our current tasks.
A museum is a place for learning, networking and science communication
Our guests include scientists from all over the world, network partners, political representatives, media, but also interested citizens. You are all invited to visit the museum at the next opportunity, to take part in our guided tours and to use our interactive offers.
The museum is located at the historic site at Nordufer 20 in Berlin's Wedding district. This is where the physician and microbiologist Robert Koch worked for many years and, together with his colleagues, produced groundbreaking findings on pathogens and their epidemiology. This brought him and his institute international recognition.
Robert Koch and his students were the pioneers of today's biomedical research. But the sometimes very questionable aspects of Robert Koch's work are also discussed.
Wastewater monitoring
In Germany, wastewater monitoring is used in addition to existing systems for disease surveillance. One of the aims is to assess the spread of infectious diseases in order to be able to take measures to protect the population. Wastewater monitoring can help to recognise outbreaks, assess their extent and uncover their origin. Click on "more" to open the one-pager on a new page.
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Playing in the museum
Boredom is a thing of the past. Where are the twins? True or false? What are the correct answers to the big RKI quiz? Click on "more" to open the games on a new page. And play yourself smart. Have fun!
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Audioguide in English, German and French
The museum and Public Health Visitor Center at the Robert Koch Institute offers the option of accompanying the tour of the exhibition with an audio guide. You need a smartphone with internet access and headphones.Clicking on "more" opens the audio guide on a new page.
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Special exhibitions & projects at the RKI Museum
The museum and public health visitor center at the RKI also regularly carries out special exhibitions and projects in cooperation with national and international partners, including the Wellcome Trust, the Science Gallery Bengaluru or, for example, the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin.
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Remembering: Brochure and podcast series
At least twelve scientists and assistants had to leave the Robert Koch Institute in the spring of 1933 because of their Jewish background. We have developed a podcast series so that their names and fates are remembered. You can order the bilingual book that accompanies the series here free of charge. It contains German and English texts as well as photos and other documents.
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The Robert Koch Institute: one of the world’s oldest biomedical institutes
The Robert Koch Institute focuses its attention on public health and is one of the oldest institutions of its kind worldwide. Research is at the very core of its work, enabling it to classify health risks reliably and issue recommendations to improve population health. During the founding years from 1891 to 1904, the institute was headed by Robert Koch, a doctor and researcher who, as a result of his research into anthrax, first determined the connection between infectious agent and disease. He later discovered the tuberculosis pathogen for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1905.
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The Mausoleum for Robert Koch
When Robert Koch died in 1910, his ashes were laid to rest in his institute. The mausoleum ist open to visitors during the RKI museum opening hours.
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An incubator from the 19th century and a modern protective suit from a high-security laboratory stand next to each other.
