Winning teams of the DLR competition "Lilienthal Glider"
Winning teams of the DLR "Lilienthal Glider" competition: The DLR launched a nationwide competition in which schoolchildren were asked to recreate a glider belonging to aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal. The winners were the "Flugingenieure Westerwald" team from the Johanneum-Gymnasium Herborn, ahead of the "Überflieger" team from the Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium Berlin and the "HerrJEMIne" team from the Felix-Klein-Gymnasium Göttingen. (© DLR)

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The DLR_School_Lab Göttingen celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 8, 2025. The school laboratory of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), opened in 2000, offers young people the opportunity to experience science firsthand. More than 80,000 students have visited the lab to date.

DLR_School_Lab: A successful start and expansion

The DLR_School_Lab in was the first of its kind to be founded in 2000 on the occasion of the Expo in . Inspired by this success story, 15 additional followed in various German cities. These initiatives promote young people’s interest in scientific topics.

Making research tangible

Under the motto ‘Hands-on Research!’, the laboratory allows students to actively participate in experiments. They how fly, experience wind speeds, or learn about the origins of renewable energy. This hands-on experience provides a profound understanding and fosters a spirit of inquiry.

Innovative support from experts

In the , students not only work with state-of-the-art but are also supported by experienced DLR scientists. This collaboration authentic insights into current research fields such as and sustainable , helping students understand future topics.

Achievements and recognition

The event also included a in which students had to build replicas of gliders belonging to pioneer Otto Lilienthal. The winners were the ‘Westerwald Engineers’ team. This competition is further evidence of the successful concept, which is gaining recognition throughout the educational landscape.

The German Center (DLR) is a leading scientific and technological institution in . It is dedicated to the research and development of pioneering technologies in the fields of , energy, and . With over half a million visitors, the DLR School Labs a key role in inspiring younger generations to engage in science and research.