Researchers start out young

摘要

An educational disaster doesn't always have to be bad. After all, when the German media criticized the looming intellectual deterioration of the country's youth in the mid-1960s, the journalist Henri Nannen came up with a good idea. Under the motto "We're looking for tomorrow's scientists," he adapted an American program and called on the next generation to enter a competition. The result was "Youth Experiments," an educational initiative that is still unparalleled, and meets with a high level of acceptance and support throughout all levels of society. Looking back on nearly 40 years of Youth Experiments, it quickly becomes clear that history repeats itself. The theme of the first podium discussion in 1966 sounds very familiar. Back then, business, political and media experts were concerned that Germany was running out of natural scientists and engineers. "To mark the 40th anniversary of Youth Experiments next year, we will debate this question again," says Dr. Uta Krautkraemer-Wagner, director of the Youth Experiments Foundation. Answering this question is just as crucial today: "Just look at how many talented people are leaving Germany."