XFEL: European XFEL: Teachers perform experiments at Xcool Lab

The Xcool Lab of the European XFEL X-ray research laser builds a bridge between science in schools and cutting-edge research. With the first advanced training day for physics, biology and chemistry teachers from Schleswig-Holstein at the Lighthouse visitor centre, European XFEL now wants to intensify this connection even further.

Teacher training day - the video is here

In the Xcool Lab's physics and molecular biology laboratories, the teachers were able to try out the experiments currently on offer and discuss them with the Xcool Lab team. The modern equipment in the school laboratories also enables experiments such as X-ray experiments or DNA analyses, which are not possible at most schools.

In his welcoming address, Prof. Dr Thomas Feurer, Chairman of the European XFEL Management Board, emphasised the great importance of schools for the development of science. "The schools are at the beginning of every scientific education, while we as a research institution with programmes for Master's theses and doctoral students are rather at the end. But the beginning is particularly important! With the Xcool Lab, we therefore want to build a bridge between schools and cutting-edge research at an early stage in order to get as many pupils as possible interested in scientific topics. We are therefore very pleased about today's exchange on our programme."Under the guidance of Dr Sarah Aretz and Dr Sebastian Frerichmann, the subject teachers were able to try out various experiments from the portfolio of the two laboratories. They then visited the interactive exhibition in the Lighthouse and the underground experimental hall of the world's largest X-ray research laser.

"With the experiments in the Xcool Lab and the presentation of our international research facility, we want to show how topics from school are linked to research at the European XFEL by experiments," explains Sarah Aretz, who heads the Xcool Lab.

The most important part of the further development of the content of the Xcool Lab programme was the discussion with the teachers about planned course offerings and other ideas for the future. This will allow the programme to be even better aligned with the interests of the pupils and the requirements of the educational plans and subject requirements.

"We learned a lot from the direct exchange for the further development of our programme and hope that our offer will further strengthen the bridge between school and science," says Aretz. 

The next teacher training course at the Xcool Lab is planned for 11 September and is aimed primarily at teachers in Hamburg.

 

 

 

Background:

Xcool Lab - student laboratories for physics and molecular biology:

The European XFEL's Xcool Lab is a free offer for interested upper school classes of all school types; a programme for middle school classes is in preparation and is due to start in 2026. In the Xcool Lab, classes can pursue scientific questions and investigate them experimentally.

The Xcool Lab enables practical learning through research-related courses with links to subject requirements at school. It consists of two state-of-the-art laboratories for physics and molecular biology. Pupils have the opportunity to experience science at first hand. The experiments are led by scientists who have additional teaching experience in schools. They are supported by student tutors from the respective subject area.

The offer can also be supplemented by tours of the exhibition in the experience centre and visits to the experimental hall on request.

School classes from abroad who are in Hamburg for a school trip, for example, can also book an English-language experimentation day at the Xcool Lab.

Interested teachers can book free experimentation days in the Xcool Lab via this link.

Participants are only required to cover any costs incurred for travelling to the lab and a possible lunch in the Beamstop campus restaurant.

 

About European XFEL:
European XFEL is an international research facility of superlatives in the Hamburg metropolitan region: 27,000 X-ray laser flashes per second and a luminosity that is a billion times higher than the best conventional X-ray radiation sources open up completely new research possibilities. Research groups from all over the world can use the European X-ray laser to decipher atomic details of viruses and cells, take three-dimensional images in the nanocosmos, film chemical reactions and investigate processes such as those inside planets. European XFEL is a non-profit research organisation that works closely with the DESY research centre and other international institutions.

The Lighthouse Visitor Centre at the European XFEL informs visitors about the facility and its research. The building houses the interactive permanent exhibition, the Xcool Lab with experimental programmes for school classes and offers space for special exhibitions and conferences. On "Science Saturdays", European XFEL offers special hands-on activities every month.

 

More information www.xfel.eu/en .