RWTH Aachen University bundles its interdisciplinary research on the major social challenges of our time in currently eight profile areas. Here, the Hans Hermann Voss Foundation supports so-called “speed funds”, to promote master’s theses of students of science and technology who wish to contribute with their research to the solution of application-related problems. This format is designed to transform an idea into a concrete concept within about six months and then into a prototype that allows the idea to be evaluated. Funding is provided for material costs to cover possible additional costs incurred by the acquisition and construction of the hardware for the prototypes.
Category: Natural science and research
Support of students in future-oriented STEM topic areas
Since the 2020/2021 winter semester, the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw) and the Hans Hermann Voss Foundation have been sponsoring a joint scholarship program. The Hans Hermann Voss scholarship in the sdw is aimed at bachelor’s and master’s students of scientific and technical subjects (MINT) who have graduated from high school in the Oberbergische Kreis, Märkischer Kreis or Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, or who are studying at a university in NRW. In the selection process, special attention is paid to the promotion of first-time graduates, female students, students at universities of applied sciences and students who have completed vocational training in an industrial-technical profession.
The Hans Hermann Voss scholarship is linked to the study scholarship of the Klaus Murmann study support organization and is an additional added value. The scholarship includes of an interdisciplinary support program, monthly financial support, as well as an extended support through a volunteer trustee at the university location. The amount of the scholarship is based on income ratio. Additionally, Hans Hermann Voss scholarship holders in the sdw receive a monthly study allowance, which they can use for personal further qualifications in forward-looking subject areas – for example, for supplementary specialist events or for networking.
Applications are submitted exclusively online via the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw).
The smartphone as a mobile physical laboratory
phyphox means “physical phone experiments”. This app turns every smartphone into a physics lab. Smartphones are equipped with a variety of sensors, e.g. for acceleration, magnetic field and pressure, which can be used for physical experiments.
phyphox was developed by the Department of Physics at the RWTH Aachen University. It is a non-profit project with the aim to improve science education in schools worldwide. For example, the frequency of a pendulum or the spectrum of audio signals can be determined in class. The app is free of charge, suitable for Android and iOS and available in many different languages.
The support of the Hans Hermann Voss-Stiftung includes the conversion of the app into an open source software, further development and publicising as well as the intensive training of teachers in the use of the app – an offer also in the district Oberbergischer Kreis.