Max Planck Kinder-Uni at MPI-TM
Special Event
- Date: Aug 28, 2025
- Location: MPI für terrestrische Mikrobiologie
- Room: Großer Hörsaal, Seminarräume und Foyer

Our project in cooperation with the Botanical Garden of the Philipps University in Marburg offers schoolchildren an insight into microbial research.
First a lecture on the importance of microbiology, then collecting samples together in the Botanical Garden of the Philipps University of Marburg, and finally isolating bacteria in the foyer of the MPI. This is the programme of the "Max Planck Children's University" at the MPI-TM.
In an interactive children's lecture, 5th and 6th graders learn what small microbes are, where they can be found and why they are so important. They then help to find some very special bacteria. Coloured bacterial cultures are particularly desirable because they produce natural substances that can be useful to humans as antibiotics or other active ingredients. A week after the event, the students will learn about the results of their research.
Article about the Children's University on 27 June 2012
How can a school participate in the Children's University?
Each year, two schools from Marburg and beyond can particpate: in each case, the 5th or 6th grades with up to 116 children. The programme starts at 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m., and each children's university lasts about 2.5 hours. As a rule, two teachers accompany each class. If you are interested, please contact us by email: presse@mpi-marburg.mpg.de