“What do I have to study to work here?” a girl of about ten asks me, and I’m absolutely delighted, because it seems we’ve achieved what we set out to do: to show how exciting marine research can be and how much joy we find in it.
This girl was one of 70 children who visited us on October 3rd as part of the “Türen auf mit der Maus” (“Open Doors with the Mouse”) day, together with their parents or grandparents. More than 800 institutions took part in the event, giving children a glimpse into areas and professions that are usually hidden behind closed doors.
My answer to the girl that day was a bit longer, but in short it was: “Pretty much anything.”
That became clear during the day. At six different stations, the children could participate, experiment, and ask questions — discovering how diverse the research at HIFMB is.
In one room, dimly lit with blue light, the fascinating sounds of Weddell seals, blue whales, and singing ice filled the air. The children tried to imitate the sounds using instruments and their voices. Right next door, another group set out on a playful journey to the Seal Sandbank. Along the way, passing ferry routes, wind farms, and protected areas, everyone realized that “the sea” is not just one thing — many different interests intersect here.
Author and illustrator Kristina Heldmann took the children into the world of plankton — the underwater superheroes — during her reading session. In the lab, they could use microscopes, look at coral skeletons, and learn in the climate chamber how sea anemones are studied and why.
There was also some theory involved: when we talk about biodiversity change, it can refer to different characteristics. Those who solved the species community quiz about abundance, composition, or dominance could proudly go home as Junior Biodiversity Experts.
That title was also well deserved by our special guest: the Mouse herself came to visit us in person! What she and presenter Christoph experienced during their visit can be seen in this feature in the ARD Mediathek.