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Offers for school groups and teachers

Faculty 08 – Biology and Chemistry at JLU Giessen offers a wide-ranging programme designed to introduce schools, teachers and pupils to scientific research and teaching. The aim is to strengthen the link between schools and the university, to foster interest in STEM subjects, and to provide insights into current topics in biology and chemistry.

The programmes are aimed at all types of schools and year groups – with a particular focus on lower and upper secondary levels, depending on the content. Some activities take place directly at the school, whilst others are held at the university or in the research institutes. In many of these formats, students or researchers work directly with school classes to promote practical relevance and more intensive learning processes.

 

Advanced Chemistry Course Partnership

The basic idea is for lecturers to support an advanced chemistry course. The collaboration should go beyond a single activity and ideally span several terms of the sixth form, although the number of joint activities will naturally be limited to a maximum of three events. The lecturers and advanced courses are free to choose the form of collaboration. This may, for example, take the form of laboratory activities at the university, or school visits by the lecturer for conducting a lesson, etc.

Target group: Upper school classes

Experimental Workshops 

Christmas Lecture

Every year, shortly before Christmas, a Christmas lecture is held at JLU, delivered by lecturers and students from the Department of Chemistry. This lecture is aimed at advanced chemistry classes from local schools.

Posters from previous years (in German):

 

Children's university (Kinderuni)

Young children, in particular, usually have lots of questions about understanding their surroundings, which they are keen to grasp. To answer at least some of these questions, JLU runs a children’s university every semester, in which the Department of Biology and Chemistry also participates.

More information about Kinderuni

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

The chemistry institutes at JLU regularly offer a range of accredited professional development courses for teachers and nursery staff. Registration is essential, as places are limited. A fee of €10 per participant is currently charged to cover the cost of course materials and consumables.

Hermann Hoffmann Academy (HHA)

With the Hermann Hoffmann Academy, JLU is creating a very special learning environment for young researchers.  

The building on Senckenbergstraße, right next to the Botanical Garden, has been refurbished for young visitors and houses, amongst other things, a classroom, a student and research laboratory, a dinosaur workshop, a library, a lecture theatre, and an aquarium and vivarium room where trainee teachers explore the use of animals in biology lessons. The Implantarium, JLU’s Green School, is also based here. Under the motto Learning through Teaching,the Academy will be a place where students impart knowledge.

Students from all biology degree programmes – including both Bachelor’s and Master’s students specialising in Biology Education and those training to become teachers at secondary levels 2, 3 and 5, as well as in vocational and workplace education (BBB) – independently plan research projects on biological topics in collaboration with schools in Giessen. In this way, pupils gain authentic insights into how scientific inquiry is conducted.

The Hermann Hoffmann Academy offers STEM-related educational programmes specifically designed for school classes, e.g.:

  • Dino Workshop – The evolution of dinosaurs into birds (pre-school classes and Years 1–3)
  • Wolves in Hesse – Lecture programme with collection items (Years 4–6)
  • Microplastics and their impact on the environment (Years 6–10)
  • How the whale learned to swim (Years 11–13)

Dates for these programmes are arranged by prior arrangement. Registration can be made by emailor by telephone (+49 641 99-35250) with Dr Stefanie Janine Jung.

Teaching and Learning Laboratory for Biology Education

The Biology Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory serves as a bridge between university research and school practice. Here, school classes can carry out experiments under the guidance of students, explore their own questions and immerse themselves in current biological research projects.

The activities are aimed at classes of various year groups. Sessions are arranged by appointment, and registration (by email) is required.

Meet a Chemist

In lectures and workshops, heads of research groups from the Department of Chemistry bring topics from their current research into the school. The programme aims to bridge the gap between school chemistry and university research.

Examples from the programme include:

  1. Electricity from the sun – build your own solar cell (e.g. using dye-sensitised solar cells)
  2. The chemistry of beer brewing – reactions in the food industry
  3. Chemistry in everyday life – e.g. phenomena at the swimming pool, in fragrances, etc.
  4. Odours and flavours – experiments with everyday substances

The programme is aimed at chemistry teachers and school classes, primarily at upper secondary level, but can also be adapted for other year groups depending on the topic. Take a look at the programme and choose from the wide range of options. You can contact the listed contact persons informally.

One Health Teaching Clinic (OHTC)

The One Health (OH) concept is based on the recognition that the health of humans, animals and the environment is inextricably linked. A well-known example of this is the spread of mosquitoes from warmer regions due to climate change and the associated spread of pathogens. Other examples include zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19 and antibiotic resistance.

The project aims to develop the innovative One Health concept in a professional capacity through dialogue between trainee teachers, One Health researchers and schoolteachers, to adapt it for teaching purposes, and to test it in practice in teaching and learning scenarios with pupils at regional schools. Through dialogue with teachers on the one hand and One Health researchers on the other, the students will develop learning sequences which will be implemented, evaluated and reflected upon in practice with pupils in regional schools as part of a One Health Teaching Clinic. At the end of the seminar, a presentation of the learning sequences is planned as part of a mini-conference at the university. The conference facilitates exchange with researchers, teachers and subject didacticians from several countries, all of whom work on One Health.

Target group: Year 5 to 13 classes from all school types

"Liebig-LAB" Student Laboratory

Why does a lemon conduct electricity? Why do fireflies glow? What do my smartphone or tablet have to do with lithium?

The Department of Chemistry provides a fully equipped laboratory for experimentation. The Liebig-LAB offers pupils the opportunity to conduct experiments on a variety of topics. The selection of experiments is made in consultation with the supervising teacher, so that the experiments can be tailored to the relevant topic of the lesson.

The Liebig-LAB is normally open for a period of one week, with classes able to book morning or afternoon slots. 

  • Location: Chemistry Building, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58-62, 35392 Giessen

Young Chemist Award

Wanted: The best chemists in your year group. Are you one of them and up for a challenge?

 

As well as gaining new experiences and lots of information about chemistry and chemistry degree programmes, there are some great prizes to be won:

  • Non-cash prizes
  • The chance to get an active insight into current research projects
  • A one-week chemistry internship featuring exciting experiments and lectures
  • Gain your first university experience a year before your A-levels, preparing you for your future studies

Of course, above all, you should enjoy chemistry and be keen to learn something new and get to know a new environment.

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Requirements for participation

  • You will be taking your A-levels or equivalent in 2026.
  • You are available during the last week of the summer holidays, from 11 to 15 August 2025, to take part in a one-week in-person internship at the Department of Chemistry at JLU Giessen.

During the internshop, you will attend a week of chemistry lectures and carry out experiments independently in the laboratory. At the end of the week, three winners will be announced following a short test.

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Interested?

Then why not register now? Please state your school and your advanced-level subjects (you will then receive all further information by email):

Dr Bjoern Luerßen
Institute of Physical Chemistry
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17
35392 Giessen

Bjoern.Luerssen

Applications will be accepted from 1 May 2025,the deadline for applications is 4 July 2025!

 

Photos: Franz Möller