Kick-off meeting for the project “Engineering for our Life”

The international project “Engineering for our Life”, organised by Science on Stage Germany and supported by the GEA Foundation, officially kicked off at the end of March. After an initial online meeting, 22 STEM teachers from 15 countries, representing both primary and secondary education, gathered from 27–29 March in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The meeting began on Thursday evening with a welcome dinner, offering participants the opportunity to get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere and exchange first ideas.

A highlight of the following day was a visit to GEA’s Pharma Technology Center in Elsdorf. During a guided tour, participants gained insights into industrial-scale freeze-drying and the daily work of engineers. The visit offered a closer look at what it means to design and operate complex machinery on an industrial scale and how engineering solutions shape everyday products and processes.

Back at the GEA headquarters in Düsseldorf, attention turned to the central question of the project: How can engineering thinking be integrated into the classroom? A brainstorming session led to the emergence of four thematic clusters that now form the basis for the project’s group work:

• Safe Water
• Smart Living
• Food & Agriculture
• Suitable Materials

On Saturday, four international working groups formed around these themes. Additionally, two volunteers from GEA joined the groups, contributing their practical engineering expertise and supporting participants in further developing their ideas. The day was dedicated to refining concepts and exchanging feedback. The meeting concluded on Sunday with a joint session in which the groups outlined their next steps.

The groups will continue working together over the coming months to develop and test innovative teaching materials that bring engineering thinking closer to students.

Science on Stage would like to thank all participating teachers and the team of facilitators for making this meeting so inspiring! Special thanks to the GEA Foundation for supporting this project.

Find out more about the project “Engineering for our Life” here.

Teachers interested in offering workshops, seminars, or other training activities in engineering education can apply for the Engineering Grant, which provides up to €300 per event. Details on the application process are available on this website.