Two more weeks and then it’s time again: open the lecture hall for inquisitive children! The 21st edition of the Frankfurt Children’s University from September 24th to 27th will cover topics from biology, medicine, education and economics. The eight morning lectures are reserved for registered school classes, and in the afternoon at 4 p.m. all eight to twelve-year-olds with a companion are welcome, even without registration. In addition to exciting lectures by real scientists, there are great prizes for frequent listeners and smarties.
A few weeks after the start of school, Goethe University is holding its big event for children aged eight to twelve. From September 24 to 27, the 21st Frankfurt Children’s University will take place in the university’s largest lecture hall on the Westend university campus. Children from all types of schools can experience how diverse and exciting science is in an entertaining and playful way.
This year, the Children’s University team has put together four different topics: on Tuesday, the focus is on giraffes’ sleep, on Wednesday, on how ingenious our cardiopulmonary circulation works, on Thursday, the children learn something about their own everyday school life, and on Friday, they can think together about what a good boss actually is. The morning events for school classes are only open to registered school classes, but in the afternoon at 4 p.m., the lecture hall is open to everyone without registration, so that children can come with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or teachers. But be careful: adults are only allowed in if accompanied by eight to twelve-year-olds.
The program
To kick off the 21st Frankfurt Children’s University on Tuesday (September 24th), biologist and behavioural researcher Professor Paul Dierkes will give an insight into his research at the Opel Zoo and in the wild. “What does the giraffe do at night? How the tallest land animals in the world sleep and wake” is the title of his talk. With the help of thermal imaging cameras, he and his team have discovered how giraffes keep watch at night to avoid being attacked by lions. On Wednesday (September 25th), heart researcher Dr. Guillermo Luxán will take us inside the body and address the question: “What happens when we breathe? A journey to the strong teams in the heart and lungs”. At the end, the children will understand why you sometimes get out of breath when running, and how the cells in the heart and lungs work together. On Thursday (September 26th), educational scientist Dr. Anne Piezunka explains how teachers and students can get along well with each other, how conflicts can best be resolved and how to get help if necessary. After all, the classroom is not just about reading, writing, arithmetic and biology, but also about peaceful coexistence. “What are bosses for?” – that’s what some adults may ask themselves sometimes. Economist Prof. Guido Friebel explains why there have to be “bosses” (and of course “bosses”) not only in kindergarten and school – and discusses with the children the difference between good and bad bosses. Examples – this much can be revealed – can also be found in children’s books, comics and animated films.
After the morning lectures, the students can fortify themselves in the cafeteria, the student union cafeterias or in the “Sturm und Drang” café-bistro on the ground floor of the lecture hall building – just like “real” students.
This year, Frankfurt’s hands-on museum Experiminta is on board again: exciting experiments await the children in the foyer of the lecture hall building. In addition, teams from psychology and education provide information about their current studies in the afternoons.
As every year, there is a quiz for each lecture. Those who know the right answers have a chance of winning a great book prize, a children’s university shirt and other great prizes. On the homepage of the children’s university (www.kinderuni.uni-frankfurt.de) the quiz questions and later the correct answers are available at the beginning of the Children’s University Week.
“With more than 10,000 children, the Children’s University is one of the largest events at Goethe University. These are always very special days when the many classes and families flock to the Westend campus,” says Prof. Viera Pirker, Vice President of Goethe University for Studies and Teaching. “This year, too, we have put together a diverse program to inspire the children and give them an insight into the topics of our university. From how giraffes sleep to the atmosphere in the classroom – there is something for every area of interest. And our lecturers always manage to impart their expert knowledge with playful ease in an astonishing way.”
A little taste of this year’s Children’s University: On Saturday, September 14, the 21st Frankfurt Children’s University will be a guest at the Nordwestzentrum in Frankfurt. Children’s University professor and biologist Paul Dierkes will talk about his research with giraffes, and magician Harry Keaton will lead the audience through the varied program with magic tricks.
Dr. Marschner Foundation provides reliable support
The Dr. Marschner Foundation has been supporting the Frankfurt Children’s University financially since 2015. “It is a great idea to use the Children’s University to give Frankfurt schoolchildren from all educational backgrounds and regardless of their social environment their first contact with the university,” says Peter Gatzemeier, Chairman of the Dr. Marschner Foundation. “They are introduced to exciting scientific topics in an entertaining yet informative way. We are very pleased to be able to support this format, which is very successful in Frankfurt and the surrounding area.”
This year, the media partner of the Frankfurt Children’s University is once again the Frankfurter Rundschau, which will report on the events daily and also offer a competition.
