Nationalpark Hohe Tauern

Science Center Mittersill


The address for scientific researchers of tomorrow

 


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  • The Science Center in Mittersill is part of a global initiative that wants to get the public and young people in particular interested and enthusiastic about science and technology. Science centres see themselves as communication hubs, where social and scientific issues can be contemplated. Possible solutions can be developed and tested here.

    Interactive and formal learning is a priority. This allows children and young people to comprehend scientific and technical phenomena easily and quickly.

    The National Park Science Center Mittersill has two laboratories available for young researchers. Together with national park rangers, participants will focus on life and climate in the high mountains or the geology of the Tauern Window. Exciting modules for all of those who like to conduct experiments!

     

    There are a total of 6 different modules available. One module lasts approx. 2 hours:

     

    Weather kitchen and climate laboratory
    (from Year 7)

    Climate change is much more apparent in high mountains than anywhere else. Glaciers retreat, landslides make roads impassable, and the fauna and flora respond too. With the help of exciting experiments around the weather elements of temperature, air humidity, air pressure, foehn and wind, participants learn about the processes that cause types of weather. The extreme climate conditions in high mountains are also explained along with the fundamental processes of global warming. A "CO2 mini-atmosphere" allows participants the measure the greenhouse effect within just a few minutes.

     

    The national park microcosm
    (from Year 4)

    A small world on a large scale. Taking nets and magnifying glasses, the first stop is outside in the forest, on the meadows and waters. A large number of micro-organisms and other beings hide in the ground or water. Back in the lab, these creatures are transformed into giant monsters when put under the microscope. The species composition of our microcosm allows us to draw conclusions about the quality of our water and soil.

     

    Survival in the high mountains – Alpine ecology
    (from Year 4)

    It is snowing heavily in the mountain model. However, the relief and wind do not distribute the snow evenly, but according to a very specific pattern. Regardless of being an ibex, marmot, snow hare or grouse, each has developed its own strategy to survive winter in the high mountains.
    But even in summer, the climate can change between hot and cold, wet and dry very rapidly in small areas. The animals and plants have adapted to this with different tricks. 

     

    Altitudinal belts – journey to the Arctic
    (from Year 7)

    Very few people realise that when hiking from the valleys to the highest glacier regions in the national park that they are hiking through every climate zone Central and Northern Europe has to offer. Animals such as the snow hare and grouse migrated here from the Arctic during the ice ages.
    Using the mountain model and our northern hemisphere, we assign animals and plants to the corresponding altitudinal belts and vegetation zones.

     

    Rocks and minerals
    (from Year 7)

    Here, you can bite on granite! What do nut chocolate and the rocks of Hohe Tauern have in common? In this module, we will first create igneous rock using chocolate, nuts and raisins. Our chocolate granite will form as a result of the slow cooling process. In the final step, our geology chocolate is metamorphosed under high pressure and we get our chocolate gneiss, the nuts and raisins now have a clear layering.
    In addition, the different types of bedrock are worked out and made by a variety of simple experiments.

     

    The creation of a mountain range
    (from Year 7)

    How were the Alps formed? What is Pangea and what is the Tethys Ocean? 60 million years ago, the African Plate drifted northwards against the Eurasian Plate. The collision of the continents led to rocks being transformed, whole mountain packages being pushed over one another and finally the Alpine range rising up. This uplift is still not complete.
    The sand, flour and brick sand layer in the model illustrate the genesis of this fascinating mountain range.
    The appearance of our landscape and valleys today has been shaped by the incredible force of water and glaciers. An erosion tank lets participants see these processes in a smaller scale to gain a better understanding.

     

     

    Information:

    Place:

    In the National Park Centre, Mittersill

     

    Target group:

    School classes and youth groups aged 8 years and older.

     

    Price:

    Per school class:
    € 110,-

    With National Park Worlds' tour:
    € 160,-

     

    Booking:
    Salzburg Hohe Tauern National Park

    +43 (0) 6562  40849-33
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