Schaeffler FAG Foundation supports scientific school projects

Award of four Lower Franconian schools

2.500 Euro for project work in STEM subjects

The Schaeffler FAG Foundation has awarded 2023 once again the work of pupils at schools in Lower Franconia. The focus is on supporting school projects that strengthen young scientists and encourage students to get enthusiastic about STEM subjects mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. The foundation supported four schools from Bad Kissingen, Dettelbach, Kitzingen and Würzburg with a prize money of a total of 2,500 euros.

"The creativity and initiative of the young generation holds the potential for progress and innovation for all of us," says Markus Gambihler, Head of Human Resources at Schaeffler's Bearings, Industrial Solutions division and Chairman of the Foundation's Executive Board, adding: "The Foundation invests not only in current scientific projects, but also in the development of young talents who will provide answers to the challenges of tomorrow."

"Experimentation Days" of the Kitzingen-Siedlung Middle School

During the "Experimentation Days" of the Mittelschule Kitzingen-Siedlung, pupils of the 5-year-old presented. up to 8. Various scientific topics. At ten stations, they demonstrated and explained experiments from physics and chemistry. The teachers' college of physics organized the various stations in cooperation with teachers from other schools. The school received a prize money of 1,000 euros for the "Experimentation Days" project.

"Automation of the Observatory" of the Jack Steinberger Gymnasium

In addition to the theoretical development of astrophysical findings in the classroom, the observatory of the Jack Steinberger Gymnasium in Bad Kissingen will also be practically involved. Astrophotography makes it possible to photograph the observation of stars and galaxies. For such a recording, the opening of the school's dome had to be manually adjusted due to the rotation of the earth. By building a control of the dome gap opening and rotation, school children can now track astronomical objects with the telescope over the night, as the dome moves synchronously. For this, the Jack Steinberger Gymnasium in Bad Kissingen was awarded a prize money of 500 Euro.

"Schülerlabor" of the Friedrich-König-Gymnasium Würzburg

The "Schülerlaboratory" offers schoolchildren and teachers of the Friedrich-König-Gymnasium in Würzburg the opportunity to actively participate in current research. In cooperation with students of the University of Würzburg and the TU Dortmund, brightness fluctuations of active galactic nuclei are measured in order to determine the masses and distances of possible black holes. The measurements, which are carried out independently by the students in an observatory and evaluated by means of self-developed software, complement the scientific work of researchers. The "Schülerlaboratory" has been awarded a prize money of 500 euros.

"Teaching at the Edge of Space" at Realschule Dettelbach

Students of the natural science branch of the Realschule Dettelbach built measuring probes, which were sent with the help of a weather balloon at 36,000 meters height. The probes were equipped with various technical devices in advance. So far, measurements and experiments on air pressure, ozone levels or chlorophyll changes have been carried out. These were evaluated and interpreted in class. The school also collaborates with the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute. As a "freight forwarder", the researchers' experiments were brought to the edge of space. The work of the schoolchildren was rewarded with 500€ prize money.

The Schaeffler FAG Foundation

"The Foundation has set itself the task of promoting knowledge development, knowledge transfer and the development of potential. This reflects our deep-rooted corporate and social responsibility," says Markus Gambihler about the purpose of the Foundation. Since its foundation in 1983, the Foundation has provided more than 1.3 million euros in funding.

In addition to the School funding line, the Foundation is also involved in the area of higher education and science promotion. Until 31. The application phase for the Innovation Award is underway in July, which awards outstanding scientific works such as doctoral theses, master's and bachelor's theses as well as dissertations with up to 20,000 euros each.

Interested parties can find more information about the foundation and all funding lines here.