Welcome to KOALa!
The Ocean in a Test Tube: The german aronym KOALa stands for “Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on Oceans and Atmosphere in the Student Laboratory“ and focuses on the problem of ocean acidification as its central theme
Because green turns to yellow, there’s not much left of the coral reef: The lab day begins with an experimental investigation of this mystery, providing the framework for understanding the causes, consequences, and chemical basics of the core topic – ocean acidification. Students get hands-on lab experience working independently in small groups, using tablets as aids, guided by our expert staff, with plenty of “aha” moments included!
Problem identified – but how do we solve it now?
In the second part of the lab day, the students act as Ocean Designers, modeling the ideal conditions for an ocean free from acidification problems. The necessary background information – focusing on the chemical and physical influences on the solubility of carbon dioxide in water – is experimentally gathered at various stations.
In a plenary session, the developed design proposals are discussed and evaluated until the key question arises: What options does each individual have to contribute their part of solving the problem?
The KOALa student laboratory was developed as a part of the doctoral project “Aktivitätsgebundene Erfassung motivationaler Faktoren im Schülerlabor” by Xenia Schäfer .
FAQ
- grades 9 and 10 of secondary modern schools (Realschule) and grammar schools (Gymnasium)
- pH-values and indicators
- Limewater test
- Insight into the carbon cycle
- Influences on the solubility of carbon dioxide in water
Our KOALa appointments take place on Thursdays. Please plan for a full-day visit from 9:00 a.m. to no later than 3:00 p.m. A one-hour lunch break is scheduled. There is the option to eat at the local cafeteria.
On site, we will provide you and your students with lab coats and safety goggles.
Registration form
Unpublished form
Organization and scheduling
Administrative office
Impressions from KOALa
1/14
2/14
3/14
4/14
5/14
6/14
7/14
8/14
9/14
10/14
11/14
12/14
13/14
14/14© Giulia Iannicelli
As part of the Excellence Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials (EAM), a student laboratory has been developed that covers the topics of “Nanotechnology” and the “Energy Transition.” The target group for this program is students from chemistry courses in upper secondary schools (Gymnasium) as well as from technical and vocational high schools.