Why does confetti stick to a balloon? Where does all that house dust suddenly come from, and why does it always end up in a clump in the corner? And what do stars actually have to do with particles?

Under the title "The Secret of Little Things: How Does a Galaxy End Up in Your Cup of Hot Chocolate?" Prof. Lutz Mädler took over 300 elementary school students in grades 3–6 on a journey from their own homes all the way to outer space. With balloons, laser pointers, and live experiments in a cup of hot chocolate, the lecture hall at the University of Bremen once again became a place of wonder during the 21st “Kinder-Uni” (Children’s University).

The children got a first glimpse of what a lecture is like, what a university looks like from the inside, and were introduced to basic concepts and topics in the natural sciences, particularly in process engineering. “Who knows, maybe you’ll realize today that you find the subject so fascinating that you’ll come back to campus in a few years to learn more,” encouraged Isabell Harder, who, together with Dr. Hanne Ballhausen, once again coordinated this year’s multi-day Kinder-Uni. 

The enthusiasm with which Prof. Mädler vividly illustrated his field of expertise and playfully engaged with the children had an immediate impact: curiosity was high, and even after the lecture, there was a veritable rush to the podium to ask even more questions. 

A great opportunity to introduce children to engineering at an early age and spark their enthusiasm for scientific inquiry.