Abstract:

Since 2012, the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) in Heidelberg is hosting twice a year a lecture given by a wide-known researcher. This event would not be special except for the fact that the audience is not only other researchers but also students and teachers from high school. In 2015 the initiative went one step further: eleven high school students interested in developmental biology were selected for the Bertalanffy practical course at COS during summer holidays. For two weeks, the students had the opportunity to step on research laboratories and discover the functioning and the everyday techniques. During this time, they also had the chance to talk to scientists doing research in these labs. In 2016 the Bertalanffy practical took place for the second time with the first international exchange pupil. This high school student had been previously selected and had participated in a similar course in Barcelona. The intention of the organizers is, on the one hand, to bring the society into contact with science, especially high school students. On the other hand, they aim at motivating young students to pursue a scientific career. With the addition of the international exchange to the program, for the high school pupil the practical becomes not only an introduction to scientific research but also a great experience at personal level. It gives the student the opportunity to see how research works in other countries and it is also a good chance to practice the common language in science: English. In conclusion, this scientific and international exchange is a great way to introduce research to high school students.