In a series of short posts, we’d like to highlight some of the successful and fun math activities organized during the Weekend of Science last October! This first post features Julian Koellermeier and his activity “Race to Mars”!
Julian during the European Researchers’ Night last September. Photo by Julian.
Dr. Julian Koellermeier (Computational and Numerical Mathematics, Bernoulli Institute, University of Groningen) has passion for outreach. Julian regularly participates in different activities, among them the European Researchers Night, Zpannend Zernike (Groningen), Science is Wonderful (Brussels), Nerdland Festival (Belgium), Falling Walls Lab (Shanghai).
At the recent edition of the Zpannend Zernike event in Groningen in October 2025 Julian had a booth on the topic “Mathematics and the race to Mars” (Wiskunde en de race naar mars), where children of all ages could experience first hand how rockets, space exploration and mathematics go hand in hand.
The children could explore the inside of a ‘real’ LEGO rocket and were discussing about what makes a rocket slow down to safely land on other planets. In his research, Julian is searching the answer to this question with mathematical models for atmospheric entry simulations.
During Race to Mars children could explore the inside of a ‘real’ LEGO rocket.
In earlier years, Julian participated in the “Science is Wonderful!” festival in Brussels, organized by the European Commission in March. Last year he informed interested schoolchildren about the work of his group at a booth, in addition to a science show in quiz format.
“Science is Wonderful!” bridges research with schools across the European Union. It celebrates the value and impact research by giving primary and secondary school students the chance to interact with leading researchers and innovators, learn more about their work in engaging formats and ask questions about scientific careers. “Science is Wonderful!” is an annual science fair that interactively showcases research projects and innovations through presentations, hands-on experiments, games and quizzes.
Together with his PhD students Julian shows children how mathematical models can help improve space ships and heat shields that allow to safely land humans returning from space. The children are always especially interested in the LEGO Saturn V rocket and the replica of a Space Shuttle at his booth.
Julian has earlier participated in other outreach events, e.g., Nerdland Festival in Belgium, and European Researchers Night in the Forum Groningen in 2022. He won two prices at the Breaking walls lab in Shanghai 2019. Slides and videos of the presentations can be found on his website.
Julian at Nerdland festival in Belgium.