Pia tried out her laboratory concept with pupils. “I had no idea that chemistry could be so much fun,” was one pupil’s reaction. For Pia, moments like these are important because they demonstrate the potential of real-life, research-oriented learning opportunities. What began as a simple idea has developed into a project that, over time, has become a real labour of love for Pia – one which she also presented as part of the ‘Poster im Bundestag’ project.

Pia says:“For me, it was something very special to be able to present and pitch this project in the Bundestag. I was really looking forward to talking to politicians, students and lecturers and discussing together the potential offered by modern chemistry teaching. Many teachers would love to integrate real-life, research-oriented learning formats into their lessons. However, in day-to-day school life, there is often a lack of time, materials or the necessary flexibility in the curriculum to do so. I hope that my poster will draw attention to this. Personally, I’ve gained a great deal of valuable experience from this project. Even the workshops during the preparatory phase were enriching. It was inspiring to see the passion with which everyone involved worked on their projects. Despite the different topics, it quickly became clear that everyone shared the same enthusiasm. The discussions during the event also inspired me greatly. Many visitors said that they had found their own chemistry lessons rather dry and would have liked to have had a student laboratory like this themselves. As a result, they also enquired about student laboratories in their local area. Furthermore, the discussions gave rise to some interesting ideas. Together, we discussed the potential long-term impact that student laboratories might have on pupils’ choice of degree course, how more schools could implement such projects, and how complex research topics could be presented in a way that makes them understandable and motivating for pupils. I found it particularly exciting that some lecturers were also considering how to make their own research topics more accessible for school settings. Above all, the project has shown me just how much I enjoy developing such learning opportunities. At the same time, it has further strengthened my interest in chemistry education and in communicating current research. Above all, however, I take with me the many inspiring encounters, fascinating conversations and the appreciation I was able to experience as part of this project.”