MARUM Zukunftstag - Insights into marine research

Apr 25, 2024

In a workshop, the students examine a sediment core more closely. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; V. Diekamp

What exactly do scientists actually do in marine research? This question will be explored by twelve young researchers at the Zukunftstag (Future Day) at MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen. The aim of the Zukunftstag is to offer interested 7th to 8th grade students fascinating insights into scientific work and the diverse career opportunities in the sciences.

The program in the MARUM UNISchool lab offers young researchers the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of cutting-edge marine research. The students will be active in two workshops: the first will focus on climate research. Participants will analyze a sediment core, take measurements, and discuss their findings with each other in order to decipher past climate changes. The second workshop focuses on the technology behind underwater vehicles. The students build models of underwater gliders and experiment with them in a water basin to understand the principles of buoyancy and navigation.

In addition, a guided tour of the institute offers insight into current research at MARUM and the highly specialized technologies used there, such as diving robots and drilling equipment, which are indispensable for investigations in the deep sea.

Zukunftstag at MARUM runs parallel to Girls' and Boys' Day, which takes place in the city of Bremen. The aim of these initiative is to support gender-sensitive career and study choices. Through activities and projects, pupils are given the opportunity to find out more about professions that they rarely consider as possible career prospects in their everyday lives. The education authorities and ministries exempt pupils from school lessons for this day, and participation in the day of action is intensively prepared for and followed up on in many schools.

More information:

Martina Pätzold explains the experiments to a student. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen ; V. Diekamp

Samples are taken from a sediment core. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen; V. Diekamp

Zukunftstag im MARUM UNISchullabor. Foto: MARUM – Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften der Universität Bremen; V. Diekamp