What to Do in Your Free Time? The Youth Center Presented Its Open Programs

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In the Steinmühle schoolyard, the Haus der Jugend presented its recreational programs for children and youth during the first and second long breaks. These include the Volle Hütte youth club, the boys’ club, the media clubs, the kids’ club, the girls’ club, the queer club (all at the Haus der Jugend), and the Beekeeping Club (in the city forest).

The program is aimed primarily at middle school students and was organized in cooperation with school social worker Mara von Essen: “The goal is to make the girls and boys aware of these programs and invite them to check them out,” she explained.

(Heinm)

 

 

Understanding Life on Earth: A Journey with Dr. Judith Klatt to the Earth’s Beginnings

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High UV radiation, heavy metals, extreme temperature fluctuations, low oxygen levels: some microbes thrive in places it’s hard to even imagine. Geomicrobiologist Dr. Judith Klatt, who has been working at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg since 2022 and serves as a research group leader at the Mikrokosmos Erde Future Center, took her audience at the Steinmühle on research journeys to explore these microbial survival experts.

 

Interdisciplinary Work

The scientific lecture “Bacteria at the Limit” was also a journey back to the very first microbes and the origins of life: “It’s about understanding microbial life and, at the same time, the limits of life,” said Dr. Judith Klatt. This understanding emerges at the intersection of several disciplines: physics, biology, and chemistry.

 

A broad temporal scope

One of Dr. Klatt’s research sites, for example, is Hawaii: “Our work opens a window into Earth’s history spanning a timeline of 4.5 billion years,” the researcher reported, thereby giving her audience an idea of the temporal scale under consideration. Environmental science topics are also frequently incorporated into her research stays, helping to better understand the fluctuations in maximum temperature and in the oxygen and CO2 levels of the atmosphere throughout Earth’s history. According to Dr. Klatt, both are very closely linked to the “global microbiome.”

 

Fundamentals of Molecular Biology

Extreme habitats continually open up new horizons for research and research teams. For example, the fundamentals of molecular biology were isolated from microbes in extremely hot or cold habitats: these include the enzymes used in polymerase chain reactions (PCR), which form the basis for paternity tests and DNA fingerprinting in forensic science. Microorganisms such as cyanobacteria—commonly known as blue-green algae—have also been responsible for oxygen production and played a key role in the oxygenation of our atmosphere during the Precambrian era. Cyanobacteria are single-celled organisms that live in both fresh and saltwater and obtain their energy through photosynthesis, much like our green plants. This process produces oxygen, which escapes from the “microbial mats” and can be measured by Dr. Klatt’s team, for example, using microsensors.

 

Research Under the Most Challenging Conditions

“It can be difficult to work in the field,” the speaker recalled, citing, for example, a research trip to the high Andes at an altitude of 3,000 meters. A 24-hour trek to the nearest supermarket presented the research team not only with the challenge of answering their research question using complex methods but also with the difficult task of self-sufficiency. No stable life for microorganisms has been detected there so far. Oxygen alone, therefore, is not a reliable indicator of life.

 

Impressive photos

At the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, the extreme conditions that the research team encounters in the field are also simulated in the laboratory. “While we can never quite replicate the conditions from field research exactly as they occur in nature, this approach still allows us to study the enormous dynamics within an extreme habitat very realistically, even over longer periods of time,” explains Dr. Judith Klatt, who illustrated her presentation with impressive photos and sparked great enthusiasm among the students with her talk.

 

Outstanding Researcher

Through her work, Dr. Judith Klatt helps make Marburg a center of excellence in cutting-edge research. In 2024, for example, she was awarded an ERC Starting Grant by the European Research Council.

The presentation was part of the “Microbes for Future” lecture series organized by the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg in cooperation with the Central Hesse Student Research Center (SFZ).

The scientific presentations will continue.

(Angela Heinemann / Dr. Sven-A. Freibert)

Microbes and the Climate Crisis: A Top-Notch Lecture Sparked Interest in Research

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Conveying complex topics in a way that is tailored to the audience—this is, at best, a skill possessed by professors, lecturers in general, and also by teachers. With this in mind, Björn Gemmer, principal of Steinmühle School, expressly praised the Marburg-based biologist and chemist Prof. Dr. Tobias Erb of the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology for his public lecture at Steinmühle.

