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Primary and Secondary Education
Tertiary Education
Events like fairs and
Exhibitions
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Primary and Secondary Education
The curriculae for primary and secondary education in Germany are currently undergoing major changes,
partly as a reaction to the international PISA studies. It has becomes obvious that traditional
divisions of science like biology, chemistry, and physics cannot be strictly separated any longer.
The accumulation and reproduction of pure facts – often used as indicators for learning success – are
not seen anymore as adequate learning goals in our increasingly complex world. A more general and yet
more profound understanding of science, scientific thinking, and scientific methods is necessary to
cope with the flood of information that we have to face today. Soft skills, like communication skills,
team working, and creative thinking, are essential tools for a career in science or industry. Bionics
is based on a transdisciplinary approach, emphasizing the communication of experts from different
fields and carrying out projects in teams to cover the whole range from basic research to technical
application and industrial development. Subsequently, numerous amendments of curriculae are now
incorporating bionics as a modern model of doing science.
There is, however, still a lack of well-prepared bionics-related teaching materials. Several
centers of BIOKON are therefore developing teaching modules focusing on bionics and biomechanics,
the methodological base of bionics. All BIOKON centers with special interest in didactics and
teaching are grouped in the BIOKON committee A2. The following linked pages introduce the concept
of “nature-oriented learning” as developed by the BIOKON center Münster. Teachers can specifically
learn about projects on bionics and biomechanics in school, which can be employed in science teaching
or various other subjects.
Tertiary Education
The combination of the terms Biologie and Technik, i.e. engineering, already indicates the
transdisciplinary character of the field of bionics. Biology or engineering on their own are already
huge fields, consisting of many different disciplines. This fact is reflected by the broad range and
diversity of topics taught at universities by the name of bionics. The menu point Studium (tertiary
education) offers links to all German universities and schools of applied sciences that provide
courses in bionics and related disciplines.
Events like fairs and exhibitions
The increasing number of bionic products available on the market convincingly demonstrate how huge
the potential is for “nature derived solutions” for the development of innovative products. Therefore,
the demand of the general public for more details about the work of bionic scientists is enormous.
Numerous popular scientific books try to firmly establish the science of bionics in society – see the
list of literature for more details. If you are interested you can learn more about bionics at fairs,
exhibitions, science fairs, and public talks, e.g. at the Hannovermesse, EUROMOLD, AMAM, or various
other fairs. The Museum for Industry and Labour (Museum für Technik und Arbeit, LTA) in Mannheim has
gathered a unique collection of bionic-related exhibits. There are currently two exhibitions – a small
and a large one – that can be rented out. For more information, please contact the BIOKON center
Mannheim.
Future Center Man – Nature – Technology – Science (Zukunftszentrum Mensch – Natur – Technik –
Wissenschaft, ZMTW)
The Future Center ZMTW might be called a bionics adventure park. It is located in Nieklitz, between
the Schall lakes district at Zarrentin and the Elb valley at Boizenberg. It offers visitors insights
into the fascinating world of nature and technology – and bionics. Nature is depicted as a great
inventor and as a boundless source of inspiration for humankind. This bionics adventure park is
supported by the Nieklitz Foundation for Ecology and Ecotechnology (Nieklitzer Ökologie- und
Ökotechnologie-Stiftung, NICOL). You can find a selection of educational video by ZMTW on the list
of literature and media. If you like more information on the ZMTW, please contact the BIOKON center
Nieklitz.
Eine Auswahl an Lehrvideos finden Sie in unserer
Literaturliste.
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