The play-city Mini Munich ("Spielstadt Mini-München") is a summer programm offered by the city of Munich to children and teenagers between 7 and 15 years old since 1979. The participants can work, go to university and obtain a PhD, create a company, apply for a patent, go to the movies, play games, etc. All activities are run by the children and for the children. Parents are only welcome if they obtain a one-hour visa!

From 30 July to 2 August, colleagues from the meteorological institute at the LMU Munich (including from the HErZ-DA project) and from the Munich branch of DWD trained young meteorologists and climatologists in the weather and climate service of the Spielstadt Mini-München. The participants observed the weather, measured temperature, wind, humidity, solar radiation, and plotted their data to gain a visual overview. The weather was sunny and cloudless, making the identification of clouds and the production of weather forecasts less exciting than walking around with instruments. The participants also learned about the physics involved in climate change by performing experiments using the climate kit developed at the LMU for schools ("Klimakoffer"). The participants also “earned credits” by attending lectures on radiation, weather and climate given by Peter Köpke (LMU) and on the changing climate in Munich and Bavaria by Gudrun Mühlbacher (DWD).

Thank you to the team of mentors who triggered sparkling looks and interesting questions from the children!

Photos: A. Laurian