Students in the Viersen district launch a spectacular weather balloon into space!

Students in the Viersen district launch a spectacular weather balloon into space!

The sky above the Viersen district will soon be the scene of exciting scientific experiments again! As part of an innovative project by the zdi network, students and teachers from large schools have the opportunity to use highly developed technology to send weather balloons into the stratosphere. This is reported by the Extra tip on Sunday. The first three schools that have already taken part in this fascinating project are the Rupert-Neudeck-Gesamtschule, the Michael-Ende-Gymnasium and the Janusz-Korczak-Realschule, who were able to look forward to a few hours of high excitement!

But what exactly is behind these weather balloon missions? The students use a camera and a probe to collect spectacular videos and important data about the atmosphere. The highlights of the project are the balloon launches and tracking the ascent, giving participants an unparalleled sense of adventure. Another start is planned for the beginning of October with the St. Bernhard High School in Willich. Schools throughout the district are warmly invited to register for this MINT offer (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology).

Insights into the MINT project

As in a similar project at the Hainberg-Gymnasium in Göttingen, in which students also launched a weather balloon with self-programmed measurement technology, the focus is on recording data such as UV value, CO2 value, air pressure and humidity. This balloon reached an impressive height of 36 kilometers! But it's not just the height that's exciting, it's also the opportunity to capture images of the curvature of the earth. The entire preparation, from project planning to acquiring sponsors, was an educational experience for the students. There was support for this from the Measurement Valley business association, which also takes over the financing HNA reported.

Teachers and students emphasize how important these projects are. Interdisciplinary collaboration in particular not only promotes a thirst for knowledge, but also teamwork and creative solutions. After the flights, students analyze the data collected and present their results. Relevant organizations such as Stratoflights help create these learning adventures by providing comprehensive resources to carry out the projects.

The importance of STEM education

This initiative is part of the larger efforts of “Future through Innovation.NRW” (zdi), which aims to promote young scientists and engineers in North Rhine-Westphalia. The WFG has been coordinating the zdi network in the Viersen district since 2016 and has repositioned itself in 2023. Managing Director Dr. Thomas Jablonski emphasizes the importance of such programs in order to sustainably increase interest in the MINT subjects and to inspire students for future challenges.

For those interested, the WFG offers the opportunity to contact the contact person Caren Schmitter on 02162/ 8179-148 or by email at caren.schmitter@wfg-kreis-viersen.de. The look into the future couldn't be more beautiful if students can experience the wonders of science up close!