Why does the internet often know more about us than our own families? Can trees talk to each other? And what do burger buns, T-shirts and bees have in common? Answers to these and many other questions will be provided to pupils in Years 5 and 6 at the 19th Barnim-Uckermark Children's University, which will take place from 10 to 13 March 2026 at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE).

Together with the Barnim-Uckermark Community Foundation, HNEE is once again opening its lecture halls to young explorers this year. In age-appropriate lectures, they will learn about the diversity of science – from nature and the environment to history and society to digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

The Children's University programme covers a wide range of topics: on the first day of the event, the focus will be on digital traces on the internet and the hidden communication network of "talking trees", among other things. On Wednesday, there will be several topics to choose from, including how animals produce food from feed, what stories lie behind the Brandenburg Gate, why crash test dummies have certain names, and what this has to do with inequalities in our society.

Other lectures will guide pupils on a journey through their own family history, explain the central role bees play in our diet, and show how closely sustainability, global interdependencies, and nature conservation are linked. At the end of the Children's University, participants will take a look at the world of artificial intelligence and nanotechnology – from learning software programmes to tiny gold and silver particles that "dance" in the light.

The aim of the Children's University is to arouse curiosity, promote scientific thinking and give children their first insights into the world of higher education and research in an age-appropriate way.

Registration takes place on a class basis via the schools.
The registration deadline is 1 February 2026.

After registration, schools will receive feedback on the allocation of places and further organisational information. The events will take place on the HNEE city campus; registered classes have the option of booking lunch in the canteen.

Further information on the Children's University and registration can be found here.

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