New students welcomed to ChangING Research Club New cohort starts with sustainable aviation research in the SE²A cluster of excellence
The changING research club of the SE²A – Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation cluster of excellence at TU Braunschweig started a new round at the beginning of November. 26 female and 22 male tenth-grade students from Braunschweig’s secondary schools and integrated comprehensive schools met at the Haus der Wissenschaft for the kick-off. Professor Jens Friedrichs, spokesperson for the cluster, welcomed the young people and invited them to visit the cluster’s laboratories and institutes. The changING research club offers students fascinating insights into research on sustainable aviation and the opportunity to conduct research and experiments themselves. One of the club’s aims is to encourage girls in particular to take an interest in technical subjects.
Participants in the new ChangING cohort launch paper planes. Picture credits: Ahmed Nassef/TU Braunschweig
The research club is also pleased about the strong participation of pupils in 2024. Picture credits Ahmed Nassef/TU Braunschweig
Cluster spokesperson Jens Friedrichs welcomes the new ChangING cohort. Picture credits: Ahmed Nassef/TU Braunschweig
This is the 2024 cohort of the ChangING research club of the SE²A - Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation Cluster of Excellence at the TU Braunschweig. Picture credits: Ahmed Nassef/TU Braunschweig
The changIng team, led by Dr Dina Al-Kharabsheh, has once again put together a varied programme. The young people meet in small groups for two hours every other afternoon during the school year. The first year of research includes sessions and workshops in acoustics, simulation, programming and design. Practical and independent work is emphasised in changING, for example in CAD and 3D printing workshops or in wind tunnel experiments. Students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering accompany the groups as mentors.
After five years, we can look back on a successful programme. So far, we have mentored more than 170 students in our research club and opened many doors for them in the Cluster of Excellence,’ says Dina Al-Kharabsheh, research associate at the Institute for Science Education at TU Braunschweig. We are very pleased that we have another strong cohort this year, and especially about the large number of female participants.
The didactic and educational scientific support is also particularly valuable. Over the past few years, we have been able to identify many features that contribute to successful STEM outreach activities and promote participants’ interest, self-efficacy and motivation,’ says Dina Al-Kharabsheh. This is particularly important for the recruitment of future professionals. With the new class of 2024, we will be able to continue these surveys.
About ‘ChangING’
The research club ‘changING’ of the Cluster of Excellence SE²A – Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation at TU Braunschweig started for the first time in October 2019. Pupils from the tenth class upwards will be given the opportunity to carry out their own research and experiments. In addition, they get to know technical courses of study and professions in the field of mobility research at TU Braunschweig in a practical way. The young people are supported through to their A-levels if they wish to stay with the project for the full four years. Over the past five years, more than 170 students have participated in the research club – in cooperation with twelve institutions and institutes at TU Braunschweig. changING is recognised by many schools as an extra-curricular activity and also offers the opportunity to write term papers under supervision.
