Interdisciplinary school laboratory I
Peace and conflict research
Iran in spring 2016: at the border crossing between Pakistan and Iran, customs officers discover highly-enriched uranium in a delivery addressed to an Iranian research institution that Iran has not declared to the International Atom Energy Agency (IAEA).
With this scenario on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg wishes to impart methods of scientific peace and conflict research – from the fields of natural science, political science and international law – to students through a “first-hand” experience. We offer a two-day school laboratory for courses preparing students for the sixth form at secondary schools in northern Germany.
Both days are led by scientists from the fields of physics, international law and political science; the course is held on the Universität Hamburg campus.
In case of questions about this course, please email sekretariat(at)awhamburg.de.
Part 1: physics laboratory
In a role play (involving passers-by of different nationalities and border guards), a search is conducted for the secret import of weapons-grade material. The import of banned materials to a non-nuclear state is determined through the use of physics methods (gamma spectroscopy). A report is sent to the IAEA. Allowing students to experience techniques of weapons control and to learn of their potential and limitations during their own experiments in the physics laboratory.
Part 2: international law
Following an introduction to international law and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, students experience and deal with the repercussions for international policy of the discovery made during the role play. In simulated negotiations, the IAEA’s Board of Governors must decide on the consequences of this discover. Two conference phases then take place during which the UN Security Council advises on possible sanctions against Iran. This block focuses specifically on issues within international law in addition to mechanisms of international policy.
Part 3: political science evaluation
To conclude, students evaluate the role plays: from a political science perspective, which mechanisms were expected and which methodologies can scientists use to analyse and support international policy processes? During the review of Part 2, students learn of the key differences between politics and political science, and gain an understanding of scientific methods for the analysis of (international) policy by applying these for themselves.
Interdisciplinary school laboratory II
Sustainable energy supply: planning energy self-sufficiency for Neuwerk
Neuwerk is a tidal island situated in the Elbe estuary, 100 kilometres to the north-west of Hamburg. It is the city district located the furthest from the Hanseatic city’s centre. Almost 40 inhabitants and around 120,000 visitors are supplied with power and water every year. Regenerative energies such as solar power are already being used on Neuwerk in addition to conventional energy supplies to heat homes and generate hot water. But how can Neuwerk achieve an energy turnaround and become an energy self-sufficient island?
With this scenario on the energy turnaround, the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg wishes to introduce students to the subject of sustainable energy supplies “first hand” during the interdisciplinary school laboratory. We offer a two-day school laboratory for courses preparing students for the sixth form at secondary schools in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein (MINT subjects; political science, social science and business studies).
During the school laboratory, participants gain insights into scientific and social issues through experiments in addition to the fundamentals of natural science , which are currently the most successful energy converters in Germany in the fields of solar and wind power. They develop interdisciplinary questions, taking economic and social factors into account. Why is an energy turnaround necessary? How can it be achieved? What are the consequences?
The school laboratory aims to raise awareness for sustainable energy supplies on the one hand and to demonstrate the complexity of implementing such a major undertaking on the other. During role plays, students experience the interaction between different interests in the implementation of sustainable energy supplies and learn to resolve conflict situations through mutually-accepted compromises during consideration of a contemporary problem scenario.
In case of questions about this course, please email sekretariat(at)awhamburg.de.
The "Sustainable energy supply" school laboratory is funded by:
