One day prior to the start of the 2019 GYA Annual General Meeting, 11 GYA members from around the world participated in a science education outreach event, co-organised with the Francke Foundations of Halle, with children aged 6 – 12. Children could participate in both activities, making solar cells with berry juice and playing an exploratory, imaginative game, Expedition Mundus.
Expedition Mundus
Expedition Mundus, an inquiry-based science education game, was created to allow young kids to experience how it is to be a scientist. When playing the game, children think like scientists by formulating their own hypotheses, and act like scientists by testing their hypotheses and looking at previous observations.
![Child playing Expedition Mundus](https://globalyoungacademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/3_from-Francke-foundations-400x300.jpg)
The Science of Light
In this activity, children produced working solar cells using berry juice, which then generated electricity directly from light. The activity demonstrated interactively with children the so-called dye solar cell, which consists of common household materials: in this case using dyes found in berries. Light arrives at the dye and can then be converted into electricity. The quickly produced electricity can then subsequently operate a device. Throughout the activity, GYA members discussed with the children what energy is, what we use it for, and where it comes from.
![Making solar cells with berry juice](https://globalyoungacademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_2394-400x267.jpg)
![GYA members, student helpers and translators and Francke Foundation staff, April 2019.](https://globalyoungacademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_2426-400x267.jpg)