The potential of Children’s Universities
In recent years, universities and other research organisations made manifold attempts to open up their institutions and facilities to allow for new encounters with science, arts and humanities. Considering that Children’s Universities create special spaces of “otherness” where children and young people connect with academic researchers and students. They have become widespread and successful models for informal learning environments and first glimpses into the scientific world.
Workshop participants will explore the manifold types and characteristics of Children’s University models, as well as of similar science in society (SiS) interventions. Special attention will be given to possible cooperation between universities and science centres and museums and to access and inclusiveness in science in general.
Facilitator
International Liaison Coordinator
European Children's Universities Network EUCU.NET
Session speakers
Vienna University Children's Office/Kinderbüro Universität Wien
Karoline Iber is at the very heart of the evolution of Children's Universities and contributes to the panel session with her long term experience as co-initiator and project leader of “KinderuniWien” (”Children’s University Vienna”) and other lighthouse projects in science in society with and for children. Karoline is educationalist and the managing director of the Vienna University Children's Office.
ECSA | European Citizen Science Association
Since 1989 Simona deals with communication of science and has established a relationship with an extended network of scientists, research institutions, universitities and communicators all over the world. She has participated to various projects at an international level (exhibitions, publications, expeditions, training courses), and is specialized in the communication of science to children and teenagers, with a special focus on gender issues and social inclusion.
Christiane Thenius is project manager of the Science Lectures for Children at ZOOM Children's Museum. Since 2003 ZOOM has been organising this program for private visitors and school classes in a non-university surrounding as a model in the context of children's university activities. Bringing scientists from different research fields together with children, the goal is, to improve the children's interest in different scientific topics and research methods. In 2013 the format has been transferred to Istanbul.
