Siemens Stiftung and MINT-EC launch new health cluster to promote (mental) health through STEM lessons
Workshop with teachers on health
© Siemens Stiftung and MINT-EC.
More than 25 participants, including 15 teachers from schools in the MINT-EC (German Excellence School Network for STEM) came together at the STEAM Hub Siemensstadt Square of the Siemens Stiftung in Berlin on April 15 and 16 to launch a new health cluster. The thematic cluster aims to impart health knowledge in STEM lessons by developing innovative educational practices that will enable teachers and pupils to strengthen their health skills and reduce health inequalities. This will be achieved through concrete projects, the development of teaching materials and cross-curricular integration opportunities in everyday school life.
The focus of the new MINT-EC thematic cluster is on analyzing the needs concerning (mental) health in schools. Furthermore, the working group will concentrate on the promotion of (mental) health in and through (STEM) lessons and create opportunities for teachers to strengthen their own (mental) health to better identify (mental) problems of students and refer them to appropriate support services.
“Due to the rapidly changing technological and global challenges in recent years, various studies show an increase in mental stress among children, young people, and teachers. To address this pressing issue and promote mental health in STEM lessons, we have initiated the health cluster. We are delighted that the kick-off is taking place at the STEAM Hub Siemensstadt Square, where we want to create a space for teachers and students to learn and create together. At the STEAM Hub, we are promoting skills that will enable us to meet the challenges of the future with innovative solutions,” says Dr. Barbara Filtzinger, Head of Education, Siemens Stiftung.
“We are happy to be able to contribute to this major topic, which encompasses all areas of work and life, with the new thematic cluster. By learning to be mindful of our own physical and mental resources, we are also securing our future as a location for innovation. We thank the dedicated teachers of MINT-EC for their commitment to bringing the promotion of physical and mental health into schools through practical concepts and teaching materials, as well as the Siemens Stiftung for their support,” says Dr. Niki Sarantidou, Managing Director MINT-EC.
The kick-off program includes the following presentations by experts on mindfulness and (mental) health in Education:
- Kerstin Gleine:
Mental health in schools – best practice from STEM lessons
- Dr. Annika Schramm:
Fit for learning and for life through mental health and mindfulness – How resilience and mindfulness are strengthened in the classroom and contribute to learning success
- Kopfsachen e.V. (Adrian Junger):
Workshop “Mental health for teachers – learning to take care of myself”.
- Dr. Jochen Müller (neurobiologist):
Lecture entitled “Inseparable – The biology of the brain and mind”
The new MINT-EC thematic cluster is sponsored and supported by Siemens Stiftung.
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