Shortly before Christmas, Agnes Mittermayr visited the Gleink elementary school in her role as science ambassador for OeAD Young Science. At the educational institution, she provided information regarding her research field “Marine Food Webs” and also told the young listeners regarding her professional career.
She is currently working as a researcher at the Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, USA and combined her visit to VS Gleink with a visit home to Austria. The scientist explained the food web in the sea to the 3rd and 4th grade students at VS Gleink in exciting units and recreated it with the children. She herself was the plankton, the children portrayed very different sea creatures.
The inquisitive students were able to ask the marine biologist many questions and received scientifically sound yet understandable answers. The educators at VS Gleink tried to find a knowledge ambassador to convince girls that women can be successful in science. Above all, this requires role models who demonstrate exactly this. In the “Science Ambassador” project, students have the opportunity to ask their questions directly to researchers and gain insights into their everyday work. The initiative is part of the “Ten-Point Program to Strengthen Trust in Science and Democracy in Austria”.
