A trip to the moon
Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day at the DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences are taking students on a mission to the moon.
On April 23, 2026, the DLR_School_Lab at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), opened its doors for Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day. A total of 30 ninth-grade students from Oberschule an der Weinau in Zittau, along with their teachers, experienced an exciting project day centered on the theme: “A Journey to the Moon.” The class was divided into two groups for the event and worked on various tasks through research, experimentation, and creativity.
Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day are among the largest career exploration initiatives in Germany. Nationwide, more than 24,000 opportunities with approximately 180,000 openings are available each year. The goal is to give girls and boys insights into career fields in which they have been underrepresented to date. While girls in particular learn about technical, scientific, and skilled trades fields, boys gain insights into social, caregiving, and educational professions. This deliberately breaks down occupational stereotypes and opens up new perspectives.
Especially in the age of digitalization and artificial intelligence, such hands-on insights are becoming increasingly important: job profiles are changing rapidly, and digital skills are indispensable in nearly all industries. The action days address precisely this need, combining career orientation with practical experience.
“Experience Research and Spark Enthusiasm”
The Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences emphasizes the special role such initiatives play in fostering the next generation of professionals.
Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day at the DLR_School_Lab at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences impressively demonstrate how important hands-on insights into science and technology are for young people’s career orientation. When students develop their own ideas, experiment, and actively engage with research, they become enthusiastic. This enthusiasm is the key to nurturing the skilled workers of tomorrow.
”Hands-On Research at the DLR_School_Lab
The DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences offers students exactly this opportunity: to experience research firsthand and discover the research fields of both the university and the DLR itself. These include topics such as weightlessness, energy, low-carbon industrial processes, biotechnology, and modern imaging techniques.
As part of the project day, the students were first introduced to the topic during a group briefing. A DLR video titled “Journey Through Time into the Future” set the stage for the mission. The session then focused on the Moon’s topography, its unique features—such as the far side of the Moon, tidal locking, and the so-called lunar seas. The resources found there—such as water ice in craters at the South Pole or potential shelters in lava tubes—were also discussed.
Another key focus was on the challenges of living and building on the Moon: extreme temperature fluctuations, vacuum, radiation, and micrometeorites. These conditions were vividly demonstrated through a vacuum experiment, among other things. In addition, the students explored navigation on the Moon using longitude and latitude coordinates and a digital navigation system.
From Idea to Lunar Station
In the hands-on portion of the project, the groups designed their own lunar stations. First, they used a digital lunar globe (a visualization of data from the “Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter” via the “QuickMap” program ) to select and document suitable locations. Next, they created scale models of the surroundings in sand trays before constructing their own stations using modules.
The results ranged from research stations for exploring the Moon to concepts for future space tourism. Finally, the groups presented their stations during a tour of the lab and explained their ideas to the other participants.
Inspiration for the professional future
The teachers emphasized the great importance of such places of learning for professional orientation.
Extracurricular learning locations such as the DLR_School_Lab enable pupils to experience science and technology first-hand. Such hands-on experiences are crucial for developing interests and making career prospects tangible.
”The direct connection to Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day was also highlighted, as these events help young people discover their own strengths and try out new career fields. “I thought it was fascinating how many things you have to consider when building a lunar station,” one student said enthusiastically. For other students, the focus was on self-efficacy: “What was good was that we got to decide for ourselves where our station should be located on the moon and how we would build it.”
A heartfelt thank you
The project day demonstrated how Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day can inspire young people to explore science, technology, and new career fields. By combining research, creativity, and hands-on work, the event provided important impetus for career orientation.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the students of Oberschule an der Weinau and their teachers for their enthusiastic participation. We would also like to thank the team at the DLR_School_Lab at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences for their excellent organization and support of the project day.
An equally big thank you goes to Corinna Herrmann, Maria Riemer, and Emilia Herzig, whose activities inspired additional groups of students at the Oberschule an der Weinau.
Corinna Herrmann introduced the students to the professions of laboratory technician and pharmacist by having them select ingredients and then mix them into a really good-smelling hand cream. “Chemistry is when it smokes and stinks and amazes others,” was Maria Riemer’s motto in the inorganic chemistry lab. Emilia Herzig provided insights into the engineering profession and offered a hands-on experience with electrical engineering. Under her guidance, the students soldered decorative pendants and an assembled circuit board.
The HSZG would also like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Daniel Fiß, who provided a special highlight for his student interns with a unique robotics program as part of Girls’ and Boys’ Day.
A heartfelt thank you goes to all the staff at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences who enthusiastically participate in Girls’ and Boys’ Day every year for their ideas and dedication!
Pictures: HSZG
Text: Christian Tiller
2nd upper floor
2nd upper floor
