Electricity is not a human invention, but has flowed in nature for millions of years. But how did we learn to use it? inatura Dornbirn explores this question from July 8, 2026, in the new special exhibition "Do You Understand Electricity?".
The exhibition portrays the minds behind the energy: from Thales of Miletus, who coined the word "electron", to Alessandro Volta's first battery and the legendary "War of Currents" between Edison and Tesla, to the history of the Vorarlberg electricity pioneer Friedrich Wilhelm Schindler. He electrified his factory in Kennelbach as early as 1884 and received a gold medal in Chicago in 1893 for the world's first all-electric kitchen.
To make the complex topic understandable, the show guides visitors through the world of physics in ten lessons. It answers questions such as: Why do electrons like to move in metals so much? How does electricity get through the grid to the socket? And how is it possible to keep the power grid stable?
The focus is on interactive experience. Visitors can become a "human battery" themselves, experiment with magnetic sculptures, or feel on a hand generator how much power is needed to operate a hairdryer. The exhibition runs until May 30, 2027, and impressively demonstrates why electricity is the energy form of the future.
Do You Understand Electricity?
Jul 8, 2026 – May 30, 2027