About 100 interested attendees came to hear the presentation on the topic “Microbial Power—New Paths Out of the Climate Crisis.” In the auditorium were students from the advanced biology classes in grades Q2 and Q4, students from the introductory biology class in our Q4, as well as external attendees and all members of the plus-MINT group from Steinmühle.

 

How can microbiology help reduce the CO2 content of the atmosphere?

That was the topic of the lecture, which biology and math teacher Dr. Sven Freibert—a member of Steinmühle’s Plus-MINT support team—summarized as follows:

 

The “terrestrial microbiome” plays an enormously important role in the carbon cycle. The sequestration of CO2—including anthropogenic CO2—is carried out almost entirely by terrestrial plants and aquatic microorganisms. The latter are primarily found in the world’s oceans. However, the efficiency of CO₂ fixation by microorganisms is not very high. Due to the comparatively high availability of CO₂ throughout both the older and more recent geological history, there has been—and continues to be—no evolutionary pressure to significantly improve this efficiency.

Microbiology—or, more specifically in this case, synthetic microbiology—and, above all, the team led by Prof. Dr. Tobias Erb has now made this “problem” of efficiency the focus of its research. The goal is to use microbiological, genetic, and biochemical methods to identify and isolate metabolic pathways in microorganisms and increase their efficiency, with the ultimate aim of using these molecular machines for artificial CO₂ fixation. It should be noted, however, that the goal is not to release artificially produced microorganisms!

Another approach being pursued by Prof. Erb’s team is to genetically modify crops that are grown in large quantities so that these plants can fix CO2 more efficiently. This would have the dual advantage of removing large amounts of anthropogenic CO₂ from the atmosphere and enabling the plants to grow significantly faster, which in turn would make food much more readily available and thus contribute to global food security. “Killing two birds with one stone”!

 

The audience’s full attention

It’s not usually the case that an audience listens spellbound to a speaker from start to finish. Tobias Erb managed to hold the audience’s full attention throughout his nearly 45-minute presentation. He struck the right balance between technical expertise and clarity, and during the subsequent Q&A session—which lasted about 30 minutes—it became clear that he had truly engaged the audience with his content.

In closing, Erb expressly praised the keen interest shown by the Steinmühlen students as well as the quality of their questions.

 

Speaker Sparked Interest in Research

Professor Erb began by introducing the Max Planck Institute in Marburg as one of a total of 86 Max Planck Institutes. He highlighted the quality of the research, which is evident not least in the numerous awards, including several Nobel Prizes. The scientist highlighted the work of the international research teams and sparked an interest in scientific research.

 

Central Hesse Student Research Center as the organizer

In closing, Steinmühlen School Principal Björn Gemmer thanked not only the speaker, Prof. Dr. Tobias Erb, and Dr. Virginia Geisel, the press officer, but also the Central Hesse Student Research Center, which initiated and organized the event. As part of this group, Steinmühle is hosting four lectures in the “Microbes@School” lecture series.

(Gem / Dr. S. Freib / Heinm)

 

Doing math, tinkering, having fun: A visit to the Steinmühle for the +MINT Camp

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A Flurry of Activities at the +MINT Boarding Schools: Together with a total of eight students from Schloss Louisenlund and Schloss Neubeuern, a team from Schule & Internat Steinmühle kicked off this year’s +MINT Camp. In addition to plenty of information and activities related to math, computer science, natural sciences, and technology, there was lots of fun and plenty to marvel at.

 

With kangaroo jumps

Some aspects were familiar from previous years’ camps, while others were new: For the first time, the event took place in March and was combined with the Kangaroo Competition. Under the proven leadership of Maximilian Moll, a math teacher at Steinmühle, the group headed to the Lahnberge, among other places, where Dr. Patrick Mehlitz, a professor of mathematical optimization, was waiting with his workshop on Eulerian graphs.

Another workshop on knot theory was held the following day, led by Prof. Dr. Oliver Goertsches.

The program also included the traditional visit to Pfeiffer-Vacuum in Aßlar to learn about state-of-the-art vacuum technology.

To find out just what a beautiful city the Steinmühle is actually located in, we naturally set out to explore Marburg, packed with a lunch to go.

 

Mathematikum: Educational and entertaining

“The world is—according to Pythagoras—numbers. And no one does the math.” That was the title of Dr. Muth’s workshop. It took place at the Steinmühle.

