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Science Slam in Cologne: When researchers steal the show

January 26, 2026

As a PhD candidate at University Hospital Cologne, Verena Dzialas researches neurogenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. On stage at Science Slam events, she explains complex brain processes in accessible ways.

https://p.dw.com/p/573BR

Using humor and storytelling to bring complex research on neurodegenerative diseases to wider audiences, neuroscientist Verena Dzialas is a hit both on stage and in the lab. At Cologne’s University Hospital, the young researcher studies early motor impairments using a computer game inside an MRI scanner. Her mix of clarity, passion and comedy won her the 2025 Science Slam Championship in Düsseldorf, where she impressed the audience with insights into Alzheimer’s, strokes and the mysteries of the brain.