“Ask the Science Grandma!”

Experience science, experiment for themselves – and pass on the joy of science to the younger generation. Women aged 60 and over can now do this at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) in Klosterneuburg. The “Ask the Science Grandma!” program is aimed at all interested women from the surrounding area – regardless of whether they already have a connection to science. Intergenerational workshops offer simple hands-on laboratory experiences for ‘grannies’ and their young companions between the ages of 6 and 12. Later, some of the participants can undergo training and lead workshops themselves – at schools or in after-school care centers.

“The concept of the – often older – Reading Mentor who inspires enthusiasm for books is already well known in many places,” explains project manager Laura Sartori from ISTA. “Similarly, as a female role model and popular figure, the Science Grandma conveys enthusiasm for science to children.”

Of course, ‘grandma’ is always to be understood in quotation marks, as a loving and appreciative term for the older female participants. Of course, they can also come to the workshops with children of friends or from the neighborhood. “I had a kind of ‘science grandma’ myself when I was at school, who taught me the important basics of science,” says Sartori. “So I know how important this mediator role is. The child benefits from this just as much as the ‘grandma’.” Together with her colleague Magdalena Bauer, who initiated the project, Sartori organizes and manages the wide range of activities: Lectures, workshops, social gatherings (German: Stammtische) – and later visits to schools. The entire offer is part of the Institute’s science education program, VISTA Science Experiences. Thanks to funding from “LEA – Let’s Empower Austria”, it is free of charge, but registration is appreciated.

Intergenerational workshops in January: Life & Marble Runs

The first intergenerational workshop of the year for women (60+) and children (6-12 years) will take place on January 14, 2025 from 3:30pm at the ISTA Campus: Under the motto “Building blocks of life”, young and old will explore together why living things look so different and where to find the ‘blueprint’ for them. Two weeks later, on 28 January, under the title “Physics for Kids”, a marble run will be used to explore the central natural laws of movement.

If you don’t want to get hands-on in the lab yet, but are curious, you can get started with a lecture for ‘science grandmas’ & friends. On February 18 from 5pm, ISTA doctoral student and biologist Laura Hofmann, who conducts research with zebrafish at the Institute, will explain how a single cell becomes an embryo and a complete living being. Further dates will be announced soon.

Successful start with diverse participants

At the end of the previous year, the VISTA Science Experience Team at ISTA launched first workshops as a kind of ‘test balloon’. The participants came from a wide variety of backgrounds, with and without previous experience in education and science. The feedback has been consistently positive. Andrea Fennes, a participant from Vienna, says: “My daughter-in-law registered me and my grandson, she can gladly do that more often. It was absolutely great! I think it’s just incredible to be able to be here. I particularly liked the campus tour. You don’t realize from the outside how big the ISTA campus is.” Many other new ‘science grannies’ agree with her: The offer is an exciting enrichment for children as well as for the older participants themselves.

Part-time job as ‘Science Grandma’ for workshops in after-school care centers

And if the spark is particularly strong: For especially motivated participants, there is an in-depth training offer, after which the ‘Science Grannies’ can then hold research workshops in after-school care centers themselves. “They are then paid for this – just like our often younger science mediators – as part of a part-time job,” explains Sartori.

The first schools with after-school care centers have already contacted us and asked for visits from the ‘Science Omas’: “Anything that can take place directly on site is a great addition to our after-school care program,” explains Birgit Lachnit, head of after-school care at the Weidling and Albrechtstraße elementary schools in Klosterneuburg. We are delighted to be able to offer our children workshops with ‘Science Omas’ at the after-school care center.” The first step is for the ‘Science Omas’ to reach various such centers in Lower Austria and Vienna.

An important goal of the program is for young and old to learn about science as a process through experimentation, rather than just memorizing facts. This lays the foundations for critical thinking and informed trust in science as a constantly self-monitoring and self-correcting system.

In any case, the workshops should leave lasting impressions and lasting enthusiasm for the world of science. “Childhood memories that we associate with our grandmothers are often intense,” says project manager Sartori from ISTA. “How cool will it be when today’s children later remember the great times they had doing science experiments with their grandma?”

Interested future ‘Science Grandmas’ can find more information and how to register at: www.vistascience.at/join/scienceomas/