In December, the 10th-grade students from other schools participated in a simulation game on the topic of “searching for a final repository” organized by the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE). The simulation was conducted in collaboration with Ms. Schenk-Pogan, Mr. Martius, and Ms. Götzelmann.
The goal was to take on assigned roles, argue for or against the construction of a final repository for radioactive nuclear waste in a fictional county, and make a decision regarding the storage site. There were heated discussions, and during the break, there was even some corruption. This led to a minor dispute between the participating interest groups and also to some laughter. The “round table” was led by two facilitators who ensured a fair exchange by maintaining a speaking list and making sure all participants had equal speaking time.
In addition, several interim votes were held on whether the repository should be built in the forest or the industrial area. Both the voting within the roles and the students’ personal opinions resulted in a majority in favor of building it in the industrial zone. In the end, the role of the national oversight committee decided to respect the majority opinion and allow the landfill to be built in the industrial zone.
It was informative, very fun, and a great alternative to regular class.
