Quantum world hands-on in Paderborn

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.

Station of GALaQSci with the game Qookies during the event Quantenwelt zum Anfassen (Quantum world hands-on) in Paderborn.
GALaQSci station at the event “Quantenwelt zum Anfassen” in Paderborn – © MCQST | Anca Ionescu

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.

Fourth project status meeting with cookies

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.

The GALaQSci members are eating cookies.
In line with our serious game “Qookies,” we also had Yuki’s favorite snacks, cookies, at out meeting – © LMU Chair of Physics Education | Caroline Wermann

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.

December 22 to 23, 2025: Qookies workshop at Deutsches Museum, Munich

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.

Wokshop in the Science Communication Center of Deutsches Museum, Munich, where people are playing our mobile game Qookies and participating in our study.
Qookies- workshop at the Science Communication Lab of Deutschen Museums, München – © LMU Chair of Physics Education | Caroline Wermann

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

Grand finale of the Junior Conference in Würzburg

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.

Students who participated in the junior conference on quantum physics in Würzburg play Qookies at the end of the event.
School students playing Qookies during Junior Conference at JMU Würzburg – © LMU Chair of Physics Education | Caroline Wermann

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.

Quantum100 – Closing event for the Quantum Year 2025

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.

Caroline Wermann (LMU) presents Qookies at the closing event of the international year of quantum science and technology.
Caroline Wermann at the Qookies-booth at the Quamtum100 event – © HRW FabLab | Theresa Knispel

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.

Qookies at Spielwiesn in Augsburg

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]

Day of Quantum Physics presenting GALaQSci at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich

Children at GALaQSci booth at LMU Day of Quantum Physics.

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.

Children playing the mobile game Qookies at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Univerity's Day of Quantum Physics at our GALaQSci booth.
Children playing Qookies at LMU Day of Quantum Physics – © Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology | Christoph Hohmann

Qookies at ‘Münchner Wissenschaftstage FORSCHA’

From October, 10 to 12, the ‘Münchner Wissenschaftstage mit dem Entdeckerreich der FORSCHA‘ [German] (Munich science days FORSCHA) took place at Forum Schwanthalerhöhe in Munich. There were numerous experiments, science and technologies to experience. One of which beeing our mobil game Qookies.

At the GALaQSci booth at FORSCHA our staff is explaining to children and adults how to play our mobile game Qookies.
Qookies at Münchner Science Days and FORSCHA – © Munich Quantum Valley | Veronika Früh

At our booth, many children and families played the lates demo and study version of Qookies and solved engaging quantum riddles together with quantum scientist Yuki. It has been clearly confirmed: No prior knowledge is required—curiosity is enough!