The science comics were presented for the first time at the workshop at MS Eggersdorf in the Graz area. A huge thank you to the fantastic class teacher who gave us the tip! The presentation went so well that we decided to integrate it into our future workshops for this age group (13/14) on a voluntary basis.

Another thing we did there was to answer the pupils' questions about studying and research. These were submitted anonymously and then answered by us during the workshop. This gave these young people an insight into our day-to-day work and helped to break down prejudices. Pupils at this school level have to make their first major career decision, which is why this personal exchange is so important.

Another highlight of this workshop was a variation of the game "Silent messages", which we use with younger participants as an example of how membrane proteins transmit signals into the cell ( click here for an explanation of the game). Our game "Loud Messages" is also about signal transduction, but not in the silent version, but in the form of a speed contest.

One pupil starts with a word and the next person in line has to form a new word as quickly as possible using the last letter of the previous word. The first round is usually slow and not particularly fast. This also explains the concept of cell communication and problems with it. Signals should arrive in the cell as quickly as possible! The rules are changed slightly in the subsequent rounds.

Round 2: A word that has already been heard can be used again and the time is also stopped. The pupils usually recognize themselves that they can use a word that begins and ends with the same letter. In this way, the pupils learn that the information content is crucial when passing on the signals. The pupils themselves begin to experiment with which word they can use to complete the fastest round.

The advantages of this game are that it also awakens the play instinct in young people. It is therefore ideal as a wake-up call. In addition, as with the younger ones, a complex topic, such as signal transmission in biomembranes, is made understandable in a playful way.

This workshop was held in June 2023 as part of the OeAD's Science Ambassador Program.