AHOI_MINT gets children excited about computer science Since 2020, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has been funding regional clusters on the subject of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as part of the federal initiative ‘Digital Future’. The aim is to get children and young people excited about STEM topics and thus sustainably strengthen STEM education. Under the leadership of the Schlaues Haus Oldenburg and with the network partners Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch, the University of Oldenburg and OFFIS, AHOI_MINT started on 1 December 2020 as one of the first 22 funded STEM clusters. In this article, we present the results of the first three-year project phase and provide an outlook on the second phase.
It is always good when a successful project is extended. We have succeeded in doing this with the AHOI_MINT cluster. AHOI_MINT is aimed at children between the ages of 10 and 16, to spark their interest in STEM and give them access to extracurricular STEM opportunities in the northwest of Lower Saxony.
As one of the most successful STEM clusters in Germany, AHOI_MINT has grown from 40 members shortly after its launch to over 90 member organisations in 2024. The cluster collects extracurricular STEM offers from its members and advertises them via the website, Instagram and an email newsletter. All offers are clearly structured on the project website in different topic categories. In addition to digitalisation, the future of energy supply and climate change are a focus.
Besides the online work, AHOI_MINT also organises events such as AHOI-MINT Days and AHOI-MINT Festivals, where children and parents can personally experience what the members have to offer. The AHOI-MINT events have now become an established part of Oldenburg's calendar of events, attracting more and more young visitors. The diverse range of stands from the providers is complemented by children's lectures, in which core ideas from the STEM field are presented in an appealing way in 15-minute sessions. OFFIS also presents AHOI_MINT at events such as the OFFIS Day and the Long Night of Digitalisation.
A particular focus of OFFIS‘ work is to get girls interested in computer science. The Girls’ Day, which regularly takes place at OFFIS, was actively promoted by AHOI_MINT. For example, a podcast and online interviews with female scientists from the STEM field were produced as part of International Women's Day. AHOI_MINT also had a station at the Oldenburg city council's girls' rally.
. In addition to universities such as the University of Oldenburg and the Jade University of Applied Sciences, schools where extra-curricular STEM activities take place are also represented in the cluster. At annual networking meetings, members exchange best practices and jointly consider how even more children can be inspired by STEM.
The follow-up project AHOI_MINT 2 already shows how well the seeds of the first three years have taken root. The AHOI_MINT Days format has already been successfully established at another location in the northwest of Lower Saxony, in Aurich.
After the second funding phase, the cluster plans to sustainably consolidate its work by founding a funding association.
