Not a trace of disenchantment with science – Austria’s schools are enthusiastic about research
Under the motto #youngsciencerocks of the Education Agency OeAD approximately 700 pupils from all over Austria celebrated their science communication festival in Vienna at the University College of Teacher Education Vienna on 13 October 2022. Despite Covid-19 Austria’s schools were very enthusiastic about research this year and in no way disenchanted with science. Throughout the whole year the young people immersed themselves in the world of science and worked in close contact with researchers. The highlight of the OeAD’s Young Science Congress was the presentation of the Citizen Science Awards and the Young Science Inspiration Award by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)’s head of section Barbara Weitgruber and the OeAD’s managing director Jakob Calice. Moreover, 22 schools were awarded the Young Science quality label for research partner schools.
100 school classes conducted research on citizen science projects
From 1 April to 8 July approximately 100 school classes and thus more than 2,000 pupils worked on seven citizen science projects. Weather stations were built, cat videos were evaluated, the importance of collective remembrance was researched, and plants, mushrooms and animals were watched and identified. The collected data is evaluated and analysed by research teams. 23 school classes and four individuals were particularly committed during this period and were awarded Citizen Science Awards.
The following schools are award winners: BORG Guntramsdorf (Lower Austria), BRG Marchettigasse (Vienna), HLW Biedermannsdorf (Lower Austria), BG/BRG für Slowenen in Klagenfurt (Carinthia), MMS Gmünd (Lower Austria), HLW/HLK Freistadt (Upper Austria), MS Kohfidisch (Burgenland), Primary School Vorgartenstraße (Vienna), BG/BRG/MG Dreihackengasse (Styria), Parhamergymnasium (Vienna), HLW St. Veit an der Glan (Carinthia), MS Schwarzach (Vorarlberg), Primary School Irdning (Styria), GTVS Reichsapfelgasse (Vienna), BRG Perchtoldsdorf (Lower Austria), PTS Urfahr (Upper Austria). The schools received up to 1,000 euros in prize money from the BMBWF towards their class funds.
These are the four winners in the “Individuals” category: Gabriele Hekerle, Ruza Zink with a group of young people from “Jugend am Werk Kapfenberg”, Laura Rudorfer, and Viktoria Temmel. They won non-cash prizes donated by the respective projects.
The Minister for Education, Science and Research Martin Polaschek emphasises the importance of research at schools for strengthening trust in science. The pupils’ early contact with the mechanisms and principles of research and the resulting evidence-based facts also reduce scepticism about the findings of science. “Research is already a natural part of school culture at some schools in Austria. In this way schools not only make an important contribution to society as a whole but also promote the natural curiosity and critical thinking of children and young people. And this is exactly what we need to promote. In this way we increase young people’s trust in science and foster their creativity and innovative strength,” says the federal minister. “We need people who have an understanding of research and science and enjoy it. People who perceive research-based learning as essential for the positive development of our society. I would like to thank all teachers, headmasters and headmistresses and researchers for their extraordinary commitment!”
The BMBWF’s head of section Barbara Weitgruber was impressed by the children and young people’s scientific curiosity: “If you want to reduce reserve and prejudices against science, you have to let children and young people take part in it. The Citizen Science Award makes this possible. Since the start of the research competition in 2015 almost 14,500 pupils and more than 4,500 other individuals have taken part in 50 projects. This proves once again that pupils and interested adults want to take part in research. And science needs bright and committed children and young people who know how science and research work. Because this is the best foundation for being positive about science.”
Young people inspire scientists – Young Science Inspiration Award
The five finalists of the Young Science Inspiration Award inspired scientists. Their final school papers are based on a research project of the OeAD Young Science Thematic Platform. On this online platform researchers offer young people suggestions for topics for their pre-academic papers (AHS) or diploma thesis (BHS) – based on their own research. Pupils who used this platform can submit their finished papers for the Young Science Inspiration Award. This year there were 40 valid submissions, of which 21 contained an inspiring or innovative aspect for researchers.
A jury selected two pre-academic papers and one diploma thesis. These young people had five minutes on stage at the Young Science Congress to convince the audience of their work. The winner was Franziska Schäfer from the BRG VBS 14 – with her pre-academic paper on “Digital learning during the corona pandemic – a model for the future?” she not only convinced the researcher Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Barbara Hinger from the Karl Franzens University Graz but also the audience. She received the award endowed with 500 euros. The runners-up Vasilije Maglov, Fabian Psutka and Julian Schwaiger (HTBLA Grieskirchen) and Lilian Bruss (Europagymnasium Leoben) received 250 euros each.
“The Young Science Inspiration Award finalists show how deeply pupils can immerse themselves in research. These young people may be the researchers of tomorrow that we need to master the current challenges of our time. I am pleased that the OeAD helps to provide young people with the necessary skills for the 21st century with its activities in the field of science communication,” emphasises the OeAD’s managing director Jakob Calice at the award ceremony.
22 Austrian schools received the Young Science quality label for research partner schools
The BMBWF and the OeAD also awarded teachers and school headmasters and headmistresses from 22 Austrian schools who, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, continuously worked as research partners in scientific projects over the past two years and maintain sustainable cooperation with research institutions the Young Science quality label for research partner schools.
Among the award-winning schools are numerous schools of general education and of vocational education. Three primary schools and one pre-vocational school also met all the criteria and convinced the jury, which consisted of experts from research, science communication and school development. The schools are located in different regions of Austria – from Salzkammergut to Lienz, from southern Styria to the industrial district of Lower Austria: GTVS Alte Donau (Vienna), HBLVA für chemische Industrie (Vienna), HLTW 13 Bergheidengasse (Vienna), Wiedner Gymnasium/Sir Karl Popper Schule (Vienna), VBS/BRG 19, Krottenbachstraße (Vienna), Hertha Firnberg Schulen für Wirtschaft und Tourismus (Vienna), OVS am Kaisermühlendamm 2 (Vienna), BG/BRG Perchtoldsdorf (Lower Austria), HTL Leoben (Styria), Primary School St. Veit am Vogau (Styria), Polytechnische Schule Leibnitz (Styria), Europagymnasium Leoben (Styria), Akademisches Gymnasium Graz (Styria), BRG Keplerstraße (Styria), BRG Schloss Wagrain (Upper Austria), HLBLA St. Florian (Upper Austria), HLW/HLK Freistadt (Upper Austria), HTBLA Wels (Upper Austria), BRG Steyr Michaelerplatz (Upper Austria), BG/BRG Lienz (Tyrol), BORG Straßwalchen (Salzburg), HBLA Ursprung (Salzburg).
OeAD Magazine #youngsiencerocks
Within the framework of the congress the hot-off-the-press OeAD magazine was also distributed, which this time had the motto #youngsciencerocks. The magazine provides manifold insights into the OeAD’s initiatives in the field of science communication financed by the BMBWF. It is available for download at www.oead.at/OeADMagazinYoungScienceRocks.
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