Children are naturally curious and eager to explore the world around them. To nurture their spirit of discovery and introduce them to scientific thinking and learning, the Academy for Scientific Continuing Education (AWW) at Weingarten University of Education has been serving as a regional network partner of the Stiftung Kinder forschen (Children Research Foundation) since 2022. The Josef Wund Foundation, together with the Ravensburg District Community Foundation, supports the network with annual funding of €50,000.
Around 350 institutions—including daycare centers, after-school care facilities, and primary schools—from the Lake Constance–Upper Swabia region (districts of Ravensburg, Bodenseekreis, and Sigmaringen) as well as Lindau are part of the network. Participating institutions can also earn certification as a "House Where Children Explore Science." The initiative aims to provide professional development for early childhood educators and teachers in science education by equipping them with practical activities and experiments that they can carry out with children and primary school students.
The impact of these training programs in everyday practice became evident to the network's supporters during a joint visit to the Martin Luther Kindergarten in Weingarten on March 4. Educators Ines Pink-Neuffer and Isabell Bakar shared insights into their work and demonstrated how the training content from the Stiftung Kinder forschen is integrated into their daily educational activities. During a short tour of the facility, they presented the current project on bees as well as the kindergarten's dedicated science corner. Representatives from E.P. Elektro-Projekt, including Ms. Schlaf and Dr. Zieger, also attended the visit. The company has been supporting the kindergarten for many years.
The network's supporters were highly impressed. "I am truly impressed by the enthusiasm and curiosity with which the children carry out the experiments," said Eva-Maria Meschenmoser, Deputy Chairwoman of the Ravensburg District Community Foundation.
"What particularly impressed me—and further reinforced our commitment to supporting this initiative—was how the highly motivated and specially trained educators succeed year after year in awakening and nurturing young children's curiosity and passion for discovery in such a playful and engaging way, thereby laying an important foundation for their future development," added Dr. Heiko Schmid of the Josef Wund Foundation.
Another highlight of the program was the opportunity to try out a series of small water-related experiments at several interactive stations. Johanna Lerch, a trainer from the Stiftung Kinder forschen who had traveled from Berlin, together with network coordinator Nina Nagy, introduced participants to the training concept and invited the guests to take part themselves. They experienced firsthand how children discover scientific phenomena—for example by experimenting with water droplets on a coin or observing how water travels "upwards" through different materials.
During a small award ceremony that followed, the two funding partners—the Ravensburg District Community Foundation, represented by Anne-Christina Thiel, and the Josef Wund Foundation, represented by Dr. Heiko Schmid—were presented with the official partner plaque of the Stiftung Kinder forschen. Ines Pink-Neuffer and Isabell Bakar also received a small token of appreciation for their dedication to early STEM education. Special recognition was given to the Martin Luther Kindergarten, which has already received eight certifications—an impressive testament to its long-term commitment to the educational initiative.
"With these awards, we want to emphasize the importance of reliable partnerships within our regional network," explained Dr. Monica Bravo Granström, Managing Director of the AWW. Thanks to the support of both funding partners, free professional development courses are available for educators in daycare centers and schools. Together with the AWW at Weingarten University of Education, they are committed to ensuring that educational professionals throughout the region have access to high-quality, practice-oriented training in early STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Sustainability).
Another major event is already on the horizon: On October 1, Weingarten University of Education will host a professional conference as part of the Stiftung Kinder forschen initiative entitled "Research Begins with Questions: Connecting Language Development and STEM Education." The event will once again focus on early STEM education while highlighting the essential role of language development as a foundation for collaborative exploration and learning.
Photo (from left to right): Isabell Bakar (Martin Luther Kindergarten), Anne-Christina Thiel (Ravensburg District Community Foundation), Dr. Heiko Schmid (Josef Wund Foundation), Nina Nagy (AWW, Weingarten University of Education), Johanna Lerch (Stiftung Kinder forschen), and Ines Pink-Neuffer (Martin Luther Kindergarten). (Photo: Arne Geertz, Martin Luther Kindergarten)
