In the Biotopia Lab we learn how researchers use bones and teeth to investigate the eating and living habits of different animals and what these reveal to them. We feel the teeth of sheep and hyenas, look at the skull structure of an elephant and rhinoceros, and recognize the difference between carnivores and herbivores. By looking closely at different chewing tools of various mammals, we learn a lot about their way of life and reflect on our lifestyle.

Age groups: 11-20+ years
Duration: 2 h
Price: 100 €

How is fertile soil created that produces new plants every year? We get to know a number of tiny creatures that ensure that all animal and plant remains can be broken down and recycled in the soil.

Far more than just the “dirt” under our feet, earth is a truly complex and dynamic ecosystem. Let's explore this invisible world together.

Age groups: 4-20+ years
Duration: 1.5 h or 3 h
Price: 80 or 140 €

Many flowers enjoy great popularity due to their colorful and fragrant blooms. For what purpose, however, did the plants develop such lavish beauty and why do some plants survive without showy flowers? In the botanical garden, we look at a wide variety of flowers, collect pollen and examine them under the binocular and microscope. Based on the abstract textures of the pollen grains and with the help of flower models, we will work out the two different mechanisms of pollination: wind and insect pollination.

Age groups: 10-20+ years
Duration: 2 h (Mo and Fr only)
Price: 100 €

Water is a special substance! Thanks to the special properties of the water, many exciting experiments can be carried out with it. We test the physical properties of water and find out why a water strider doesn't sink. When looking through the microscope, we will discover small living beings in our water sample.

Age groups: 6-14 years
Duration: 3 h
Price: 140 €

In science, looking closely, discovering and observing are essential for gaining new insights. New perspectives are opened up by using a binocular. Material brought along or plant material from the botanical garden is magnified and examined closely. We learn interesting facts about the plants and their pollinators. Tips for drawing will be given by the lecturer and draftswoman of the Botanical Garden.

Age groups: 14-20 years
Duration: 3 h
Price: 140 €

In this workshop we will build a bottle garden to take away. At the beginning we talk about which cycles ensure that the garden can survive in isolation. When planting their mini-hermethospheres, we think about the conditions under which stability will arise and which will cause instability. Interventions in ecosystems and our responsibility towards our environment are reflected. At the end the results are presented.

Age groups: 7-18 years
Duration: 2 h
Price: 100 €

The spectrum of this workshop ranges from the discovery of DNA and the peculiarities of the genetic code to the use of the much-discussed “genetically modified organisms”. Depending on the previous knowledge, the mechanisms of protein biosynthesis and epigenetics or the problems of gene therapy can also play a role. In the practical part, we get an insight into molecular biological laboratory work. The DNA is isolated either from your own oral mucosa or from a piece of banana, which becomes visible as a thread-like streak in the test tube.

Age groups: 6–20+ years
Duration: 2 h
Price: 100 €

What does insect mortality mean? Can we observe a similar trend on our own doorstep? To be able to answer these questions, we examine the external characteristics of insects in distinction to other arthropods and learn about native insect orders. In the Botanical Garden, we will compare the insect diversity and quantity on areas with different grass heights and thus refer to the biosphere change due to intensive human use.

The workshop focuses on examining prepared arthropods and encountering living insects both in the lab and in the field.

Age groups: 10–20+ years
Duration: 3 h
Price: 140 €

With a symbiotic culture of different bacteria and yeasts one can not only produce a tasty and healthy drink (Kombucha). If you dry the slimy biofilm, you get paper or leather-like material. Sustainable solutions for an environmentally friendly life (e.g. vegan leather, clothing or packaging) will be discussed.
This workshop is particularly suitable for formats in which the participants come back to the BIOTOPIA Lab 1-2 weeks after the first session to view the products and take them home.

Age groups: 4-20+ years
Duration: 1,5 or 3 h
Price: 80 or 140 €

We look at the culture under the microscope and recognize eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells that coexist and form the SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). We work out the mutual benefit of the metabolic pathways (e.g. alcoholic fermentation) that the microorganisms experience from their symbiotic way of life. As a practical experience, we examine the properties of the dried biofilm made of microbial cellulose and evaluate its suitability as a kind of "vegan leather”.

This workshop, specially developed for upper secondary school, deals with the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, alcoholic fermentation as an anaerobic metabolic pathway, symbiosis in microorganisms and the use of sustainable raw materials.

Age groups: 16-20+ years
Duration: 2 h
Price: 100 €

What are fungi actually? What do they live on? Where do they play a role in our everyday life? We want to give insights into the world of fungi and their important role as decomposers. To do this, we microscopically examine petri dishes with fungi mycelium, create our own rose oyster mushroom culture and learn how waste paper can be turned into a valuable raw material with the help of mushrooms. The participants should be empowered and gain self-confidence in order to be able to experiment with mushrooms independently. In small groups, the coffee grounds rose oyster mushrooms are given for care.

More about Fungi

Age groups: 4-20+ years
Duration: 1,5 or 3 h
Price: 80 or 140 €