Hosted by OSOS , contributed by katerina on 9 March 2018
How can we educate a new generation of scientifically literate European citizens and inspire young people to choose science and technology careers?
Quantum Spinoff brings science teachers and their pupils in direct contact with research and entrepreneurship in the high-tech nano sector, with the goal of educating a new generation of scientifically literate European citizens and inspiring young people to choose for science and technology careers.
Quantum Spin-Off links the insights of modern physics and the opportunities it offers to high-tech enterprising. The activity is aimed at teachers and students in upper secondary level and (a) brings them into contact with fundamental and applied research in nanotechnology & quantum physics and (b) provides opportunities to do their own research and set up their own virtual enterprise.
The idea is to show students how an innovative idea can lead to an application in an enterprise. Under the guidance of researchers and entrepreneurs, the participating schools develop a technical application based on research results and convert this into a business plan. The outcomes also include learning and teaching materials on quantum physics and a teacher training programme for introducing modern science in high schools in the form of nanotechnology/entrepreneurship competition.
Learning objectives
We want to create a community of stakeholders from the school world (science teachers, teacher educators and trainees, school directors, pupils) and from the ‘outside world’ of nano research labs and high-tech companies (researchers and entrepreneurs), with the common goal of bringing youth in contact with nano-research and high-tech entrepreneurship.
- Students learn through lectures and experiments in class (Learning Stations) about modern science (e.g. nanotechnology), and their applications in every day life
- Students interact with researchers/scientists and learn about their research
- Students learn how to read a scientific publication and how to search in scientific journals
- Students are exposed to the idea of spin-off enterpises and learn how to create a business plan for their virtual company (e.g. business canvas)
- Students learn to work in teams and communicate their results or findings as real researchers
Available partnership opportunities
Here are some partnership opportunities you should consider in your development:
| Research Centres | Research centers guide reveal their basic or applied research findings to teachers and their students. Collaboration with schools is established. Future intern positions can be offered to students to exceptional graduating students. |
| Universities | Provide links to students guiding them through their future career choices starting from their undergraduate preferences. Research within universities is also presented to students |
| Industry | Applied science in the form of nanotechnology products or services is presented to students. This way students can see how products are designed, developed and reach the market |
| Entrepreneurs | Interaction with students helps them learn the basics of entrepreneurship starting with the creation of a business plan and all important features that should be included within it |
Resources needed
No special equipment or resources is needed.
Schools are encouraged to visit local or national nanotechnology laboratories and come in contact with researchers. Teachers are given guidelines and educational resources (in the form of a learning package) that allows them to a) implement in their classroom activities of modern science; (b) take initiative and connect with high-tech research and entrepreneurship; (c) correctly support the inquiry learning process of their pupils.
Organisation in charge of this Accelerator
This Accelerator has been developed by Ellinogermaniki Agogi.
Angelos Lazoudis, angelos@ea.gr
Ellinogermaniki Agogi (EA)
Dimitriou Panagea Str.
GR 153 51 Pallini Attikis