WattsAhead" project aims to promote energy expertise
Energy is precious and valuable. It is therefore important to use this resource responsibly. But what does that actually mean? And how can young people and adults learn energy literacy? This is the focus of the Sparkling Science research project "WattsAhead", in which researchers from the Universities of Graz and Innsbruck are working together.
A new project called "WattsAhead: Strengthening energy and future competence" aims to promote an understanding of the responsible use of energy and the importance of renewable energy sources for the energy transition in Austria. The focus is particularly on the energy competence of young people and adults. At the same time, the participating researchers from the Universities of Graz and Innsbruck want to strengthen the future skills of young people in order to enable them to play an active role in shaping their future and tackle future challenges in the energy sector. The "WattsAhead" project is one of the few Sparkling Science projects funded by the Ministry of Science.
The project pursues a citizen science approach in which lower secondary school students from various schools in Austria - including MS Kematen, BG/BRG Sillgasse, BG/BRG Reutte, BG/BRG/BORG Hartberg and PMS Graz-Eggenberg - are actively involved in the research process together with physics didactics experts from the Universities of Graz and Innsbruck. The project team at the University of Graz consists of Prof. Claudia Haagen-Schützenhöfer, Florian Lienhart and Angelika Bernsteiner, PhD.
In order to obtain a comprehensive picture of energy competence in Austria, both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used. On the one hand, the energy literacy of different age groups is surveyed using questionnaires. On the other hand, scientists are developing a "Reflection-Action-Grid" together with the students, which is intended to map everyday behavior in dealing with energy and at the same time offer opportunities for reflection and behavioral changes.
The project "WattsAhead: Strengthening energy and future competence" aims not only to record the level of knowledge of adults and young people in the field of energy, but also to survey future-oriented ways of thinking among young people. The involvement of young people is intended to expand research on the one hand, but also to help promote their future skills.
Ultimately, the project aims to develop teaching and learning sequences to promote energy and future skills among secondary school pupils on the basis of the knowledge gained. Furthermore, guidelines for the implementation of citizen science projects at lower secondary level are to be derived.
Through this holistic approach, the "WattsAhead" project aims to help raise awareness of energy-related issues and empower the next generation for the challenges of the energy transition.
