Brief description
The main objective of this study is to explore the interest of young people in science and technology, investigate their motivation to select their main subjects at school and later on the major discipline they would like to pursue during their tenure in college or university. Furthermore, the project team will identify the prominent examples for programs and initiatives to improve public understanding of science and technology, evaluate them by using empirical evaluation methods and construct a best practice databank. The results will be summarized in a meta-analysis. Based on this meta-analysis, the team will develop suggestions of how to raise interest of young people in science and technology and of how to strengthen the motivation to choose technology or the hard sciences as subjects for one’s own profession.
The lack of qualified young professionals in science and technology is well recognized among policymakers in government and economy, but very little is known about which approaches and which methods are effective in the long term to remedy this situation. Many short term impact studies have been performed but a systematic evaluation is still missing in Germany. There is already a database available, including information about 900 pilot projects and model projects. It is an aim of MoMoTech to initiate a network of communication between the different actors involved in these projects and provide a platform for exchanging experiences and sharing resources.
DIALOGIK contribution
DIALOGIK is responsible for all empirical surveys, statistical analyses, and scientific reports.
Project partners
- University of Stuttgart
- RWTH Aachen
- Hochschule Osnabrück