The Swiss award for outstanding engineering achievements in construction entered its fourth round this year. A high-caliber, independent jury of representatives from business, research, science and development, as well as from the federal administration and engineering sector, had made 25 nominations in five categories from the dossiers submitted. The jury, headed by Prof. Dr. Sarah M. Springman, Rector of ETH Zurich and Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, selected the winners in the various categories. The SimplyNano project won in the category “Promoting young talent in the field of technology”. The award recognizes the convincing concept, the didactically high-quality content and the generous support of numerous companies and foundations.
The future for the children!
With SimplyNano, the SimplyScience Foundation, which gives the project its name, aims to awaken young people’s enthusiasm for scientific and technical subjects and for technical professions. This is intended to secure the next generation of skilled workers in Switzerland in the long term. This is achieved by means of exciting and practical experiments on nanotechnology – SimplyNano thus pursues an integrative approach in the promotion of young talent on three levels:
- the novel experiments inspire learners – especially young women – for nature and technology
- Teachers are trained at continuing education courses
- Continuing education courses take place at partner companies and allow networking between teachers and trainers
This particularly convinced the jury. This was the opinion of Clementine Hegner-van Rooden in her laudation:
“High school students are motivated to deal with the nanoscale – just at the moment of choosing a profession. This awakens, on a didactic but very concrete level, a sensibility for a field hitherto little known at this level and hopefully creates creative professionals for our professional world. Because in every innovative idea there is a core of creativity and curiosity. To the children, the future.”
Thanks to the financial support of partners and sponsors, all components of the learning medium can be made available to schools free of charge.
In use throughout Switzerland from 2025
The SimplyNano 2 experimental kits are already available in four cantons (AG, SG, AR, AI) in all upper grades. Currently, the project is being implemented throughout the canton of Zurich and made available to secondary schools. Starting next school year, the suitcases will be introduced in the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Solothurn. By 2025, SimplyNano 2 learning media should be available to all secondary schools throughout Switzerland. In this way, a contribution can be made to promoting the next generation of technicians in all Swiss schools.
The “SimplyNano 2” learning medium was developed by the Innovation Society, a St.Gallen start-up, and is published by the SimplyScience Foundation. It is a non-profit foundation that aims to get children and young people interested in scientific and technical topics. The project is supported by the public sector, foundations and companies. Additional partners are being sought www.simplynano.ch
Note for editors / image material
Pictures of the award ceremony and the SimplyNano project can be downloaded at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/23dgjoyorkqz3ya/AADUe8Avrq6pwva4OemS88zda?dl=0
Contact: Dr. Christoph Meili
christoph.meili@innovationsgesellschaft.ch
Mobile: 076 326 77 97