The Fascination of the Microcosm: From the Light Microscope to the Scanning Electron Microscope

The first day of the workshop took place right at the school. Three students from the University of Siegen, along with Dr. Thomas Reppel from the Dean’s Office of the School of Science and Technology, brought two light microscopes connected to computers. Student Mohammad Alhakim introduced the participants to the world of microscopy. It was particularly exciting that the students were able to bring their own specimens. This resulted in images of pine cones, flowers, food, candy, and even computer chips. In the process, the students not only learned about the possibilities of light microscopy but also discovered its limitations. Together with students Florian Krämer and Sophia Weber, they then decided which samples should be examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) on the second day of the workshop.

After this first round, things got creative: The students built their own Galileo telescope using simple materials, which was then thoroughly tested in the schoolyard.

On the second day of the workshop, the group headed to the University of Siegen and the INCYTE Interdisciplinary Research Building. Stephan Cordes and Mohammad Alhakim gave the students a tour of the research building. During the tour, they gained insight into how samples are prepared for examination under a scanning electron microscope. Then it was time for hands-on work: The selected samples were loaded into the SEM, and each child was allowed to operate the state-of-the-art research instrument themselves. The day ended on a high note with a group pizza dinner at INCYTE.

The project’s impact extended beyond the two workshop days. At the Schießberg Comprehensive School’s school festival, the students presented their findings on posters they had designed themselves. They were once again supported by students from the University of Siegen, who staffed a hands-on booth together with the participants. A microscope from INCYTE invited visitors to take a look into the microcosm for themselves. The activity was complemented by a matching game in which microscope images had to be matched with the corresponding objects.

The project was funded as a measure for in-depth career orientation in the STEM field as part of the zdi-BSO-MINTplus program. The focus was on so-called “easy-to-ignore” groups: All participating students have special educational needs. The goal of the project was to provide them with a hands-on and motivating introduction to science and research.

The participants’ enthusiasm spoke for itself. The students showed great interest, participated actively, and were thoroughly delighted with both days of the workshop. The feedback for the student team from the University of Siegen and the INCYTE staff was equally positive. The project impressively demonstrated how modern research, hands-on experiences, and personalized guidance can inspire young people to engage with STEM topics.