Children's universities are the latest innovation occurring in some countries of Europe. Aimed at young girls and boys, this concept gets young children interested in science and research at the earliest age possible. Now, this exciting concept is about to launch itself across Europe.

The concept of Children's Universities represents the most radical opening towards the general public that universities can undertake. The basic intention is to counteract a falling interest in science and research among the young, and help to overcome stereotype notions, as well as to widen participation all across diverse sectors of populations.

The European Commission is set to sign a grant agreement that will kick start the formation of a European network of children's universities called EUCUNET - the European Children's University Network. According to a statement from the Commission, the concept is both an 'innovative and excellent approach'. Funding totalling €550,000 over the next two years will be provided by the Science in Society theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

The objective of EUCUNET is to create a database of activities which are currently or have already been undertaken in Europe in the area of children's universities. From this, an interactive web portal and international symposia will be initiated, which will stimulate the transfer of know-how and the exchange of existing expertise.

The heart of this network will be formed by the already established children's universities located in Basel, Bratislava, Strasbourg, Tübingen and Vienna. Organisations which have played a leading role in the formation of children's universities in their respective countries serve as reference models: Kinderbüro der Universität Wien, Austria; Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany; Universität Basel, Switzerland; Université Louis Pasteur Strasbourg, France; Max Reinhardt Foundation - Arena Theater Bratislava Slovakia; as well as 'unsere neue couch', Germany, which will cover the technical parts of the project. Their brief includes creating a European network and 'to introduce the children's university approach to other European countries'.

Already over 100 universities across Europe organise science events which are targeted at youth. These events offer children of all ages, boys and girls, their first taste of science. Universities on the other hand take these events a step further and take these events out of the context of a one- off and isolated occurrence. What these universities do succeed in doing is create a stable and continual platform for extra-curricular science communication.

In view of an ongoing expansion of the children's universities approach, the need for exchange of experiences is rising and as a result networking among organisers is more and more in demand, especially beyond boundaries of language and nation. This is why the idea of EUCUNET is so important.

Also as part of the service offered by EUCUNET will be mentoring partnerships which will allow for targeted cooperation between established organisers and those who are raring to start activities. Furthermore, standards and guidelines for planning and organising such science events as well as the basics for sustainable impact analysis procedures, will be developed.

The first children's university was founded in 2002.at the University of Tübingen. As a result of its efforts, the children's university was awarded Europe's most prestigious prize for Science Communication, the Descartes Prize for Science Communication.

Organisers of science communication activities for youth in university environments are kindly invited to contact EUCUNET.

EUCUNET is coordinated by Kinderbüro Universität Wien.

EUCUNET - the European Children's University Network

Source: Community R&D Information Service (CORDIS)