The “Labs on Tour” project run by RWTH Aachen University has been awarded third place in the “Mobile Offerings” category of the “LeLa Award.” The program is aimed at students in grade 7 and above and brings offerings from the RWTH student laboratories directly to schools. The aim is to provide insights into topics in the fields of electrical engineering, mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology.
The prize is awarded by the “Lernort Labor – Bundesverband der Schülerlabore e.V.” (Learning Place Laboratory – Federal Association of Student Laboratories) in four categories and recognizes “outstanding achievements by student laboratories and networks.” At the annual conference in Osnabrück, Maria Hinkelmann, coordinator of “Labs on Tour” at RWTH Aachen University, accepted the award donated by the Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation. The prize is accompanied by prize money of €2,000. “We are delighted to receive this award and the prize money of €2,000. This recognition encourages us to further expand the project and hopefully inspire even more students to take an interest in STEM subjects,” says Maria Hinkelmann. She works in Professor Heidrun Heinke‘s working group in the Physics Department at RWTH Aachen University.
“Labs on Tour” was developed as part of the “MINTplus” joint project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women, and Youth. Since 2022, RWTH Aachen University, the Aachen city region, and the United Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Aachen have been working together to make STEM subjects accessible, spark curiosity, and break down potential barriers to science subjects.
Pupil soldering during Labs on Tour
The unique feature of “Labs on Tour” is its mobile concept. Three learning lab offerings come to schools on four dates for 90 minutes each. There, students participate in their own STEM working groups over an entire school semester.
RWTH Aachen University is currently cooperating with twelve secondary schools in Aachen and the surrounding area. Around 250 students from grade 7 onwards take part each year and spend a total of 18 hours working on various STEM topics. For example, they program robots, make pocket warmers, or solder key rings.
Last year, a closing event for the year group was held at RWTH Aachen University for the first time. Students and their families were invited to the campus
. In addition to the certificate ceremony, they were able to explore various learning labs and participate in hands-on activities. “For many, it was an exciting opportunity to experience the university up close and show their families what they had been working on at Labs on Tour,” says Maria Hinkelmann. The next closing event is planned for July.
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