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Research Week & Experiment Days

Experimenting, building things and researching

<p>Research Week &amp; Experiment Days</p>

Research Week & Experiment Days

Experimenting, building things and researching

<p>Research Week &amp; Experiment Days</p>

Forscherwoche & Experimentiertage

Experimentieren, basteln und forschen

<p>Forscherwoche &amp; Experimentiertage</p>

Research Week & Experiment Days

Experimenting, building things and researching

<p>Research Week &amp; Experiment Days</p>

Research Week & Experiment Days

Experimenting, building things and researching

<p>Research Week &amp; Experiment Days</p>

Project Description

An entire week devoted to research, experiments, building and orientation – that is what school students can look forward during Research Week. The School Research Center of the Technical University of Munich is located in the beautiful Berchtesgadener Land, a region set against the backdrop of the legend-rich Watzmann mountain range.

Here, various programs are offered in the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). These programs are worked on by the school students together with the university research assistants.

Hands-on work, practical experience – this added value can only be offered by an extracurricular place of learning. Due to the popularity of the programs, the school places are quickly booked out each year.

More about the School Research Center:
http://www.schuelerforschung.de/

Project details

Topic: Research

Age category: 12 - 16 years

Venue: School Research Center, Berchtesgadener Land

Duration: 1 week

Participation requirements: Maximum of 36 school students

Project funding

It is possible for the Frank Hirschvogel Foundation to assume part of the costs for the Research Week. 

Project inquiry

Field reports

2018
Students Svenja Liebau (7b), Anna Steck and Nica Wohlgemuth (both 7c) from Jakob Brucker High School (Jakob-Brucker-Gymnasium) in Kaufbeuren report on their Research Week: "30 motivated 7th grade students and their teachers Ms. Endres and Mr. Schwarzenbach as well as adventure educators Katja and Stefan arrived in Berchtesgaden on Monday, April 16.

The Research Week began with an excursion to Lake Hintersee, where a ranger from the National Park taught us a lot about the animals in this protected area. For example, we had the chance to look through a telescope and observe a golden eagle's nest as well as look at (and touch!) the fish typically found in Lake Hintersee. In the evening, we enjoyed a delicious meal at the youth hostel before participating in some ice-breaker activities. The next day was just as exciting. Working in small groups, we were allowed to program a Lego robot ourselves and teach it to walk, dance, sing and much more. The other part of the group began making rockets at the workshop of the School Research Center. Here, we used saws, drills and other tools to make a rocket measuring around 40 cm in height from wood, cardboard and metal. On the way back to the youth hostel we enjoyed an ice cream in the bright sunshine. In the evenings there was a tricky "escape room" task for one group. This demanded maximum concentration and team spirit. The other group was able to explore the youth hostel and play table tennis, for instance. On Wednesday, dissecting a trout was on the agenda. After we had taken a look at all organs from the inside and out (some of us had to go out in the fresh air to recover!), we then enjoyed a portion of steamed trout. Besides that, we also worked on the computer, where we created our own designs for a key ring, which were then cut out precisely by a laser cutter. On Thursday, we went to the salt mine in Berchtesgaden. There we enjoyed a guided tour with many great effects, and we had the opportunity to carry out experiments at the salt laboratory ourselves. At the School Research Center, we finished building our rockets, all of which had a very cool and creative design. Afterwards we went to a large field and launched them into the air.

It is an important goal of Jakob Brucker High School to be able to offer its students special support in STEM subjects, particularly as the school's location in Kaufbeuren is not close to any university.

We would like to warmly thank our sponsors, namely the Frank Hirschvogel Foundation, the company HILTI and our parents, who made this trip financially possible for all participants. The young researchers returned to Kaufbeuren full of enthusiasm and with a wealth of new knowledge and experience.

2017
At the end of March, a group of 30 school students from a high school in Kaufbeuren (Jakob-Brucker-Gymnasium), accompanied by their teachers Ms. Endres and Mr. Schwarzenbach, once again visited the School Research Center of the Technical University of Munich in Berchtesgaden. 


