At the event, State Secretary Stephan Ertner praised the commitment of the schools on behalf of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education. Together with the participating foundations, State Secretary Ertner then presented the awards. A keynote speech on the topic of training and career orientation in the metal and electrical industry by Lilli Beußel from Broetje-Automation and Melanie Kerker from NORDMETALL as well as the subsequent exchange of ideas between the guests rounded off the celebration.

“When children and young people enthusiastically tinker, experiment and develop their own solutions, STEM education comes alive. Today’s award-winning schools impressively show how it is possible to promote curiosity and a spirit of research in the long term and to give young people important skills for the future. As patron, I would like to congratulate the eight schools on this special award. My thanks go to the dedicated teachers and the many supporters who make such learning experiences possible in the first place with their commitment,” says Julia Willie Hamburg, Lower Saxony’s Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs and patron of the MINT School Lower Saxony.

The title “MINT School Lower Saxony” is awarded by the foundations of the Lower Saxony metal and electrical industry under the patronage of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education. The award is given to schools that offer above-average offers in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology at lower secondary level and open up special opportunities for their students to research, experiment and discover. A total of 19 schools now hold the title and together form the Network of Excellence. The schools meet in this network at least twice a year to exchange experiences, deepen networking and look at transfer opportunities for STEM subjects into the world of work.

The two newly admitted schools will each receive 2,000 euros, the six successfully recertified schools 1,000 euros each. The Excellence Network is an initiative of the foundations of the Lower Saxony employers’ associations of the metal and electrical industry, the NiedersachsenMetall Foundation, the NORDMETALL Foundation and the VME Foundation Osnabrück-Emsland under the patronage of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education.

The common goal is to get young people excited about mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology and to network schools with particularly strong STEM offerings.

Realschule Himmelsthür

The Realschule Himmelsthür convinces with strong practical offers in computer science, robotics and technology. Highlights are the robotics room, the mathematics laboratory, the elective offer “Jugend forscht” as well as interdisciplinary projects such as “Technology meets Art” and the solar bank project.

Von-Ravensberg-Schule Bersenbrück

The von Ravensberg School scores with a special graduation concept in which students collect points through STEM courses, clubs and internships. The robotics break and the digital break also make STEM a visible part of everyday school life.

The award as a “MINT School Lower Saxony” is valid for four years at a time. Afterwards, the schools can apply for recertification and once again prove their MINT lighthouse character. In particular, it will look at how they have further developed their STEM courses and contributed their experience to the network.

Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg-Gesamtschule Göttingen

The school convinces with a wide range of competitions and cooperation with universities and extracurricular partners. Particularly noteworthy is the strong and continuous participation in “Jugend forscht”.

Molitoris School Harsum

The special strengths include the strong position of mathematics as well as the MINT week and the MINT trip. Participation in QuaMath and successes in “Jugend forscht” also show the high quality of the offers.

Rosengarten High School

Experimental learning begins here as early as the fifth grade. With projects such as the GemüseAckerdemie and taster days for primary schools, the school combines practical STEM learning with offers beyond its own school.

Uplengen High School

The Uplengen secondary school convinces with the consistent anchoring of the STEM focus in everyday school life and clear structures for its further development. The targeted promotion of different target groups should also be emphasized. This includes special offers for girls and the integration of female role models.

Calberlah Secondary School

The Calberlah secondary school convinces with high-quality, practice-oriented STEM courses and committed teachers. Its active role in the network, into which it contributes its own impulses and experience, is particularly strong.

Schule Am Dobrock

A special highlight is the media lab, with which the school also acts as a multiplier in the region. New technologies such as VR glasses and the close exchange with other STEM schools also characterize the work.