Workshops and interactive events for adults and children on the topic of "Spring Colors in Nature"

"Colors - The World is Colorful," is the title for the more than 70 days of experiments and research, walks and expeditions, workshops, holiday academies, and even three family days being held as part of "Mainz - City of Science 2011." "Spring colors in nature" was the main topic on the first family day, jointly presented at the Botanic Garden last Saturday by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz University of Applied Sciences, the Roman-German Central Museum, the National Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Environmental Office, and the Lenneberg Forest District. Children were able to make their own colors at various workshops, experience what spring was like in ancient or medieval times, have a closer look at the green of various trees and at diverse life forms in the soil, learn how plants and animals disguise themselves and send warning signals, and many other things!

"Since the middle of the 1990s, Mainz has profited from its great potential for a range of teaching and learning activities outside of school for children and young people of all ages and types of school," explains Professor Georg Krausch, the spokesman of the MAINZ RESEARCH ALLIANCE and President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. "The aim is to stimulate curiosity and an enthusiasm for science from early childhood. If we are to take our educational and research task seriously, we must light this spark in young people, rendering knowledge tangible and making it easy to experience. The subject of "colors" is eminently suitable, as it offers an exciting glimpse into many different disciplines. Our events partners for the first family day at the Botanic Gardens have come up with a variety of new and exceptional formats that support the principle of long-term learning by discovery."

"The project 'Colors - the world is colorful' is a very good example of networking in our city of science. For the first time, the providers of child and youth education at scientific and community institutions in Mainz have joined forces in this way to compile an interesting program of diverse and colorful events," says Mayor Jens Beutel. "What is particularly important for us is that this cooperation should remain in place once the year of science has ended and that it should be developed further."