JKU Science Holidays 2026 Welcomed Around 700 Enthusiastic Young Scientists

Around 700 children between 6 and 14 years are spending their holidays in the world of science on the Auhof campus of the Johannes Kepler University Linz. For the seventh time, the Federal Ministry of Women, Science, and Research is making the JKU Science Holidays possible in cooperation with Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalization OeAD, the State of Upper Austria, as well as many committed JKU scientists. Vice-State Governor Christine Haberlander visited the JKU and met the enthusiastic young scientists.

The JKU is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and the JKU Science Holidays are happening for the seventh time. From July 20 to August 14, 2026 trained educators and JKU workshop instructors take care of around 180 children at the age between 6 and 14 (a total number of circa 700 children in four weeks) from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on Fridays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Parents have to pay a one-off sum of 60 Euros for each child, including meals, materials and entrance fees. Through a scholarship, one hundred children can participate for free.

"The reliable and affordable care that is provided at the JKU Science Holidays supports the parents, while sparking curiosity for research. The JKU Science Holidays open the exciting world of science to the children, where they can build their own electric motor in technology workshops, make experiments that seem to be magic in chemistry laboratories, and embark on a journey through botany. I am happy that the JKU Science Holidays are offering a varied and informative holiday program for the seventh time already", says JKU Rector Univ. Prof. Dr. Stefan Koch.

JKU Science Holidays Are Supported by the Federal Government and the State of Upper Austria

Many committed JKU scientists make the JKU Science Holidays 2026 possible, that are also supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research, the OeAD, and the State of Upper Austria.

Federal Chancellor Eva-Maria Holzleitner, BSc says: "Every child should get the chance to discover its talents. Children are curious by nature, and the JKU Science Holidays offer space for that curiosity. Space for exciting experiments and to fiddle around. And, who knows, maybe they are the researchers of tomorrow. These are the chance we want to give young people.

Vice-State Governor and State Councilor of Education Christine Haberlander visited the JKU to see the Science Holiday workshop 'The art of magic potions - education in chemical arts'. "Education offers young people the chance to get fit for the future, and gives the opportunity to develop their talents. When you see the shine in children's eyes when they dive into the world of magic potions and chemical reactions, just to mention two examples, it shows that education can spark enthusiasm right from the start. The JKU Science Holidays are a great example of how an early promotion of education, practice-oriented learning, and science appropriate for children go hand in hand. Upper Austria, as being a good place for children, cares about the care and education - and this is perfectly covered by the Science Holidays. The State of Upper Austria invests especially in offers that do not just support the parents, but are especially about inspiring and promoting young talents, and spark their curiosity. I would like to thank especially those who make this project that is close to my heart possible - after all, this is not just about childcare, but about making learning and research fun for a better future."

More than 1,600 registrations

Head of the project Bernadette Weinreich administers the work of the teachers and JKU workshop instructors, who care for the groups of maximum 22 children for a whole week. "The demand for the JKU Science Holidays is again huge this year with more than 1,600 registrations. This shows that there is a high need for qualitative and affordable care offers, and confirms how curious children are to discover the world of science. To make this also possible during the academic year, the JKU offers free workshops throughout the year at the Young Kepler Uni for school classes, as well campus and institute tours in November, JKU Young Scientists workshops, and events for children and young people at the JKU Circus of Knowledge," says Weinreich from the Young Science Communications, part of the University Communications Department.

First contact with scientists

JKU scientists from various disciplines plan workshops and classes at the JKU Science Holidays. One of these exciting workshops is 'The art of magic potions - education in chemical arts' by the JKU Open Lab. JKU Open Lab Vice-Chairman Dr. Andreas Meinecke says: "Science becomes exciting especially when you experience it. This is what the JKU Science Holidays at the JKU Open Lab make possible: Children and young people can make experiments, be amazed about surprising phenomena, and discover the basics of chemistry in a playful manner. It is impressive to see the enthusiasm and curiosity of young researchers when they are experimenting."

The JKU also provided professional educators who are trained or in training for the entire period.

JKU Rector Stefan Koch estimates the important commitment of everyone who is involved: "The varied program of the JKU Science Holidays is made possible thanks to all the JKU researchers from various disciplines. They enable an unforgettable holiday experience and awaken a spirit of research among several children."