The grand finale of the four-day event was a visit to the Mathematikum in Giessen (cover photo). This is a well-established and engaging part of the program that demonstrates in many ways that math doesn’t have to be so “dry,” but instead holds plenty of surprises.

 

The dinner event was a culinary highlight

Events at the Steinmühle are renowned for their attractive supporting program and excellent catering. And this year’s +MINT Camp once again lived up to that reputation. Refreshments in the bistro with snacks and drinks, delicious meals in the Steinmühle cafeteria prepared by Chef Sebastian Riehl and his team, and topped off by a festive dinner.

 

Which rocket flies the highest?

For some entertainment in between activities, participants took part in a rocket competition, the goal of which was to build a water-pressure-powered rocket and make it fly as high as possible. And for those who wanted to get some exercise themselves in addition to launching their rockets, there were various sports activities to choose from.

Our takeaway: It was great hanging out with you guys, and we had a lot of fun! — We’ll say: Ciao — see you next time!

(Angela Heinemann)

 

Sports at Steinmühle: Strengthening Tradition, Breaking New Ground

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Horseback riding, rowing, team sports, and an ever-growing number of partnerships: The sports program at Steinmühle School & Boarding School has evolved significantly in recent years. Modernized facilities, a growing team, and numerous projects ensure that physical activity has a firm place in the students’ daily school life—and will continue to be expanded in the future.

 

Steinmühle has always been known for its wide range of sports programs: established equestrian programs, professional rowing instruction, and successes that have even led to Olympic participation. Tennis has long been played on the school’s own courts, ball sports—including beach volleyball—are played along the Lahn River, and strength training is offered even during the winter months. But even good things can be made even better, explains Marcel Kalb, head of school sports, organizer of many training sessions, and coordinator of partnerships with other clubs.

 

Modern Infrastructure

At this point, we’ve already reached a stage where things have expanded considerably compared to about ten to 15 years ago. Compared to back then, the infrastructure has been modernized and significantly expanded. A renovated boathouse, a large second sports hall, and a modernized existing hall are now available for rowing equipment and indoor sports. The selection of sports equipment is also being continuously expanded. The selection in the weight room already gives a good idea of what this looks like.

 

More People for Sports

The development of the sports program was a process—both in terms of infrastructure and staffing. The faculty in the Sports Department has now grown to 17 teachers, with one educator from the boarding school and three FSJ volunteers providing support in various roles. “We’re also in contact with the departments of Sports Science and Motology at Philipps University in Marburg,” reports Marcel Kalb.

 

No Grades in Physical Education for Grades 5–8

Promoting physical activity is a top priority at Steinmühle. For example, there are extracurricular programs such as rowing trips and ski trips, and students have the option to choose the sports track in 11th grade—the so-called “E-Phase” of upper secondary school. One unique feature is also worth mentioning: In grades 5 through 8, no numerical grades are given in physical education. “We believe that a numerical grade cannot reflect the diversity of sports and the associated assessment of student performance. For this reason, we strive to provide differentiated and meaningful feedback on performance in physical education classes,” explains the school’s physical education director.

 

Para-sports are part of the program

Thanks to partnerships with other clubs, the range of sports offered at Steinmühle School & Boarding School is virtually limitless. While some Steinmühle teachers offer sports such as fencing out of personal interest, traditional sports like volleyball, basketball, and soccer are already part of the regular program. The new, spacious sports hall enables Steinmühle—which is already a Paralympic training center for rowing—to now also offer wheelchair basketball as a team sport.

On Mondays, inclusive soccer is also held: A few years ago, the Unified Team began regular training in cooperation with the local sports club, SF Blau-Gelb Marburg. At the time, Egon Vaupel, chairman of the sponsoring association Steinmühle Marburg e. V., had been a particularly strong advocate for the formation of this team.

 

New School Structure Model Opens Up Opportunities

According to Kalb, the school’s athletic director, the school is seeking further partnerships with other clubs. He has in mind extracurricular activities such as track and field, gymnastics, and swimming. “The new school restructuring model set to be implemented in the future will open up great opportunities in this regard.”

 

Keeping an eye on competitive sports

Marcel Kalb also keeps an eye on competitive sports and cites, for example, the volleyball club and the elective volleyball classes (WU) for grades 5 and 6, as well as the gymnastics program offered as part of “Youth Training for the Olympics,” in which five female students performed exceptionally well. His credo: “Sports and achievement go hand in hand. And that’s what we encourage.”

