Hands-On Physics: Project Week at Ruhr University Bochum
The Physics Project Week took place again during the Easter break at Ruhr University Bochum. Female highschool students in grades 8 to 10 could choose from a variety of workshops. In our workshop, "From Plasma to Gold Coating," the future researchers investigated the properties of plasmas and learned about plasma coating applications through experimentation. In the laboratories at the Chair of Plasma Physics, they were able to experience current research firsthand and look over the scientists’ shoulders.
The project week also had the theme "Our Exotic Universe." During an engaging introductory lecture, the students learned about neutrinos, the invisible messengers of the cosmos. Another highlight was the visit to the Bochum Planetarium. There, the students traveled to extreme places in the cosmos, such as exploding stars, black holes, and particles moving at nearly the speed of light. They explored the question of how we can peer into the depths of the universe in the process. During the astronomy show, the students followed scientists from Bochum and the surrounding area to modern telescopes in various locations around the world, and even to Antarctica, where neutrinos from space can be detected.
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Project week during the autumn holidays
During the autumn holidays, highschool students in classes 8 and 9 enjoyed an eventful week full of physics, experiments and research at the Alfried Krupp Schülerlabor at the Ruhr University Bochum. In the workshop ‘From Plasma to Gold Coating,’ the students discovered the exciting characteristics of luminous gases and their numerous applications, such as in surface coating. They visited laboratories, observed researchers at work and learned that plasmas can also be ignited in liquids. In Prof. Scherer's lecture ‘From Diamonds, Pencil Tips and Symmetries,’ they learned how to (theoretically) turn a pencil tip into a diamond. Other highlights included a visit to the planetarium, meals together in the mensa and a physics duel followed by pizza. We would like to thank all participants for their curiosity and fascination for physics and are already looking forward to the next project week!
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Plasma experiments with the mouse
On 3th October, we celebrated the nationwide Mouse Day.
The Faculty of Physics at Ruhr-University Bochum invited children to discover the exciting world of physics and try their hand at lots of experiments.
In our workshop, the children were able to explore the glow of plasma and its applications. As a souvenir, the Mouse fans coated small ducks with gold using plasma.
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Plasma Science for the 21st century - CRC1316 presents its goal to the National Teachers Congress
The 115th MNU congress took place in Bochum 1st-4th of May 2025. Judith Golda and Achim von Keudell presented a lecture on plasma science of the CRC1316 in combination with a few experiments from the plasma truck portfolio. A large audience was impressed and inspired by the enormous range of applications of plasmas.
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High school student interns at EP2
From 9th to 11th April, two high school students were guests at the Chair of Experimental Plasma Physics. They experimented with the sputter coater, gained insight into current plasma research at the Ruhr-Universität and observed scientists at work.