The project day at Jakob Fugger Gymnasium Augsburg focused on the scientific, ethical, and practical dimensions of climate change. It began with a lecture entitled “Climate Change – From Augsburg to the Alps”, delivered by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Buermann, Chair of Physical Geography and Climate Science at Augsburg University. The lecture provided a clear scientific overview of current climate developments at both regional and alpine levels.
It was explained that the current mean annual temperature in Germany is approximately 10.9 °C and continues to rise steadily, while the Alps show a significantly lower average temperature of around 5.9 °C but a much faster rate of warming. This accelerated temperature increase in alpine regions was highlighted as a key concern. The lecture also addressed the albedo effect, demonstrating how melting snow reduces the reflection of sunlight and contributes to additional warming. As a result, climate change in the Alps becomes visible earlier and more dramatically, leading to increased environmental risks and natural hazards.
From mid-morning until early afternoon, project work was carried out in multinational groups. Several thematic stations were prepared to approach climate change from different angles. One station focused on interactive puzzles and games related to the Alps, allowing students to engage with the topic in a playful and creative way. Another station involved a scientific experiment demonstrating the greenhouse effect, during which the mechanisms of heat retention in the Earth’s atmosphere and its consequences were clearly illustrated.
At a further station, participants worked with climate data and scientific material. Different datasets, such as mean temperatures and snow depth in Germany and the Alps, were analyzed. The significantly faster temperature increase in alpine regions was identified as a particularly striking result. In addition, climate change was examined from an ethical perspective. Through guided materials and discussions, questions of responsibility, justice, and future-oriented decision-making were explored, adding an important moral dimension to the scientific findings.
The sponsored lunch break in the school cafeteria offered an opportunity for informal exchange and reflection in a relaxed atmosphere before the continuation of project work in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, the second part of the project work took place, a In this part of the project, students faced a challenge in the form of a serious game. The students took on the roles of various interest groups, and the representative of each group had to defend a common goal. The topic was the construction of a new cable car in a protected natural area, so representatives of ski lift companies, developers, parents, residents of the village, conservationists, and ski school instructors met with the mayor at one table. The students performed this task incredibly well and presented arguments that perhaps surprised even their teachers. To conclude the day, the students met at the Citybowling Augsburg. This social programme provided a relaxed setting for further intercultural exchange and strengthened the sense of community among the participants.
Overall, the day successfully combined scientific knowledge, practical learning, ethical reflection, and social interaction, contributing significantly to the project’s overarching goals.
