University of Dortmund Launches XL Project to Encourage Physics among Youth
Sparking Interest in Physics Among Youth: Kick-off of Extensive Learning (XL) Initiative - Sparking Interest in Physics Among Youth - Launch of XL Initiative Commences
To bolster the attraction of Physics and related fields among the younger generation, researchers are exploring novel strategies through a five-year practice-oriented educational study. The University of Dortmund is part of this research program in collaboration with the Institute for School Development Research (IFS). The program aims to combine cutting-edge research with social responsibility, according to Nele McElvany, educational researcher and IFS director.
The program, a novelty in educational research, seeks to promote educational equity as girls and young people from non-academic households are underrepresented in fields such as Physics, Chemistry, or Informatics. Additionally, it aims to employ interdisciplinary approaches to tackle the talent shortage in the natural sciences, McElvany added.
An intervention study is underway in selected schools, framed by an "Excellence Cluster." The project was chosen among several other contenders and is set to receive federal and state funding as internationally recognized top-notch research from 2026. The goals are twofold: researching the fundamentals of new technologies in Physics and fostering sustainable interest in more young people.
Many students find Physics unappealing or irrelevant to their lives, and the study aims to address this issue. It intends to work with positive role models from underrepresented groups and demonstrate the advantages of Physics for one's personal life. Content and language in instructional materials will be optimized for students.
"These interventions aim to positively influence both the self-images of young people and their perception of Physics," McElvany said. The experimental design allows for conclusions to be drawn about what works and what doesn't. The project will commence in the ninth grade in 45 schools across Berlin, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt. Students will be supported until graduation, with at least one follow-up survey planned afterward. The results could be applied to other subjects and integrated into teaching.
Apart from the TU Dortmund, universities in Halle and Regensburg, as well as the FU Berlin, are participating in the project. The XL Project aims to inspire and equip more youth in the field of Physics, addressing the skills shortage.
The University of Dortmund's XL Project, in collaboration with other universities, is designed to bridge the talent gap in the natural sciences by focusing on underrepresented groups, emphasizing vocational training in Physics, technology, science, health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development, and vocational training. The project aims to optimize instructional materials, work with positive role models, and implement interdisciplinary approaches to foster sustainable interest in Physics among youth, ultimately influencing self-images and perceptions of the subject.