Zunächst stand ein Besuch im Nationalpark Berchtesgaden auf dem Programm. Am Hintersee empfing der nette Ranger Klaus Melde die Gruppe und erzählte viel über die Geschichte und die Besonderheiten des Nationalparks. In Etappen rund um den See erklärte er Interessantes über die Tier- und Pflanzenwelt. Anhand von Insektenlarven zeigte er den Schülern zum Beispiel, dass der See sogar Trinkwasserqualität hat. Auch zum Steinadler wusste er viel zu berichten.

Am späten Nachmittag kam die Gruppe in der Jugendherberge in Berchtesgaden an. Dort machten die Erlebnispädagogen Katja und Stefan an den Abenden verschiedene Gemeinschaftsspiele mit den Jugendlichen und stellten ihnen knifflige Teamaufgaben, für die deren volle Konzentration benötigt wurde.

Im Schülerforschungszentrum konnten die Schülerinnen und Schüler während der Woche viel experimentieren, basteln und forschen. Unter anderem wurden Raketen gebaut, eigene Schlüsselanhänger mit Hilfe eines Laser Cutters hergestellt und Regenbogenforellen seziert, die anschließend auch gekocht und verzehrt wurden.

Im Chemiekurs gab es verschiedene Versuche zum Thema „Salz“ und die Jugendlichen durften spektakuläre Experimente durchführen, bei denen es heftig knallte, leuchtete und blitzte.

Am letzten Abend wurden die selbst gebauten Raketen steigen gelassen - über 300 m flogen diese hoch.

Bevor es am Freitag wieder Richtung Kaufbeuren ging, besuchte die Gruppe im „Haus der Berge“ noch die „Wasserwerkstatt“ und die Ausstellung, in der man vieles zur Natur des Nationalparks selber ausprobieren und entdecken konnte.

Die Frank Hirschvogel Stiftung übernahm einen Großteil der Kosten für die Forscherwoche.

 

20 Schülerinnen und Schüler der 8. Klassen des naturwissenschaftlich-technologischen Zweigs des Welfen-Gymnasiums Schongau besuchten eine Woche lang das Schülerforschungszentrum der TU München in Berchtesgaden.

Am Forschungszentrum hatten die Schülerinnen und Schüler in verschiedenen Workshops die Möglichkeit, sich intensiv mit Themen aus dem Bereich der MINT-Fächer (Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaft und Technik) auseinanderzusetzen.

Die Schülerinnen und Schüler hatten sich zuvor über ein Bewerbungsverfahren für die Forscherwoche qualifiziert und gingen mit entsprechend großer Motivation in Berchtesgaden ans Werk.

Dabei untersuchten sie unter anderem Gewebeproben mit molekularbiologischen Methoden, mischten und zündeten bengalische Feuer und bauten eigene Raketen. Besonders der Raketenbau war ein Favorit der Schüler, da „…man wirklich fast alles selbst machen durfte, wie zum Beispiel die Spitze der Rakete drechseln“.

Neben den Angeboten des Forschungszentrums ergänzten ein Besuch des Salzbergwerks Berchtesgaden und des angeschlossenen Salzlabors sowie eine Schifffahrt auf dem Königssee mit dem obligatorischen Echo das Programm.

Zur Abrundung der erlebnis- und erkenntnisreichen Woche wurde am Freitag das Haus der Berge in Berchtesgaden besichtigt, dessen Motto „Natur sehen, hören, fühlen, schmecken und begreifbar machen“ sich nahtlos in das Konzept der Forscherwoche einfügte. Bei einer interessanten Führung konnte die Gruppe vieles über den Nationalpark Berchtesgaden und seine tierischen Bewohner erfahren. Über das Fazit am Ende der Forscherwoche waren sich alle Teilnehmer einig: Die Woche war „…sehr spannend und man hat sehr viel lernen können.“

Einen Großteil der Kosten für die Fahrt übernahm die Frank Hirschvogel Stiftung.

By contributing to a share of the costs, the Frank Hirschvogel Foundation enabled 8th grade students from a high school in Schongau (Welfen-Gymnasium) to enjoy a stay at the School Research Center in Berchtesgaden from April 24-28, 2017. As part of their “Experiment Days”, the school students had the opportunity to carry out several experiments and work on technical projects beyond scope offered at school. The topics that were focused on tied in well with the contents of the school science lessons and went into even more detail in certain areas. The agenda included building a functional rocket or investigating foodstuffs by means of DNA analysis. Besides experiments at the Research Center, the pupils also had the opportunity to tour the salt mine in Berchtesgaden and to take part in an excursion on Lake Königssee. Since 2016, the “Experiment Days” have been a fixed part of the school education, increasing the students’ motivation to apply the theory of science in practice.

