Teaching Ideas

Talking Science

Prepared for encounters with scientists

Visits by scientists to classrooms are a great way to get pupils excited about research, address stereotypical everyday ideas about science, and discuss how science works and creates new knowledge. Our preparatory materials help teachers at all school levels to prepare for these visits in such a way that motivating discussions between researchers and pupils can take place.

The materials on this page were developed on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research in cooperation with the OeAD Young Science Science Ambassadors Programme.

Goals

  • Expand ideas about research and researchers

  • Learn about the profession of scientist

  • Formulate questions for experts

  • Gain well-founded trust in science

Target group & format

  • School classes of all ages – divided into primary level / secondary level 1 / secondary level 2

  • Activities, worksheets and a suggested lesson plan for a preparatory lesson before a scientist visits the class.

  • Suitable for any subject!

Content & materials

  • Worksheets tailored to different age groups

  • Suggested lesson plan & background information for teachers

Material for download (Material only available in German)

Primary level – We meet a scientist!
Secondary level 1 – Careers in and around science
Secondary level 2 – Trust in Science! Scientists and their expertise

More and more programs are connecting schools and science, sending researchers to schools and vice versa. Take advantage of one of these programs—or invite researchers from your own circle of acquaintances to your school. We also offer preparatory materials for researchers who visit schools. After all, encounters happen when both sides are prepared for each other!

Find science ambassadors throughout Austria

The OeAD arranges for over 400 science ambassadors to visit schools throughout Austria. On the OeAD website, you will find a catalog of researchers in your area!

Science Ambassador Program OeAD

School students in conversation with researchers

  • ©
    Copyright: ©ISTA / Anna Stöcher
    ISTA physicist Jeremie Palacci shows students his laboratory
  • Biologist Lisa Hanghofer with a group of children in front of a blackboard
  • ©
    Copyright: ©ISTA / Anna Stöcher
    ISTA Lecture Young Lounge with Venki Ramakrishnan
  • Lecture by Stuart Russell in the Raiffeisen Lecture Hall

Alice Laciny

develops and supervises small and large projects for science enthusiasts; also an insect researcher and inclusion expert in the team with a focus on neurodiversity.

alice.laciny@ist.ac.at

In cooperation with