Yesterday’s Girls’ Day was truly exciting at the IOM: We welcomed curious high school students and spent the day with them, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at our research.

After a brief introduction to the institute, we kicked things off with a tour of the IOM. The program included a variety of stops, including a visit to the rheology lab. There, the participants learned, among other things, why liquids behave differently and what terms like viscosity and wettability actually mean.

We then visited the Application Center, where various pilot plants were presented, including those for membrane modification and film coating, as well as for structuring surfaces with ion beams.
Of course, a look inside the Laser Technology Center and a visit to the microscopy section were also essential. Here, the students were able to experience laser technology up close and even marvel at the fascinating compound eye of a fly.

With great dedication and creativity, our colleagues organized the day and sparked the girls’ enthusiasm for science and technology. In a short quiz, the students were able to test their newly acquired knowledge right away—and they did really well!

Another highlight was a short presentation on the vastness of space and the role of ion beam engines in space travel—a topic that is also studied at the IOM.

To cap off the day, everyone went outside where three water rockets were launched, which generated great excitement.

The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive—an all-around successful day!