Future Workforce Initiative Unveiled

In the heart of Germany, the city of Landshut is spearheading an innovative project aimed at making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (MINT) topics more tangible and experiential for children aged 10 to 16. The project, named "Future Makers - All Talents in MINT," is a collaborative endeavour involving several key players, including the MINT Cluster, City of Landshut, University of Applied Sciences Landshut, MINT Forum Bayern e.V., Silicon Vilstal gUG, DOM e.V., and Weltacker Landshut e.V.

The project is based on the production resources of regional companies, providing access to resources such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and textile printers. This virtual maker space will serve as a platform for young minds to explore the "secrets of technology" through various workshops held in seminar rooms and technical laboratories of the MINT faculties at the university.

The activities planned within the project are diverse and engaging. Young participants can look forward to hands-on experiences in workshops, such as sowing, care, harvesting, and processing, which will help them discover scientific aspects of chemistry, physics, and biology in experiments. There are also formats like math cabinet, chemistry and biology in everyday life, physics with ball track systems, robotics, CAD, 3D printing, soldering of electronic kits, and a mobile MINT workshop.

The Silicon Vilstal initiative is particularly focused on fostering playful discovery and creativity among children and young people, combining digital media, handicraft work, and modern technology in idea workshops. Cooperation with regional companies is also planned, with actions like a "MINT Pass" in the works.

The Landshut MINT cluster will also emphasise the MINT topic of nutrition, with events addressing global nutrition and sustainable food production. The city of Landshut will create a web presence for the Zukunftswerker to bundle all MINT offers and allow bookings.

The University of Landshut is planning a "Wednesday MINT" format for schoolchildren aged 10 to 14, offering application-oriented and practice-based insights into MINT topics and MINT sciences. The goal of this format is to inspire young people for technical fields of study.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and it is being implemented in the region of Landshut. The project activities will be supported by the regional economy, further education schools, and non-profit associations. The DOM neighborhood center is offering a fixed MINT workshop with available rooms and contact persons for independent work.

In summary, the "Future Makers - All Talents in MINT" project is a comprehensive initiative aimed at making MINT topics more accessible and engaging for young people in Landshut, Germany. Through a variety of workshops, activities, and collaborations, the project seeks to inspire a new generation of MINT enthusiasts and foster a love for learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.