e-conversion at TUM Open Campus Day

e-conversion’s interactive program focused on light energy and energy conversion. Children and families experimented with light and solar cells, bringing the creatures of the Solar Zoo to life. Visitors wearing polarization glasses were amazed by colorful optical effects that made the invisible visible. Younger participants became creative researchers themselves by crafting artificial leaves, using different materials to cut, glue, and paint. In addition, visitors could join small groups in the student laboratory and immerse themselves in an escape game full of challenging puzzles. In “Escape from Carbonia,” they explored an abandoned research station and, following the trail of missing energy researchers, recovered important scientific findings and sent them safely back to Earth.

Seven Questions, Seven Research Stations

Together with the Munich Clusters of Excellence Biosystems, Cross-Cultural Philology, MCQST, Nucleate, Origins, and Transform, the e-conversion booth formed part of the “Excellence Avenue” in the TUM Department of Mechanical Engineering building. One thousand research passports were distributed to young visitors, encouraging them to explore the campus independently. At the seven cluster stations, participants tackled a variety of fascinating research questions. Each completed challenge earned a stamp, and those who collected all seven received a small reward at the end.

The tremendous interest at the e-conversion booth demonstrated that enthusiasm for science and research is sparked most effectively when people can experience it firsthand. Seeing surprising scientific phenomena light up children’s faces made the day especially rewarding, as did the continued successful collaboration among Munich’s Clusters of Excellence.