Healthy breaks and exciting trips

The JKU Cafeteria provided lunch also this year. The young scientists can choose between two menus every day, with organic meat or vegetarian, including soup, salad and a beverage. There is also fruit as afternoon snack. External partners are the Zoo Linz, Ars Electronica Center, Red Cross Upper Austria, Academia Superior, Upper Austrian Soccer School, Abenteuer Management, Magician Maguel, a judo association, the TTC Tabletennis Club, Mural Harbor, Schlossmuseum Linz, and Linz AG. A Linz AG sponsoring of 800 Euros makes it possible to use public transport for free for trips.

JKU Science Holidays 2026 - Facts & Figures

• Period: July 20 to August 14, 2026.
• Around 180 children per week - a total number of 700 children in four weeks.
• All-day childcare (including food): Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM -12:00 noon.
• Every child can take part only for one week, and is allocated to a group for the entire week.
• Maximum group size is 22 children in four age groups: 6 to 7 years, 8 to 9 years, 10 to 11 years, and 12 to 14 years.
• Trained educators or education students take care of the children during the workshops and breaks, and develop programs and the workshop content.
• When the maximum number of participants is reached, spots are raffled.
• Parents pay 60 euros per child for the entire week including lunch, material, and entrance fees.
• Through a scholarship, one hundred children (25 spots per week) can participate for free.

Some highlights of the 85 different JKU Science Holidays 2026 workshops

Four different workshops in the chemistry laboratory of the JKU Open Lab for all age groups:
The adventure of the color children: New colors that develop in different ways are mixed, separated, and used for secret messages.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The children produce rocket drives chemically and solve chemical riddles.
Following the traces of Harry Potter: The children make experiments that look like magic, and that guide them through adventures of the first Harry Potter volume.
The art of magic potions: This workshop unites magic and chemistry. The children experience exciting experiments through magic tricks, potions, and transformations.
Soft robots - robots based on the model of nature:
How do octopus arms, elephant trunks, or plants - such as the Venus flytrap and the mimosa - move? And what does this have to do with robots? This workshop explains the world of soft robotics in a playful way. As opposed to typical robots made of metal or hard plastic, soft robots are made of flexible and elastic materials to bend them in all directions, change the shape, and adapt to the environment. Many ideas come from nature, and are inspired by plants and animals. Together the kids research, how soft robots move, by air pressure, for example, and compare them to classical robots. In the practical part, they build an "arm" of a soft gripper themselves, and test how it moves and grips objects.

Discover the world with your ears - Use hearing to embark on a discovery tour:
What is your favorite sound? How does your environment sound? What do you hear when you listen? This workshop presents you the basics of acoustics, and how we perceive the world through our ears (psychoacoustics). The young researchers discover sounds, examine how sound spreads, and experiment with different perspectives of hearing. They join simple scientific trials with artistic methods. The results are sound drawings and maps, and small performances.

How does Artificial Intelligence work (AI)?
Everybody is now using AI. But how does AI work? It is really that clever as it seems to be at first sight? In this workshop, participants try to discover the secret of AI, find out, how AI becomes 'intelligent' through training databases, and why training databases can also be a major weak point of AI. Together, they reflect, how AI can help and which dangers there are.

Medication detectives: What happens inside the body?
How does medication have an effect? Why do pills help against headache or fever? In this workshop, children become medication detectives, and try to find answers to these answers through exciting chemical experiments. Together, they research the effect of some pharmaceutical substances and see, how chemistry helps to make people healthy.

The world of electromotors:
Everyone knows that magnets attract or repel each other. But how can this power be used for a rotating electromotor? This workshop explains young researchers the components of a motor, and they can assemble a motor themselves. Attracting and repelling forces are used to create rotating field of force step by step.

Brain Imaging Lab - Imaging of the brain with scanners:
How can doctors and researchers look into the brain without opening it? This workshop explains young researchers the two main techniques of modern brain research: MRT neuroimaging and neuromonitoring. They access a lifesize MRT scanner, play patient or radiologist, and generate real images of the brain with a program that simulates an MRT. Neuromonitoring and the brain anatomy are also presented. Every child can take home an imprint of its brain scan, and learn first-hand, how modern neuroscience helps to see and hear the living brain.

Let's program our first computer game:
This exciting workshop starts with a short introduction into the graphical programming environment Scratch. Even without programming experience, the participants then develop their first computer game. They receive the basics and, after a relaxed break, also complex tasks step by step. Finally, the children get information and instructions to develop games at home later.

Botanical discovery tour - Plants and microorganisms in action:
This workshop explains interested junior researchers the varied functions of plants and microorganisms. A workshop station offers the chance to color plant parts, and observe them under the microscope. Another station explains, how flowers can absorb water. On the third station, the participants can even create a picture made of moss, which they can obviously take home. They can also admire bioluminescent microorganisms, and make small experiments with them.