How can new technologies change our everyday lives? And how can complex scientific topics be conveyed in a playful and understandable way? Students explored these and many other questions on October 2 during the new event format “BRAINSTORM – Your Day in Future Mode” at phaeno Wolfsburg.

Students in 8th grade and above were able to experience cutting-edge research firsthand, conduct their own experiments, and engage in conversation with scientists. It became clear that research does not just take place in the lab, it is part of our daily lives and plays a vital role in shaping our future.

As part of the Technical University of Braunschweig’s presentation, SynTrac was also represented with its own hands-on activity and brought the Science Lab’s rowing ergometer to Wolfsburg. This allowed the young people not only to learn about current research in an abstract way but also to get actively involved themselves. By trying things out for themselves, they quickly gained direct access to the scientific topics SynTrac is working on. They were able to experience firsthand the project’s mission, which aims to ensure that aircraft of the future can deliver the same performance with less energy consumption, thereby making global mobility more climate-friendly.

The many questions and discussions on site were particularly engaging. The students shared their own experiences and ideas and wanted to know how our research works and when the new aircraft will take off.

For a research project with strong societal relevance, such as Syntrac, this direct exchange is especially valuable. Not only does this spark interest in the research questions, but it also creates a space to reflect on the importance of basic research for their own futures and to exchange ideas on the topic.

In addition to the Technical University of Braunschweig, many other institutions were involved, including Wolfsburg Hospital, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, 42 Wolfsburg, and the Open Hybrid LabFactory.

The diversity of the offerings demonstrated just how differently future-oriented topics can be approached. From food chemistry and sustainable urban development to smart building technology, energy-efficient sensors, and innovative technologies in mechanical engineering, all the way to virtual reality and new learning environments, the young people were able to explore a wide variety of research and application areas.

For students, this type of event offers the chance to discover connections to topics that may initially seem abstract in everyday school life. At the same time, they were able to gain an impression of the wide range of opportunities offered by a degree program or a career in the scientific and technical fields.

For SynTrac, “BRAINSTORM” was therefore a great opportunity to raise awareness of research, engage with a young audience and the students of tomorrow, and demonstrate how scientific work is connected to concrete questions about our future.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the organizers and especially the many curious students for the interesting conversations and open dialogue.