KINDERUNI

KINDERUNI, or kid's university, is a joint project run by Hochschule Geisenheim University and the VDI e.V. that offers kids aged 8–12 eight exciting lectures each year, giving them fascinating insights into the world of math, IT, natural sciences, and technology. Any child that visits at least six of the eight lectures in a given year is awarded with a special KINDERUNI diploma.

In 2024 we already explored two exciting sources of environmentally friendly energy: the sun and the wind. You learned how sunlight can be converted into electricity and how wind turbines turn to generate energy.

On June 11, 2025, we took our next step on an exciting journey through the world of renewable energies! This time, it was all about water. Hydropower – using water to generate energy – is another renewable energy, just like solar and wind energy. It can be used over and over again and has a much lower impact on the environment than coal or oil.

At this KINDERUNI event, we explored exactly how hydropower works as well as its advantages and disadvantages with exciting experiments and cool interactive models. 

As part of the KINDERUNI program, our young participants had the chance to see firsthand how chocolate is transformed from raw cocoa beans into finished bars. The children were able to learn with all their senses – smelling, touching, watching, and, of course, tasting! As a special highlight, everyone had the opportunity to design their own chocolate bar according to their own personal tastes. The event was not just a lot of fun, but also offered interesting insights into the world of chocolate prodution, an all-around sweet experience!

People have long used water and its properties to make their lives easier. At KINDERUNI on April 23, 2025, we took a closer look at this element, discovering which properties of water help us and how we use them.

There are insects crawling, buzzing, and flying all around us – but which ones actually live in our environment? Together, we went on a journey of discovery, observing beetles, bees, and other insects with cameras, nets, and magnifying glasses, and learned why they are so important for nature.