The Future of Climate Research: Ten Female Students Explore KIT’s Campus Alpin on Girls’ Day 2026
From the measuring station to the computer model
What is a day in the life of a climate researcher like? Ten motivated female students from middle and high schools in the region explored this question on this year’s Girls’ Day. At the Campus Alpin of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), they gained exciting insights into the diverse fields of activity at a modern research institute.
Throughout the morning, the participants immersed themselves deeply in scientific practice. The program offered a cross-section of various departments:
Terrestrial Biogeochemistry: In the lab, the students learned how greenhouse gas measurements – for example, in grassland soils – provide insights into the state of our climate. Subsequently, a grassland system was simulated using a model in both today’s and future climates, and the anticipated effects of climate change on greenhouse gas emissions were examined.
Hydrometeorology & Data Science: The girls traced the path of meteorological data from the weather station through to complex modeling in weather and emissions models. In the process, they learned about the crucial role that modeling and professional data management play in science today.
Plant Ecophysiology: In the greenhouse, the students were able to take a closer look at an experimental setup examining heat stress in trees and learned what factors can be controlled in the greenhouse and what aspects of the trees are being studied.
Technology & Infrastructure: A visit to the precision mechanics workshop demonstrated that cutting-edge research also requires precision craftsmanship. Here, the students gained insights into the indispensable support work without which no measuring device would function.
Experimental setups for measuring plant ecophysiology in the greenhouse. Copyright: Sebastian Floßmann (KIT Campus Alpin)
Inspiration for their own lifes path
The day concluded with four female employees from Campus Alpin representing very different professional fields. In an informal setting, they shared their personal career paths, the women who had inspired them, and the detours they had to take to reach their goals.
Girls’ Day at Campus Alpin demonstrated once again: Climate research is a dynamic and future-proof field that needs smart women with a passion for nature and technology.