What is ZARM at the University of Bremen?

Updated

ZARM is a research center at the University of Bremen that conducts fundamental research for space and under space conditions. It focuses on microgravity science and space technology, operating two notable Earth-based microgravity facilities: the Drop Tower Bremen and the GraviTower. If you are looking for an institution that studies how physics behaves without gravity — or want to run an experiment in near-weightlessness without leaving the ground — ZARM is built for exactly that.

What ZARM does

ZARM's stated mission is to conduct research for space and under space conditions, on the premise that fundamental research must pave the way before space science and technologies become useful in everyday life. The center describes its work as pushing boundaries in engineering, science, and social responsibility, with diverse, multidisciplinary teams as the key factor for sustained progress.

Its research expertise covers:

  • Quantum and gravitational physics
  • Fluid dynamics
  • Space exploration
  • Experiments under microgravity conditions

The people at ZARM come from all over the world and span all STEM disciplines — from engineers to physicists, mathematicians, and IT specialists.

The microgravity facilities

ZARM's most distinctive asset is its ability to create weightlessness on Earth.

Facility What it provides
Drop Tower Bremen 9.3 seconds of weightlessness — described by ZARM as more than any other earthbound test facility worldwide
GraviTower Up to 20 microgravity experiments per hour, plus research under partial gravity as found on the Moon or Mars

The Drop Tower is the headline capability: a long free-fall that yields several seconds of microgravity for a single experiment. The GraviTower trades some of that duration for throughput and flexibility, letting researchers repeat experiments rapidly and also simulate reduced gravity levels rather than only zero-g.

Who it is for

  • Researchers in gravitational physics, fluid dynamics, or space systems who need microgravity data without a rocket or orbital platform.
  • Students and schools — ZARM's activities extend into education, including a partnership making Bremen an ESERO partner site and hosting the German CanSat competition for school students.
  • Collaborators and visitors — the center runs public-facing events such as the ZARM Talk lecture series, where researchers present work like bubble breakup in turbulence.

Where to start

The homepage at zarm.uni-bremen.de is organized around four entry points — "Microgravity at its best," "Always one step ahead," "Meet the experts," and "Work with us" — which map to the facilities, the research capabilities, the people, and collaboration or career opportunities respectively. The News section carries announcements on talks, partnerships, and competitions, so it is the fastest way to see what the center is currently doing.