From campus to the classroom: TU sends the LeoVan on a journey of discovery New mobile school laboratory brings experiments directly to schools and youth centres

Innovation needs the next generation: there is a particular demand for qualified specialists in technical and natural sciences fields. This makes it all the more important to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology at an early age – regardless of where they live or go to school. With the LeoVan, Technische Universität Braunschweig is therefore bringing experiments and insights into research and university life directly to young people in the region.

Volkswagen Financial Services AG and the Achterkerke Foundation are supporting the project. Photo credits: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig

The LeoVan was officially launched on 1 October. TU Braunschweig put the new mobile laboratory into operation at the Ricarda-Huch-Schule in Braunschweig. Schools and youth centres in the region will be able to book the van free of charge in future. To kick things off, pupils carried out experiments at several stations and learnt about scientific working methods.

“If we want to inspire young people to take an interest in science and technology, we need to show them at an early age just how exciting these fields are,” says TU President Angela Ittel. “With the LeoVan, we are opening up this world right on their doorstep – and creating opportunities that do not depend on how close a school is to the university.”

Developed together, on the move for the region

“With the LeoVan, we’re bringing our diverse knowledge to schools in our region in a way that’s appropriate for their age,” says Arno Kwade, Vice-President for Transfer and Innovation. “The experiments tie in with the curriculum and encourage pupils to get involved. I’m convinced that this will help us inspire many pupils to take an interest in science.”

The LeoVan complements the TU Braunschweig’s permanent LeoLabs with a mobile programme. It carries experiment kits from various fields of study. Pupils observe, measure, investigate relationships and analyse their results. Academic and student staff members accompany them throughout the process, providing insights into research, degree programmes and potential career paths.

Bookable free of charge for schools and youth centres

In future, the LeoVan can be booked free of charge by schools and youth centres in Braunschweig and the surrounding region here. The programmes are aimed at different age groups and year groups and enable participants to experience the university’s educational offerings directly at their own learning locations.

The LeoVan is primarily funded by zukunft.niedersachsen, the joint science funding programme of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the VW Foundation. The project also receives further support from Volkswagen Financial Services AG and the Achterkerke Foundation.

Further information on the LeoVan: www.tu-braunschweig.de/leovan