17.04.2019

Research grant success

Impact of science and language education will be evaluated

Last October, the LEAD Graduate School & Research Network and the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology entered a new partnership with Native Scientist, an award-winning non-profit organisation that promotes cultural diversity in science, education and society.

We are now pleased to announce that we have been awarded a competitive grant from Tübingen’s Exploration Fund, which supports innovative and interdisciplinary research projects.

The Exploration Fund will provide financial support to evaluate how the Native Scientist workshops impact students’ attitude towards science and their heritage languages and the scientists’ motivation and perception towards their own work. Over 200 migrant students, aged 6 to 14 years, and 40 scientists participating in workshops delivered mainly in Germany and the UK, will be tested. The initial focus will be on Portuguese as a heritage language, with the possibility of expanding to Spanish, German, French and Italian migrant children.
 
Professor Patrick Rebuschat, Distinguished International Professor at LEAD, who is a collaborator in the project and led the application to the Exploration Fund, added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for a first systematic study of the impact of the Native Scientist workshops on both pupils and scientists. We can use this important data to further improve the quality of the workshops and to prepare future large-scale studies.”
 
Professor Ulrich Trautwein, Director of the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology and of  LEAD, and Dr Julia Schiefer, who are collaborators in the project, commented: “It’s a great starting point to get the evaluation of this concept of science  plus language workshops a step forward.”

Joana Moscoso and Tatiana Correia, founders and directors of Native Scientist, said: “Measuring and tracking the impact of our work has been a priority since day one, and we are thrilled that we will be able to do so in collaboration with leading scientists at Tübingen. We are very thankful to the University of Tübingen for their openness in embracing this project.”

The mission of Native Scientist is to inspire ethnic minority pupils to pursue higher education and to careers in STEM (MINT) disciplines and, to empower international scientists to increase the impact of their research, and to build a community of advocates for diversity and equality in education and science. Founded in 2013, their work reaches over 1,200 students a year and they count with a network of over 1,000 international scientists. To get in touch with Native Scientist, please email Joana (joana.moscosospam prevention@nativescientist.com).
 
In the photo, from left to right: Prof Patrick Rebuschat, LEAD Graduate School & Research Network, University of Tübingen, and Native Scientist R&D Advisor; Prof Jessika Golle, Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Tübingen; Dr Joana Moscoso, Co-founder and Director of Native Scientist; Dr Julia Schiefer, Hector Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Tübingen; Prof Ulrich Trautwein, Director of Hector Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology and of the LEAD Graduate School & Research Network, University of Tübingen.