Empa Summer Camp Sparks STEM Excitement with Cold-Nitrogen Balloons and Robotics Tours

Empa Summer Camp Sparks STEM Excitement with Cold-Nitrogen Balloons and Robotics Tours

(IN BRIEF) Empa’s 2025 summer camp welcomed 24 young explorers to a series of STEM-focused workshops—most memorably the liquid-nitrogen balloon experiment—and creative sessions like the “Zukunfts(K)reise” sustainability book project led by Empa researchers and literacy expert Sandra Hirt. Adding real-world context, campers toured Smartfeld’s robotics labs in St. Gallen and a Zurich power plant, blending hands-on discovery with field visits to cultivate curiosity, teamwork, and a lasting excitement for science and engineering.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜBENDORF, 4-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — EMPA’s 2025 summer camp welcomed 24 enthusiastic youngsters to an inspiring journey where budding engineers and materials scientists explored STEM through hands-on workshops brimming with creative freedom. From the moment they arrived, fun and curiosity guided their adventures, fostering an environment where every “what if?” became an opportunity for discovery.

At various workshops, the young researchers were also able to go on a journey of discovery in the microcosm. Image: Empa

Among the lineup of activities, a highlight was the liquid-nitrogen balloon experiment: children observed balloons dramatically shrink in ultracold temperatures and then expand back to full size at room heat—an eye-opening demonstration of material behavior that sparked countless “aha” moments.

Additionally, participants delved into sustainability with the “Zukunfts(K)reise” project, collaborating on a children’s book envisioning planet-friendly futures. Guided by Empa’s Technology & Society researchers and literacy specialist Sandra Hirt, campers crafted eco-inspired ideas before bringing them to life through hands-on art.

Beyond the labs and studios, the camp’s excursions offered real-world inspiration: a robotics workshop at Smartfeld in St. Gallen introduced students to cutting-edge automation, and a behind-the-scenes tour of a Zurich power plant revealed the inner workings of large-scale energy production.

By combining playful experimentation, creative projects, and field visits, EMPA’s summer camp not only ignited a passion for STEM but also opened the door to the next school year with renewed enthusiasm for science and engineering.

Media Contact:

Remigius Nideröst
Communications
Phone +41 58 765 4598
email: redaktion@empa.ch

SOURCE: EMPA