Pioneering discoveries: Children’s and Youth UNI inspires in Greifswald!

Pioneering discoveries: Children’s and Youth UNI inspires in Greifswald!

The annual Children's and Youth UNI took place at the University of Greifswald on June 11th and 12th, 2025. Over 1,300 students from grades 1 to 10 from Greifswald and Western Pomerania took part in this varied event. The lectures and tours were quickly booked up, which reflects the great interest of the young participants. Julia Lammertz from University Communications at the University of Greifswald confirmed that interest was particularly high this year and the events were sold out immediately. The next edition of the Children's and Youth UNI is already planned for May 2026.

The Children's and Youth UNI is a project of the University of Greifswald that aims to address children and young people from elementary school to high school. In the past, the project has been enriched by special themes, such as the Teddy Bear Hospital in 2017 and 2018, which provided basic medical knowledge for the youngest participants. This year, exciting topics such as the influence of moors, volcanoes and predators on the climate were also covered, as well as challenges in using social media such as WhatsApp, TikTok and YouTube.

Colorful variety of topics and activities

Part of the program included exposure to various languages, including Low German and a crash course in Finnish. Pupils also had the opportunity to take part in guided tours of the botanical garden, the zoological institute and museum, the detention center and the university medical center. Here they not only learned about regional crops and animals, but also gained insights into the fascinating aspects of pediatric surgery.

The lectures were organized in easy-to-understand 45-minute sessions to stimulate the interest of young participants. The broad topic of the lectures alone shows how versatile the concept of the Children's and Youth University is, which imparts knowledge in a creative and entertaining way. In addition, the project plans to continue to prepare medical topics in a child-friendly manner in the future and to offer young people a sound basis for their further learning.

Integration into a larger MINT network

The Children's and Youth UNI is part of a larger commitment that the University of Greifswald is pursuing in the area of ​​MINT education. Projects like MINT4All, which are being implemented at various universities in Germany, are also looking for ways to get students excited about mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. Through various events, workshops and seminars that cover the application of mathematics in real phenomena, students are provided with a bridge to science.

Such initiatives are crucial to raise awareness among young people about the importance of STEM subjects. It is expected that similar formats will be continued in the future as part of campaigns such as the Children's and Youth UNI in Greifswald and beyond.