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Lecture by Bettina Wurche on February 18th at the Hessian State Museum Darmstadt
The Hessian State Museum in Darmstadt will host a lecture on Jules Verne and the origins of marine research on Tuesday, February 18, 2026. Starting at 6 p.m., author and historian of science Bettina Wurche about the writer Jules Verne and his significance for the connection between literature and natural science.
Jules Verne is considered the founder of the science fiction novel. He wrote during an era of profound technological and scientific upheaval, in which modern natural sciences and research institutes emerged. Verne addressed these developments in his novels, developing them in a visionary way. His characters ventured into the depths of the oceans, into the skies, into outer space, and into the Earth's interior. He combined expertise from various disciplines with adventure stories and complex characters.
The lecture focuses on the novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . Bettina Wurche illuminates its scientific background and demonstrates how closely Verne's narratives are linked to the state of research at the time. At the same time, she clarifies why the author's works remain remarkably relevant today.
The lecture is based on Wurche's book of the same name, which she presented at the Leipzig Book Fair in March 2025. In the summer of 2025, the publication was nominated by Bild der Wissenschaft as Science Book of the Year in the "Surprise" category. The book is published by Hirnkost.
Event data
Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2026
Start: 6:00 p.m.
Doors open: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hessian State Museum Darmstadt, Friedensplatz 1
Admission: Free
(DARMSTADT – RED/HLMD)
