| Abstract |
A shortage of skilled workers is one of Germany’s most significant obstacles to geothermal expansion. To address this at an early stage, a geothermal project day for adolescents was created at TUM within the study orientation program. The primary project aims to awaken girls' enthusiasm for STEM subjects. The geothermal part is structured around an escape-game-like project day. In this activity, the 8-10th grade girls independently plan a geothermal project for their own town. Along the way they conduct hands-on experiments, such as comparing porosity and permeability of sand and gravel, building a geological model with data from neighboring geothermal wells, and finally ‘drilling’ through the sedimentary sequence in a transparent container to reach a reservoir and extract water with a syringe. At the end of each station, a single-choice question proves their understanding of the underlying processes and unlocks the next station. After working with over 100 girls, we have mixed feelings. While most participants showed strong enthusiasm for the topic during the workshop, only a few had ever heard of geothermal energy before - despite living in one of Europe’s most active hydrothermal regions. In addition, many believed that a sustainable future depends more on individual lifestyle choices than on career paths. We hope our project can help bridge this knowledge gap and challenge such misconceptions and stereotypes. At the same time, we’re grateful for the opportunity to learn from these experiences and encouraged by the positive feedback received from both the girls and their schools. |