‘Let's be curious together!’ is the slogan of the EXPLORE Science Centre in Hildesheim and Alfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany. The Centre offers courses to young people after school and during holidays, allowing them to discover research-based learning and experience the excitement of science.  

The EXPLORE Science Centre aims to provide the essential skills young people aged 6 to 14 years need for scientific discovery. These young learners can pursue their own ideas and get answers to their questions in scientific and technical areas.  

‘The target group is interested young people. We offer leisure time courses, workshops on specific topics, welcome classes with their teachers and birthday labs’, says Tatjana Bennat, the project manager. ‘The idea is to make science attractive to young people, spark their curiosity, and connect them with companies in the region. In the long run, this contributes to reducing the shortage of skilled labour in the region.’  

The project is managed by the “Open MINT in the Hildesheim Region” association which aims to foster the interest, curiosity and talent of children and young people in MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology).  

The association is open to collaboration with other schools and universities in the region that are involved in MINT education. In addition, collaborations with companies and extracurricular institutions will be initiated. 

In the future, the association sees itself as a hub for extracurricular research, experimentation and work. To this end, it provides the necessary technical resources and is available to answer any questions regarding content.