Author: Maite Maurer

The GALaQSci team members started the new year by reviewing the current status and next steps of the project, gathering for this purpose on January 17, 2026, at the LMU Chair of Physics Education in Munich.

A look at the current project status showed that we are getting closer to our goal. Even though the development is not yet complete, the designs for all levels on the topics of quantum sensing and quantum communication are ready. We have been able to implement a touching story that gives the game a central theme. Most of this is already included in the current test version, which can be played at our events, and Yuki’s character is now even more vivid.

At some events specifically for young people and children, such as the Science Days with FORSCHA in Munich, the Spielwiesn in Augsburg, a Junior Conference in Würzburg, and even more, you could testplay our game and we thankfully gathered a lot of feedback. We were also able to offer our game for testing at Deutsches Museum in Munich and at the Munich Public Library on several occasions. We could use some of these occasions to conduct our current and second study, in which we focus not only on the gaming experience, but also on the influence of the game on learning.

The future steps of the project are primarily focused on augmented reality (AR). New levels on the topic of quantum computing are to be planned in the coming months and then implemented in AR. This game and AR environment will then be examined in a third study. To get an overview of the possibilities of AR, we tried out and discussed other existing AR projects in physics education during our status meeting.

How do quantum technologies function and what can we use them for? You could find the answers to it by playing the game Qookies bringing you into a virtual lab and introducing you to the world of quantum.

Your journey begins in a research laboratory, where you will meet Yuki, a young quantum scientist. Work together to learn what qubits are and how diamonds are used as sensors. Yuki will accompany you and help you if you have any questions. The more puzzles you solve, the deeper into the lab you can venture. You don’t need any previous knowledge – just curiosity!
This game is part of a research project in which we want to learn more about the effects of educational games.

August, 2 to 7
August, 18 to 21
September, 1 to 4
September, 22 to 25
October, 14
October, 22
November, 3 to 7
December 22 to 23

On Novmeber 19, 2025, the faculty for Physics and Astronomy of Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg hosted a Junior Conference on Quantum Physics [German] for school students from 7th to 9th class.

The students gained insights into quantum physics through numerous workshops and lectures. Afterwards, they were able to conclude the event in a playful manner with the digital escape room “Katze Q” and our smartphone game “Qookies,” allowing them to individually consolidate and deepen their newly acquired knowledge.

To mark the 100th anniversary of quantum science, this year was the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. On November 15, 2025, the Qunatum100 event officially closed the series of events organized by the German Physical Society in Münster.

Exciting and innovative ideas and quantum technologies were once again presented to the general public. We were also there to give an opportunity to the people of Münster and surrounding regions to take a look at game Qookies and our motivation and goals for the project.

Spielwiesn, an annual games fair, took place in Augsburg from November 7 to 9, 2025. In addition to classic board and card games, educational games and activities related to STEM topics had their own place in the Science Playground [German]. This is also where the GALaQSci booth was located and where four tablets with our mobil game Qookies were in constant use. Children in particular, but also adults, engaged into adventures in a secret quantum lab, solved puttles, and succeeded on the quantum challenges together with Yuki, the AI-based game companion. They played and played and played — and ate a cookie or two, Yuki’s favorite treat.

There is a short interview with Maite Maurer on YouTube, filmed right at the booth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0AfutjD0ic [German]

The day of Quantum Physics [German] where LMU’s different research groups in the field of quantum sciences presented themselves in form of booths, talks, and lab tours, took place on November 8, 2025, in the main building of LMU. We were at the play area to present our project GALaQSci and our mobil game Qookies. We had a lot of fun with many interested children and adults.