From June 20 to 28, 2026, it was all about playing, playing, playing – and learning, of course! Together with other projects of the Quantum aktiv initiative sponsored by the BMFTR [German] we had a booth at IdeenExpo [German], a science fair for young people in Hanover with free admission and an exciting scedule of events.
What’s the deal with special diamonds and how can they detect magnetic fields so accurately? Which protocol can we use for secure data transmission? How are quantum algorithms built, which are needed to use quantum computers? At our booth many school students, teachers and other interested people learned about different quantum technologies and found answers to these questions.
On June 20 and 21, 2026, the Zamanand Festival took place in Munich. In the area “Journey Through Space & Time” at Odeonsplatz, we invited visitors to test play Qookies on June 20, 2026. Many children and adults too didn’t want to miss this opportunity. Together with Yuki, they solved the puzzles and learned about fascinating quantum technologies while playing.
What are gates, and what do they have to do with quantum computers? That was the focus of our tent at Explore Science in Mannheim from June 17 to 21, 2026!
At Herzogenriedpark in Mannheim, school students and anyone else interested could explore current and exciting topics in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields for themselves. The Qookies tent offered workshops and hands-on activities for everyone. School classes explored the topic of quantum computing by playing Qookies, trying out our new augmented reality levels, and solving quantum algorithm puzzles. Over the weekend, despite the heat, more children and adults took on the same challenges and discovered the fascinating phenomena of quantum technologies.
What are gates, and what do they have to do with quantum computers? That was the focus of our tent at Explore Science in Friedrichshafen from May 7 to 9, 2026!
Along the Uferpromenade in Friedrichshafen, school students and interested visitors of all ages were able to explore current and exciting topics in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. With a view on the lake, school classes and visitors played our game “Qookies” to learn about the fundamental phenomena of quantum mechanics and solved our quantum algorithm puzzles.
We’ve participated in various events to provide you with an insight into our game Qookies and its current state of development. Now we really want to give everyone a sense of what we’re doing, so we’ve created a video. In it, different members of our project team talk about various aspects of the work, ranging from the concept behind GALaQSci and its scientific basis to the development of the game itself.
You can find the German video on our project page. A version with English subtitles can be watched on YouTube. Make up your own mind by taking a look.
You can also find more videos on quantum physics on the MCQST and Munich Quantum Valley YouTube channels. Have fun watching!
As every year, the German Physical Society (DPG) gathered for their spring meeting Sektion Kondensierte. This time, it took place in Dresden from March 8 to 13, 2026. The main goals of the event were knowledge transfer and the promotion of young talent.
Our colleague Caroline Wermann gave a presentation on “The influence of narrative immersion on the understanding of quantum physics concepts in serious games,” in which she discussed the influence of the story in Qookies on the understanding of quantum technology content through playing.
The event “Quantenwelt zum Anfassen” [German] has brought together the projects of “Quantum aktiv” (including GAlaQSci) and “Quantum Future Education” funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technologies, and Space (BMFTR), with various multiplicators from quantum research and education. It took place from February 17 to 18, 2026, at Nixdorf MuseumsForum Paderborn.
In short, interactive sessions, visitors from the research and education sectors, museum representatives, and other organizations were able to try out our educational game Qookies, which is currently in development. Afterwards, we discussed the project, the game, and its future applications, with the common goal of making quantum technologies accessible to a broad audience via various educational programs.
An exciting program also provided opportunities to network with multiplicators and the other projects, creating space for many inspiring conversations.
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
Due to the high interest in Qookies during the Mega Gamin Day last month, we wanted to give you another opportunity to check out our mobile game yourself. Therefore, we were again in the Motorama on November 27, 2025, where you could take part in our study and play a round of Qookies.
