Escape our Lab: creating an escape room game in the field of materials science and crystallography

Although many challenges of the 21st century need solutions which are directly connected with the development of new technologies, the preferences of prospective students in Germany are often far from mathematics, physics and chemistry. Moreover, the acceptance and recognition of new achievements in these disciplines are quite low in society, even if these achievements are the basis for the development of new technologies that positively affect daily life. As a part of a campaign intended to increase the number of students in the fields of materials science and materials technology (and related fields), the authors created an escape room focused on materials science and crystallography, which illustrates the approaches used by materials scientists and the beauty of crystallography. The fundamental features of the escape room, which are presented in this contribution, are its variability and the ability to inspire participants who have different backgrounds in physics, chemistry and/or materials science. By varying the level of difficulty and the game play duration, the escape room structure makes it possible to appeal to a broad audience, offer an authentic escape room experience and impart lasting knowledge through reflection after completion. The authors' experiences with the escape room and the feedback from the attendees are summarized at the end of the contribution.