In addition, a two-hour-per-week upper-school sports program is offered to students across all grade levels. Marcel Kalb oversees the program, but the students also organize many activities on their own, thereby creating self-directed spaces for physical activity and training.

 

Getting to know each other in two ways

For several years now, Steinmühle has also been holding sports project days during the last week of school, says Kalb, who has been working at Steinmühle for seven years. The additional sports days in May are for grades 5 through 10 and include rowing, running finals, and other disciplines. In addition, Steinmühle has held—and plans to continue holding—a sports festival during the last week of school. Partnering sports clubs and physical education students from the university are also invited to this event. In addition to promoting physical activity, the festival serves as an opportunity for participants to get to know one another—both among the athletes themselves and through exposure to other sports programs.

 

Fitness Programs for Faculty

“Our day-to-day work is becoming increasingly complex, so we also need to ensure that our staff gets enough exercise,” adds Marcel Kalb. At this point, he brings up the “StoneFIT” program—an initiative designed to promote physical activity specifically for employees.

“We can be proud of the opportunities we have,” Marcel Kalb sums up. But he adds that they haven’t reached the finish line yet: “… there’s still more to come.”

He also mentions the lively break in the gym that comes with the cell phone ban. Led by a volunteer doing a year of voluntary social service (FSJ), grades 5 and 6 are active during the first long break, and grades 7 and 8 during the second long break. “If you curb the urge to play digital games, you have to offer other alternatives—ones that promote health through sports and physical activity.”

 

Sports are part of school culture

Steinmühle does not see its future as limited to its own offerings. “We also like to take a look at what public schools are doing and try to adopt the best practices.”

This makes it clear: At Steinmühle, physical education is much more than just a school subject. It is part of the school’s culture—driven by dedication, collaboration, and the shared goal of sustainably promoting physical activity, health, team spirit, and a drive to excel.

(Angela Heinemann/Photos: Steinmühle Archive)

 

Round Square: An Opportunity to Connect with Young People Around the World

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As part of the international Round Square school network, Steinmühle offers its students new and additional opportunities for personal development as well as for education both inside and outside of school. “Round Square promotes intercultural learning and provides our students with great opportunities to engage with young people around the world,” summarizes Theresa Großer, head of the lower secondary school and the international high school program at Steinmühle.

 

What does Round Square stand for?

 

Round Square’s approximately 260 selected member schools worldwide form an international network committed to shared educational goals and values. Round Square sees itself as a pioneer in tolerance, community, and global learning. Member schools in the network are encouraged to incorporate the 6 IDEALS (Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, Service)—which guide the network’s collective actions—into their school programs. This results in a comprehensive educational program that prepares students for life in a global world.

 

Customized Exchange Opportunities

 

For students at Steinmühle, the network offers excellent opportunities to experience international learning and gain insights into a foreign culture. This takes place in various ways. First, individual exchange opportunities are organized through Round Square for students in grades 8–10. The exchange programs typically last 2 to 10 weeks. The students live locally, some in boarding schools and others with host families. Regardless of where the young people are housed, a Round Square exchange requires full commitment from the participating schools and families, ensuring that a warm welcome and diverse experiences are an integral part of the exchange.

There’s also a wide range of countries to choose from: from Australia to the U.S., from Colombia to Okinawa and Bermuda—the global network welcomes its students on nearly every continent. The costs for the exchanges remain manageable: the only expenses are flights to the destination country, on-site activities, and a placement fee of €500.

 

For students in 8th grade and above

 

Students in 8th grade and above are eligible to participate in a Round Square exchange. It’s important to note that anyone interested must also host an exchange partner—typically for the same length of time that they themselves were able to spend abroad. While Round Square exchanges are generally individual, it is often possible to travel to a school as a small group (2–3 people) at the same time.

 

Information Session on March 24

 

“We are delighted by the keen interest in participating in a Round Square exchange and by our students’ openness to experiencing new countries and cultures,” says Theresa Großer. With about 40 exchange programs, the school year is off to a good start in terms of interest in Round Square exchanges.

 

Those interested can contact Linda Hörner and Theresa Großer by email at Roundsquare.exchange@steinmuehle.net. Information about Round Square is also available on the Parent Cloud.

An information session will be held on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. The application deadline for the following school year is April 30.

 

What else does Round Square offer?

