Inspiring Schoolgirls for Battery Research

What professions can be pursued in battery research? And how is everyday work in science? Ten schoolgirls explored these questions at MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Münster and Helmholtz Institute Münster of Forschungszentrum Jülich during the annual Girls' Day on April 3. Five female scientists and technicians from both institutes gave the schoolgirls insights into their work and experimented with them in the laboratories.

Experiencing a Day as a Battery Researcher

“Batteries are an indispensable part of our everyday lives. At the moment, it is mainly the lithium ion battery that is used in our devices,” explained MEET scientist Dr Rebekka Tien in her introductory lecture. “There are many parameters that we can adjust to store even more energy in the cells. That is why our research is not only very exciting, but also extremely multifaceted.” Afterwards, the students gained their first practical experience in the state-of-the-art laboratories of MEET Battery Research Center. In the dry room, they built coin cells with Dr Anna Gerlitz. MEET technician Debbie Stappers gave them a look inside the cells using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). As a result, they could precisely analyze the surface and chemical composition of the battery materials. 

Susanna Krämer and Susanne Schierz from Helmholtz Institute Münster showed the schoolgirls how robots are involved in battery research. At the high-throughput screening (HTS) system, the young researchers observed how a robot arm moves samples and how chemical tests can be carried out fully automatically. The two researchers explained: “Using the system, we can automatically produce electrolytes, test them and assemble them in coin or three electrode cells.” In addition, they jointly disassembled a battery cell to examine it and conduct electrochemical measurements.

Save the Date: Girls’ Day 2026

The next nationwide career orientation day Girls' Day is planned for April 23, 2026. Further information about the offers of MEET Battery Research Center for school students can be found here.