Science Camps 2025 - KIT
Science Rocks: Climate, AI and cats – the science camps for everyone who likes to learn new things!
From self-built smart home gadgets to a trip to CERN: science can be experienced at the Science Camps – in the middle of the city, at Kronenplatz in the TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum of KIT. Weather balloons rise ten kilometers into the air, experiments are created from your own ideas, and the exchange with real particle physicists becomes a reality. The Science Camps create spaces for curiosity, a spirit of research and real “aha” moments.
Participants not only learn exciting things, but also experience how much creativity and teamwork is behind scientific work. “We want to get students excited about STEM,” says Marlin Dürrschnabel from TRIANGEL Transfer | Culture | Space at KIT. “And hopefully also attract future specialists and innovators.” Together with the Center for Media Learning (ZML), she organizes science camps that make research tangible.
Science, bouldering and pizza
What makes it special: The ideas do not remain on paper, but are actually built. Students help to bring projects to life. “That’s super nice to see.” And because real vacations also include free time, the day at the camp doesn’t end with a soldering iron: “Our science camps are based on four pillars: project work that generates your own ideas, insights into science and campus life, orientation towards the professional world – and last but not least, lots of leisure fun and community,” explains Michael Gauss from ZML. In the evenings, they go bouldering together, eat pizza or play in the castle park.
Ideas for nothing? On the contrary!
At the electrical engineering camp, for example, the focus is on solutions for a smarter home. One example: “A cat feeder was developed. There was a 3D-printed chute for treats that was triggered when a cat approached. There was also a rotating fan as an incentive to play. It was really nice to see – designed, printed, built and programmed entirely by the participants. The only thing missing was a real cat to test,” says Gauss.
This is exactly what makes the camps so special: instead of frontal teaching, the participants experience how exciting science becomes when they are allowed to design it themselves – with questions such as: What is annoying? What can be improved?
Excursion to CERN, visions of the future and AI
At the electrical engineering camp, devices for everyday life are created – such as a temperature control system or an automated window. The (astro)particle physics camp goes even further: the program includes a trip to CERN in Geneva. Research and measurements are carried out on site and the students build their own cosmic ray detector. The AI Camp focuses on the possibilities of artificial intelligence. And at the “Our Earth” camp, they will go out into the field to investigate geological phenomena and climate influences on site.
New: Climate and environment camp
What impact does the climate have on people? And how can sustainability be experienced in practice? New this year is the Climate and Environment Camp from 8 to 12 September 2025, which is particularly close to Michael Gauss’ heart: “A weather balloon with sensors will be built there, which will fly up to a height of ten kilometers. The data collected will then be analyzed independently.”
From teenagers to grandma – science is for everyone!
The self-confidence with which the projects are presented at the end is particularly impressive. “I was slowly reaching my limits,” says Gauss with a smile. “And the way it was explained – even the grandmother of one of the participants understood everything. The pupil was extremely proud and said that she didn’t think she was in the right place at first because she ‘only attends secondary school’. But anyone who wants to learn something new is very welcome.”
All camps at a glance
Science Camp Electrical Engineering
Age: Young people from 14 to 16 years
Date: 3.8. to 8.8.2025
Details: With overnight stay, meals, excursion, material, leisure program
Contents: The electrical engineering science camp is all about automation. Students will program with Arduino, experiment with sensors and actuators and implement their own project. A visit to Siemens is also on the agenda to find out more about careers in electronics.
Science Camp Our Earth
Age: from 11 years
Date: 11.8. to 14.8.2025
Details: Catering, field trip, experimental material, leisure program
Contents: How is our earth structured? What are rocks made of? How can I see today what happened here many millions of years ago? In the field we go in search of clues with a magnifying glass, hammer and compass.
Science Camp (Astro-)Particle Physics
Age: young people aged 16 and over with a valid identity document (ideally a passport)
Date: 23.8. to 30.8.2025
Details: Four days at KIT and three days at CERN with accommodation, meals, trip to Geneva and leisure program
Contents: Get to know the world of particle physics: After an introduction at KIT, the students will spend three days at CERN. Experiments are carried out there and at KIT, and the students build their own particle detector.
Science Camp Climate and Environment
Age: young people in grades 7 to 10
Date: 8.9. to 12.9.2025
Details: With meals, excursion and additional leisure program
Contents: Hands-on climate research: What impact do humans have on the climate? How do we know that the climate is changing? How do people, plants and animals react when it gets hotter in the city, for example? Excursions, e.g. to the KIT wind tunnel or to the AIDA cloud chamber on the North Campus, and own experiments, including data collection, are used to explore the connection.
Science Camp AI Lab
Age: Young people from 14 to 16 years
Date: In the period from 26.10. to 31.10.2025
Details: With overnight stay, meals, excursion, material, leisure program
Contents: Experience artificial intelligence: How does it work, where do we encounter it in everyday life and what is possible with it? From image and speech recognition to creative applications – real AI tools are used to train models and develop your own projects.
All information on registration can be found here: triangel.space/science-camps-2025 and zml.kit.edu/science-camps.php