Minister Iris Rauskala visits “Kinderuni” at IST Austria

After the great success of the last two years, the program of the ‘KinderuniWissenschaft’ at the Institute of Science and Technology (IST Austria) in Klosterneuburg was this year again, very well received by the young scientists. Minister for Education, Science and Research Iris Rauskala was also enthusiastic about her visit to the campus: “Breaking down the barriers between science and society and encouraging children’s curiosity is a central element of science communication. The topic of science education is getting more and more important, and I am glad that at IST Austria fantastic cooperations have been established in this regard.”

The 300 Kinderuni-students from Vienna and Lower Austria of the age between 7 and 12, learned at the fully booked Science Day on the IST Austria campus in Klosterneuburg, about the “coolest science animals”: How model organisms help us to better understand both animals and humans. Even researchers have animals, they find especially great, because they help them to find answers to their questions.

Together with the experts from the Kinderuni, Magdalena Steinrück, science education expert from IST Austria, was able to answer the many questions that the young researchers asked after the lecture and in the workshops. The Science Day took place exclusively as part of the program ‘KinderuniWissenschaft’.

Since July 2003, the Vienna University Children’s Office organizes the ‘Kinderuni Wien’, which is now one of the largest children’s universities in Europe. The ‘Kinderuni Wien’ is one the largest children’s universities in Austria, and further children’s universities have developed following the same concept within Austria and abroad. As part of the ‘Kinderuni Wien’, more than 4,000 children between the ages of 7 and 12 from all over Austria spend two weeks each year participating over 450 classes for children and an extensive program.