EURAC junior

With the project EURAC junior the European Academy Bolzano/Italy establishes an interface between schools and science. In this framework EURAC junior offers together with the research institute for Applied Remote Sensing a three hours schoollab that introduces high school kids to the topic of earth observation. Students take part in a well balanced program that combines theory and practical experience. In several short picturesque presentations students receive background information on satellite systems and the basics of remote sensing as well as the current research activities of the institute. The practical part includes the use of technical instruments, the application of a remote sensing software and an exercise with pictures of different illumination situations of the earth that have to be assigned to the correct time of day and seasonal date. The students experience a scientific working atmosphere and get the opportunity to approach scientists directly. The set up of the schoollab highlights links to school subjects like Math, English, Geography, Physics and Ecology. Students understand the importance of integration for the different disciplines and the knowledge as the key to applied remote sensing and science.
The activity of EURAC junior has the vision of building a vivid platform in South Tirol for initiatives that propose current research topics for teachers and students in all level of education. This opens new opportunities for the teachers to enhance their teaching tool kit and their own education. Students benefit not only through the diversification of teaching methods, but the contact to science might motivate them for their own career. The gain for the research institute is expected to be seen in a higher reputation in society and in the support to determine the myth of science being in an ivory tower. EURAC junior is using this win-win situation as an opportunity to offer different formats to schools. Besides schoollabs, we offer a visit of scientists at schools, intermediate-term roll-playing and an initiative called “young researchers wanted”. This initiative is not restricted to the topic of applied remote sensing but wants to establish suitable activities for the ten different research institutes of the European Academy in Bolzano.