 

In addition to exchange opportunities, Round Square hosts international student conferences and organizes social projects in developing countries. We are also considering participating in these initiatives in the future. Furthermore, membership enriches daily classroom life by facilitating authentic interactions with students abroad through joint online meetings and projects. In addition, the school offers an elective course in which students take care of our guests from abroad, plan excursions, conduct interviews, and much more, all to ensure that every guest has a wonderful time at Steinmühle.

 

Our photos show Matilda, a 11th grader, during her stay in Colombia at the Colegio Anglo Colombiano.

(Theresa Großer/Angela Heinemann)

 

 

 

Diplomacy Up Close: Simulation Game Challenged This Year’s 13th-Grade Class

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Why can’t international conflicts simply be resolved at the negotiating table? The 13th-grade students at Steinmühle once again explored this question. Following the successful premiere two years ago, this year’s collaboration with Philipps University of Marburg once again demonstrated just how challenging diplomatic negotiations actually are. The event was largely facilitated by conflict researcher Dr. Stéphane Voell, who led the simulation and guided the participants through the challenging simulation exercise.

 

Informal discussions as a first step

During the event, the students took on the roles of delegates from various fictional countries. Each with their own interests, political goals, and territorial claims, they first engaged in informal discussions before gathering at a roundtable to try to develop a joint solution to the conflict. To give the simulation as authentic and official a character as possible, the participants were instructed to consistently address one another formally during the negotiations. It quickly became clear how difficult it is to negotiate compromises when national interests, economic interdependencies, and security considerations clash.

 

Caught between conflicting interests

Not every delegation was willing to compromise. Some vigorously defended their positions, while others sought dialogue—a tension that significantly shaped the course of the negotiations. The participants gained firsthand experience of just how challenging international diplomacy can be and why even well-intentioned solutions often fail due to conflicting interests.

 

A Keener Perspective on Real-World Conflicts

During the concluding reflection session, many students described how intensely they had experienced their respective roles. Terms like “frustrating” or “complicated” came up repeatedly, yet it also became clear that these very experiences had sharpened their perspective on real-world political conflicts. Together with Stéphane Voell, the dynamics of the negotiations were analyzed, and the simulation’s framework was finally revealed: The scenario was broadly based on the Transnistria conflict between the Republic of Moldova and the self-proclaimed Transnistrian Republic, with Russia’s involvement.

 

Experience the partnership with the university firsthand

For Bernd Hülsbeck, a subject teacher and head of the social sciences division within the Politics and Economics Department, the event is a successful example of close collaboration between the school and the university. It allows students to experience firsthand the long-standing partnership with Philipps University of Marburg. At the same time, the simulation adds a practical perspective to the 13th-grade curriculum, which is currently covering international relations.

 

A Wide Range of Career Opportunities

The Peace and Conflict Studies program at the University of Marburg offers graduates a wide range of career opportunities—including positions in international organizations such as the United Nations, as well as in the academic analysis and resolution of international conflicts. The simulation, held once again, impressively demonstrated just how complex peace processes are and how important dialogue, negotiation skills, and mutual understanding remain for sustainable solutions.

(Angela Heinemann)

 

 

Social Roles and Aspects of Toxic Masculinity

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When is a man a man? Herbert Grönemeyer asked this very question back in 1984 in his song “Männer.” The topic has lost none of its relevance. Over the weekend, a workshop on “Masculinity & Role Models” took place at the Steinmühle boarding school, led by two guest speakers from ProFamilia.

Overall, the program was very well received by the young men, reports program director Marlon Welsch. Most of them engaged openly and enthusiastically with the content and discussions. In the workshop, they explored societal role models, aspects of toxic masculinity, and their own ideas about relationships and how to shape them.

What makes a man a man?

The discussion about what “makes a man” for them personally was particularly valuable. Many participants were able to take away concrete ideas and food for thought to apply to their daily lives—especially with regard to self-reflection, interacting with one another, and building respectful relationships.

 

The workshop provided a safe space for honest conversations and was generally considered an enriching experience.

 

(Heinm/Photo: KI)

 

 
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Sie haben Fragen zur Schule?

Schulleitung & Geschäftsführung

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Telefon: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Sie haben Fragen zum Internat?

Internatsleitung & Geschäftsführung

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Telefon: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

Sie haben Fragen zur Schule?

Schulleitung & Geschäftsführung

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Telefon: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Sie haben Fragen zum Internat?

Internatsleitung & Geschäftsführung

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Telefon: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

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