Energy and Environment Erasmus Project

Project Title

Energy and Environment

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Energy and resources; Research and innovation; Cooperation between educational institutions and business

Project Summary

Starting point of the project are current issues of energy use and energy procurement, which is associated with global climate change. The 24 students aged 16-17 years (including immigrant students) should be aware that these are not regional issues, but that our neighboring countries as well as all countries of the world have to deal with these challenges.
The girls at the Mädchengymnasium Jülich live in a region that is especially affected by these questions. In the 1960s, a nuclear research center was built there, which has since been converted into a renowned scientific centre, broadly based natural sciences called Forschungszentrum Jülich (Centre of Research).
Lignite mining started all around Jülich in the 1970s and is now to be gradually phased out.
The Schoolgirls from Barcelona may probably have been less concerned and confronted with the local impact of the issues of energy production, its consequences and environmental challenges. They will have the opportunity here at Jülich, a hotspot of energy production and research (lignite mining/ coal-fired powerstations, solar powerstation, research on non-conventional sources of energy) in order to gain experience in these fields.
In Forschungszentrum Jülich and in the surroundigs of Jülich they will also be able to explore the chemical, biological and the social consequences of energy production.
The different and manyfold approaches of the two participating schools to the subject will enrich both sides. The basic introductions of the German and Spanish students, provided by the student laboratory of Forschungszentrum Jülich, are an excellent start. For one day they deal experimentally with the topics “fuel cells, photovoltaics and superconductivity”. Methodically, the students learn to build, describe and evaluate experiments. They acquire basic knowledge about chemical, biological and physical processes. The students will learn to present the results of the project work to the addressees in an adequate way and they learn to use the most effective media. Here, they are supported by the student laboratory of the Research Center Jülich.

In addition, the social relevance of the topics should be addressed. The development of renewable technologies creates new jobs and contributes to climate improvement. The increased use of memory modules makes it possible to decentralize the energy industry, thereby creating a European interconnected system and reducing dependence on non-European countries.

We expect the students to draw conclusions from their studies for their behaviour in school and for their environment. They also learn how to pass on specific impulses for the economical use of energy and for the avoidance of climate-damaging emissions. The project is intended to inspire the students of both countries for the technologies of the future and to motivate them to choose an apprenticeship or choose studies from technical and scientific fields. The Spanish School and the Mädchengymnasium Jülich are both interested in the fact that individual students can do internships after the project in the Center of Research Jülich. A further study of the topic beyond the project course is expected (opportunities are offered by Forschungszentrum Jülich and by the initiative ANTalive (= experience applied science and technology live) in Aachen.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 25166,4 Eur

Project Coordinator

St. Josef-Schule /Mädchengymnasium Jülich der Fördergemeinschaft für Schulen in freier Trägerschaft & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Institucion Familiar de Educacion S.A. Colegio La Vall