Floating Whales Beneath the Abbey Roof – You Couldn't Make It Up. Engineers Can!
Floating Whales Beneath the Abbey Roof – You Couldn't Make It Up. Engineers Can!
Exhibition on Civil Engineering
The MEERESMUSEUM in Stralsund underwent modernisation. Engineers played a crucial role in this process. They made it possible for the whales, sharks, and other exhibits to hang once more beneath the Katharinenhalle’s abbey roof.
Thus, engineers are true visionaries: they design ideas and solutions for our built environment. Furthermore, they plan and coordinate construction projects. Their work ensures that buildings, bridges and roads are constructed safely and to last. The Ingenieurkammer (Chamber of Engineers) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern represents this professional group in the region. It champions quality, safety and the development of young engineering talent.
The exhibition focuses on the role of engineers during the conversion of the MEERESMUSEUM in Stralsund. It showcases the diversity of the profession, from initial drafts to finished constructions.
A look at the past: in 1951, a small collection moved into the former St Catherine's Abbey in Stralsund to become a municipal natural history museum. Over time, the institution grew to become the internationally recognised Museum of Oceanography and Fisheries of the GDR. Following German reunification, the museum was transferred to a foundation in 1994 and was renamed the German Oceanographic Museum (Deutsches Meeresmuseum) in 1998. Extensive modernisation of the MEERESMUSEUM in Stralsund took place from 2020 to 2024. This was necessary to update the exhibitions and aquaria. The work also ensured that the museum met modern standards for accessibility, energy efficiency and overall modernity throughout the visitor experience.
The exhibition has been organised in cooperation with the following institutions: the Ingenieurkammer Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Deutsches Meeresmuseum (German Maritime Museum), the BLU (Building, Landscape, Environment) study concept of the Universities of Wismar and Neubrandenburg, the University of Rostock, and the Technisches Landesmuseum Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Special Exhibition
From November 14, 2025 to May 10, 2026
Open today from 10 am to 5 pm
Tickets adults 10€ | reduced 6€
Arena – gut überDACHt
Showcase and Student Competition Junior.ING at the phanTECHNIKUM
From 25 March to 8 May 2026, the phanTECHNIKUM, exhibition centre of the Technical State Museum of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV), will become a stage for young engineering talent. For the first time since its inception in 2005, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is taking part in the nationwide student competition Junior.ING. The Chamber of Engineers Mecklenburg-Vorpommern thus joins the ranks of the now 16 participating state chambers of engineers.
The aim is to inspire enthusiasm for technology and civil engineering at an early stage and to promote young talent. With an average of 6,000 participants, the Junior.ING student competition is one of the largest of its kind in Germany.
This year’s competition is held under the motto Arena – gut überDACHt. The task was to design a roof structure for an open-air arena and to build a corresponding model. The constructions not only had to impress in terms of design, but also prove their technical strength: they were required to withstand a minimum load of 250 grams as well as a simulated wind load. Individual and group entries from general and vocational schools were permitted in two age categories (up to Year 8 and from Year 9 onwards).
The special exhibition Arena – gut überDACHt at the phanTECHNIKUM presents around 45 models created by pupils from eight schools in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. During the exhibition period, visitors can vote on site for their favourite and thereby become part of the jury themselves.
The highlight will be the state award ceremony on 8 May 2026 from 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm at the phanTECHNIKUM. This is when it will be decided who will represent Mecklenburg-Vorpommern at the national final on 19 June 2026 at the German Museum of Technology in Berlin.
As organiser of the competition, the Chamber of Engineers MV, together with the Technical State Museum MV as an innovative exhibition venue, provides a special stage for the outstanding achievements of the participants. The competition is recommended by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs and is therefore subject to its quality criteria.
Further information about the nationwide Junior.ING competition can be found here.
