What exactly do people do at a research institute? To answer this question, ATB once again opened its doors this year for the Future Day for girls and boys in the state of Brandenburg. Eleven curious pupils from grades 7 to 9 visited us on 23 April 2026 and discovered just how exciting science can be when it comes to agriculture, food processing and the bioeconomy.
To inspire young people to take an interest in research and technology, it is crucial to give them insights and initial experiences at an early stage. Future Day offers the ideal opportunity to bring the abstract concept of ‘research’ to life and to show that behind every discovery there are curious people and a wide range of career fields – from laboratory work and technical development to data analysis.
Future Day at ATB was packed with hands-on experiments and exciting activities. At one station, the pupils made their own peat-free potting soil and learnt how peatlands, as important CO₂ sinks, are linked to climate protection. After a mini milking competition using a rubber udder, the budding researchers examined samples on culture media to make invisible germs visible. And during a visit to ATB’s boundary layer wind tunnel, they witnessed first-hand how airflows are simulated to optimise the barn climate for animal welfare and environmental protection.
The selected topics reflect the interdisciplinary research landscape at ATB. From the circular economy and climate protection through animal health to agricultural engineering – Future Day offered a cross-section of our expertise and a glimpse into the variety of careers at a research institute. By opening up our laboratories and our unique infrastructure, such as the wind tunnel, we make our work tangible.
The success of Future Day is based above all on the commitment of our staff. Scientists and technical staff from various departments took the time to present their work, answer questions and guide the pupils through the experiments.
We are already looking forward to the next Future Day at ATB!
About Future Day
The Brandenburg Future Day is an initiative within the framework of the nationwide ‘Girl’s Day’ and ‘Boy’s Day’ events. Young people from grade 7 onwards can try out careers directly on site at the company or digitally and discover their dream job – completely free from outdated gender stereotypes. Future Day is taking place for the 24th time! Since 2003, we have been supporting girls and boys on their path to a professional future. With this wealth of knowledge and the experience gained over the past two decades, we aim once again to strengthen career guidance in the state of Brandenburg.
Contact
Dr. Ulrike Glaubitz
Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Telephone: +49 331 5699-820
Email: UGlaubitz@atb-potsdam.de