On August 19, 2025, the MPI CEC opened its doors for a very special event: For the first time, the “Meet the Scientist” event series took place in a Kids Edition. Under the motto “The Magic of Science,” around 90 visitors flocked to the institute's atrium – most of them curious elementary school children looking forward to an afternoon of wonder and discovery.
Right from the start, it was clear that science can work magic. From “dragon breath” and mysterious clouds of fog to sparkling ice spells, the children experienced amazing effects that at first seemed like magic – but then turned out to be real chemistry. The MPI CEC team knew how to explain complex processes in a child-friendly way and impressively demonstrated how exciting research can be. Tobias Stamm, chemical laboratory assistant in the Electrosynthesis Department and also a member of the training team at the MPI CEC, explains: “We wanted to make science fun for the children and show them that there is a lot of chemistry in our everyday lives that is not boring at all.”
The young guests were particularly enthusiastic because they were not only allowed to watch, but also to actively participate. They followed each experiment with great attention, asked many curious questions, and surprised the scientists with their own prior knowledge. The children were amazed – and so were many of their parents.
A culinary highlight provided a special surprise in between: popcorn and ice cream were prepared live using liquid nitrogen. The enthusiastic audience was not only allowed to watch, but also to taste – a successful mixture of show, enjoyment, and science.
At the end of the afternoon, everyone was delighted. Parents and children alike were equally enthusiastic and hoped that the event would be repeated soon. The organizing team also drew a thoroughly positive conclusion: everything went smoothly, the atmosphere was full of energy – and the beaming faces of the children were the best reward.
With this successful premiere, the MPI CEC has opened a new chapter in the “Meet the Scientist” series. Following the kick-off event in September 2024 and another edition in January, the young generation was addressed directly for the first time. The result shows that hands-on science inspires not only adults but also children – and perhaps the next generation of researchers was already present that afternoon.