Researcher in the classroom

Primary school pupils and researchers certainly have one thing in common: curiosity! Who better to learn about research from than the researcher herself? During 'Researcher in the classroom', children, together with a researcher, explore the research theme of this researcher in a fun, interactive way.Drieluik OIKPhD students, post-docs and other researchers from Radboud University and Radboudumc can participate in this project, which focuses on a visit to two primary school classes. Researchers who participate in this project for the first time follow the short course 'Get children exited about science'. In this course you will be prepared for your visit.

Why participate?

If you can illustrate your research by demonstrating real 'research materials' or an experiment, you are guaranteed to have a class full of curious children in front of you and they will bombard you with questions. Researcher Laurens van der Meer talks about his school visit:

How much time does it take?

The course takes 42 hours. In principle, the course, including visit to the school and preparation, fits within these hours. Of course, it is always possible to put more hours into the design of the lesson. This course is included in the PhD education of Radboud University. You can register via gROW. Registration is open to all researchers (see 'Participate?'). Practical information The course starts every February, with three meetings in February and March. The visits in the classroom take place between March and July.

Practical information

The course starts every February, with three meetings in February and March. The visits in the classroom take place between March and July.

"There were so many questions from students, the next generation of researchers will be great"

-Joost Wegman, researcher

Set-up course 'Making children enthusiastic about science'

The aim of the course is for researchers from Radboud University and Radboudumc to learn to speak about their research in an accessible way; and that they enthuse children about scientific subjects. The course consists of three meetings and a visit to a class in the upper years of primary education. During the visit to the class, you will talk to children aged 9-12 about what science is and what a scientist does. You will also give a short lesson about your research. If necessary, you can give the lessons together with a colleague.

Evaluatiebijeenkomst OIK 2019During the course you will prepare the visit in collaboration with the WKRU. During the first meeting, the focus is on what is involved in a visit and how you can best design it. During the second meeting you will learn how to guide students in coming up with their own research. During the third meeting (in small groups) you will show part of your presentation and receive feedback from us and fellow students. At the end of the process there is a (non-mandatory) evaluation meeting . Here you exchange experiences with fellow students and we evaluate the project.

What does it give you?

  • You will learn to translate your own research to a lay audience (for example, this can be useful in preparation for your lay talk)
  • You reflect on the social implications of your research
  • You will gain experience with education/alternative career opportunities
  • You will receive a certificate for your participation stating that you have gained experience with science education

Participate?

Registration for the course in 2023 is closed. In gROW you can indicate that you want to be informed when the next round will start.

'Thinking about research from an early age'

A class visit by a scientist sticks much better. The students immediately notice the passion of the researcher. Koen Pelsma talks at Jenaplanschool De Lindekring in Sint Agatha about his research into greenhouse gases from canals. He uses baker's yeast to show how temperature influences the production of gases (Dutch only).