The HSZG is establishing a DLR_School_Lab in Zittau as an extracurricular learning location as part of the "Future Learning Location Upper Lusatia - ZUKLOS" project. Exciting experiments and close cooperation with the DLR enable children and young people to experience scientific phenomena and technical innovations.
The DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is taking shape and making an important contribution to securing the future supply of skilled workers as part of the project "Future Learning Location Upper Lusatia - ZUKLOS". As an extracurricular place of learning, the student laboratory will not only offer exciting experiments that awaken enthusiasm for STEM subjects, but will also create excellent opportunities to draw students' attention to the wide range of degree courses at the HSZG. The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is thus joining the ranks of prominent science locations that use the DLR_School_Lab to bring scientific phenomena and technical innovations to life for children and young people through exciting experiments.
An important milestone was reached back in May: the signing of a cooperation agreement with the DLR. This partnership paves the way for close cooperation and enables the continuous further development of the DLR_School_Lab Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz.
On June 15, 2023, an initial meeting was also held with the Saxon State Enterprise for Real Estate and Construction Management (SIB) to discuss the measures required to set up the laboratory.
On June 29, 2023, various participants from DLR and the HSZG met at the Mandauhöfe Zittau to strengthen future cooperation and advance the content of the DLR_School_Lab. The meeting was attended by the university management, represented by the Rector Professor Alexander Kratszch and the Vice-Rector for Education and International Affairs Professor Sophia Keil, as well as Dr. Christoph Pawek, DLR Board Representative for the Promotion of Young Scientists, and Mr. Tobias Bohnhardt, Head of DLR_School_Lab Berlin. Also present were Dr. Diana Wenzke, DLR research associate at the Cottbus site, Mr. Hasan Chahi, research associate at the DLR Institute ofLow CO2 Industrial Processes, and employees of the ZUKLOS project.
During the meeting, there was also the opportunity to take a tour of the future premises of the DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, where there was a productive exchange about the content and didactic formats of the experiments. Professor Jens Weber gave the participants valuable insights into a field of research at the university during a visit to the LaNDER3 halls. Particularly in the area of developing new experiments for pupils, research topics at the HSZG, such as the pioneering research of the Lusatian Natural Fibre Composites Partnership, Decentralized Energy, Raw Materials, Resources, Recycling(LaNDER³), offer excellent starting points that need to be made tangible for young people.
The progress made in setting up the DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is extremely promising and the HSZG is grateful for the cooperation with DLR and the valuable support of DLR_School_Lab Berlin as a mentor. The Vice-Rector and the ZUKLOS team will visit the DLR_School_Lab Berlin in September 2023 to continue exchanging experiences. Synergies and joint projects such as cooperation on experiments, workshops or events can be identified through the exchange on site and thus contribute to the further development of the DLR_School_Lab at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The next milestones in the project include the acquisition of the experiments and the testing of these experiments in collaboration with pilot schools. The acquisition of the experiments will make it possible to offer a wide range of exciting and educational activities that will awaken pupils' interest in STEM subjects and encourage their curiosity. By testing with pilot schools, valuable insights can also be gained to continuously improve the experiments and the educational concept of the DLR_School_Lab Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz.
This type of extracurricular learning will create an enthusiastic generation of young people and promote interest in STEM subjects. As a result, the DLR_School_Lab Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz will become an inspiring and knowledge-rich source for future specialists and make its contribution to the challenge of structural change.