2016
30 pupils from the 6th grade of a high school in Landsberg (Ignaz-Kögler-Gymnasium) were given the opportunity from December 12-16, 2016 to visit the School Research Center in the Berchtesgadener Land to carry out research and to try out their practical skills.

During their stay, they visited the “Haus der Berge”, an information and education center in Berchtesgaden National Park, built a “brush robot”, went to the salt mine and enjoyed a mathematics rally through Berchtesgaden. A souvenir in the form of a keyring was also produced using a computer and a laser cutter. Besides this, the children were introduced to the topic of magnification and discovered the world of astronomy during a themed afternoon. At the end of the experiment days, the teachers and pupils all agreed that the experience had been exciting and had triggered an appetite for more science.

The Frank Hirschvogel Foundation assumed a large portion of the costs for the trip.

Lessons can be completely different. 18 pupils from the 8th grade who have opted to pursue the scientific and technical track at their school applied to participate in the Experiment Days in Berchtesgaden.
Amelie Wirth, one of the pupils taking part, says: “We worked on topics we never touch upon in school. We were allowed to carry out many exciting experiments ourselves.” For example, the pupils explored which meat a butcher processed in producing sausages – of course, using molecular biological methods. How does a self-built and self-programmed robot make its way through a winding corridor? The participants agreed, however, that most exciting activity was building and launching a self-made rocket, which flew 200 meters up into the air and landed undamaged again by means of a parachute.
The accompanying program to the Experiment Days was also comprehensive. The pupils visited the “Haus der Berge”, an information and education center in Berchtesgaden National Park, as well as the local salt mine. The program also included a boat trip on Lake Königssee with the legendary trumpet playing to demonstrate the clear echo created by the rock walls surrounding the lake.
The Frank Hirschvogel Foundation assumed a large portion of the costs for the Experiment Days.

2015
In April, a group of students from the 7th grade of a high school in Landsberg (Jakob-Brucker-Gymnasium) spent a week at the School Research Center of the Technical University of Munich in Berchtesgaden to experiment as well as discover and experience new things.
“On Sunday, April 19, 2015, 30 motivated school students traveled with their teachers Ms. Endres and Mr. Schwarzenbach to the School Research Center in Berchtesgaden for an exciting science experience. The group stayed in a youth hostel with a great view onto the Watzmann mountain range, the landmark of Berchtesgaden. From Monday through Thursday we took various courses.
On Monday, the teachers there firstly showed us how to get our bearings using a compass and a map. In the afternoon, we then took part in an orienteering event through Berchtesgaden using a GPS device. The next day, all the participants put their manual skills to the test and built themselves a rocket with launching pad using a cardboard tube, plywood, metal strips and other materials. We all really enjoyed sawing, grinding and drilling as well as shaping the wooden tips. Everyone was excited in the lead-up to the rocket launch. The sunny day provided ideal flying conditions and every student succeeded in shooting their rocket up to 200 m in the air. Following the safe landing of all the rockets, we were able to take them home with us. On Wednesday, we then participated in an event called “Berchtesgaden – the Mathematical Way”. This involved determining the height and distance of the Watzmann mountain range, for instance, or calculating the volume of a huge ice-cream cone. Later we went underground to visit the salt mine in Berchtesgaden, which is still in operation to this day. On Thursday, we programmed a Lego robot in the School Research Center. To do this, we imitated a modern robotic vacuum cleaner which registers and evades objects with the aid of a light sensor. In the afternoon, we dissected a rainbow trout and carefully analyzed the fish and its internal organs. After that, the trout was cooked and we all enjoyed a taste.
The following day, we visited the “Haus der Berge”, a modern museum on the nature found in Berchtesgaden National Park. The exhibition was very clearly structured, showing the various natural habitats during the course of the four seasons. After that, it was time to go home.
And there was one thing everyone agreed on: This fantastic week was over far too quickly! We would like to say a very warm thank you to the Frank Hirschvogel Foundation for financing this trip!“