FLEX - The open-air laboratory of the University of Siegen

Welcome to the FLEX website. Here you will find our current offer, the possible internships and further information!

What is the FLEX anyway?

At FLEX, we want to provide access to the natural sciences and chemistry in particular through authentic phenomena and sensory-emotional experiences.

At FLEX - the outdoor laboratorywith EXperimentation Field- learning takes place not about nature, but in nature.

This changes the perspective from merely teaching "natural" science by looking at isolated laboratory phenomena and idealized theory about technically prepared nature (as is often the case in the classroom) to experiencing and recognizing natural science through authentic learning in nature.

This offers the opportunity to directly "perceive" the real-life proximity of many phenomena and to view them not only from a biological perspective, but also from a chemical (physical, geological, meteorological) perspective across all subjects.

With regard to chemistry as a school subject, the focus is on substances, material transformations and energy conversion. These can provide starting points for an interdisciplinary approach to sustainable action across all natural sciences.

Our internships at FLEX

We spin, felt and dye wool and learn about the chemical background to these processes.

We examine soil components and process the clay extracted.

We process different types of grain and learn about the chemistry of bread baking.

We deal with the ingredients of aromatic, medicinal and dyeing plants and their processing.

We explore honey and wax extraction and the processing of the components and learn about the hard-working producers.

We try to light and extinguish fires with different materials and learn the basics of combustion.

We look at carbon dioxide in its various cycles and the possible effects of human intervention.

We examine soil and water samples we have taken ourselves and learn more about the structure and function of individual nutrients.

We investigate starch as a renewable raw material from the grain to the end product as paste or film.

Our weather station

Reasons for the project:

In the villages of Schönau/Altenwenden, a professional weather station was installed for a better understanding and a more accurate local climatic data basis, which measures reliable and exact values for precipitation, wind and temperature over the course of the year and makes them freely available on the Internet.

Supplemented by precise water level probes:

The station is supplemented with water level probes to measure and monitor the water level of the local Albe stream. The water level data can be correlated with the precipitation data. The effects of (heavy) rain events on the course of the stream can thus be reported and warned of, as can any associated flooding. In addition, the data can form the basis for meaningful local measures for climate impact adaptation in the long term.

Click here to go to the weather station website!