Encouraging fun in scientific work

Often it is just a small spark that can ignite a fire of enthusiasm. And although Prof. Dr Eva M. Herzig did not show the pupils of the Luitpold School in Bayreuth experiments with fire, but with water and ice, many such fires were lit. "It is important to me to support children in pursuing their questions and being allowed to live out their curiosity," says Prof. Dr Eva M. Herzig, Professor of Experimental Physics - Dynamics and Structure Formation at the University of Bayreuth. "I want to encourage the fun of scientific work and of course I also hope that the enthusiasm you see at an event like this will last."

Prof. Herzig acted as a learning companion for the award-winning project. "The students then came to our campus with their questions and did a lot of experimental research and testing," Herzig says. Herzig organised the day at the university with her team and especially with the support of Thomas Dabisch. Herzig also paid a visit to the school, where the evaluation of the experiments and the experience gained was then made in the group. "There was also really good feedback from the school," says Herzig. "The teacher Michaela Heinrich told us that this project of targeted free work allowed the children to show what they were made of, regardless of their previous academic performance." The school will use the prize money to purchase materials for further experiments that can be integrated into lessons.