What will future energy use be like? This question will be discussed by pupils attending the 10th grade of the Gymnasium Neureut during a forum of three days’ duration. They will talk to scientists from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and develop their conceptions for the year 2030. Journalists and the interested public are cordially invited to come to the final presentation on Thursday, October 7, 14.30 hrs at KIT (Hörsaal 107, Allgemeines Verfügungsgebäude, building 50.41, Adenauerring 20).
The pupils forum will be organized by the Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD, science in dialog) initiative in cooperation with KIT. This initiative founded in 2000 is committed to discussing research in Germany. The event is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
At the workshop taking place from October 5 to 7 at the KIT House of Competence, pupils will first be familiarized with the current state of research. In interviews and discussions with experts from the KIT Energy Center, they will then develop own scenarios and conceptions for the future. The pupils will not only be provided the necessary technical information, but also a training in time management, rhetorics, and presentation skills.
The subject of the workshop has been determined in line with the heading of the 2010 Science Year “Future of Energy”. The pupils’ forum also is part of the project “Debating science!”. It is aimed at encouraging citizens of all age groups to critically discuss research and innovation.
Representatives of the media are invited to interview the head of the project from Wissenschaft im Dialog and an expert of the KIT Energy Center.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Europe’s leading energy research establishments. The KIT Energy Center pools fundamental research with applied research into all relevant energy sources for industry, households, services, and mobility. Holistic assessment of the energy cycle also covers conversion processes and energy efficiency. The KIT Energy Center links competences in engineering and science with know-how in economics, the humanities, and social science as well as law. The activities of the KIT Energy Center are organized in seven topics: Energy conversion, renewable energies, energy storage and distribution, efficient energy use, fusion technology, nuclear power and safety, and energy systems analysis.
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.