Klaus Tschira Foundation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Klaus Tschira Foundation (KTF) was established by the physicist Klaus Tschira in 1995 as a non-profit organization. Its primary objective is to support projects in the natural and computer sciences as well as mathematics. The KTF places strong emphasis on the public understanding in these fields. Klaus Tschira’s commitment to this objective was honored in 1999 with the "Deutscher Stifterpreis" by the German National Academic Foundation (German: Studienstiftung). The KTF is located at the Villa Bosch in Heidelberg, Germany, the former residence of Nobel Prize laureate for chemistry Carl Bosch (1874–1940).
Contents |
[edit] Activities
The foundation mainly sets off academic and non-profit, non-academic research projects in the fields described above. It also supports teaching and research at public and private universities as well as projects with children and young people. The KTF awards research contracts amongst others to the EML Research gGmbH and the European Media Laboratory (EML) GmbH also founded by Klaus Tschira in 2001 and 1997, respectively. The KTF promotes the International University in Germany in Bruchsal, one of the first licensed private universities in Germany. The Gerda Tschira scholarship was initiated by the KTF to provide study #abroad for single parents with their children. Since all efforts of the KTF are geared towards promoting the public understanding in natural sciences and computer sciences as well as mathematics, the foundation offers courses in media training and writing workshops for scientists in these fields and supports the wisskomm project (German).
[edit] Principal Awards
[edit] KlarText! – Klaus Tschira Award for the public understanding of science
Scientists who have recently finished their PhD thesis are challenged to author a short article (8,000 to 10,000 words) in German on the topic of their dissertation. It should be interesting and easy for the public to understand. Contributions are judged for scientific quality and public understanding by a panel of experts on science and communication, respectively. Yearly, up to six winners receive the award endowed with prize money of € 5,000. In addition, the contributions are published in a special issue of "bild der wissenschaft" (German). The Klaus Tschira Prize was first awarded during 1996 to 1999, but was regionally restricted to graduates from the University of Karlsruhe. The competition was revived in 2005 and since 2006 announced nationwide.
[edit] Youth Software Award - Discover, Present, And Win!
School students are challenged to inspire others with science by developing excellent, smart and inventive presentations or software that explain knowledge and experiments from natural science or mathematics. The competition is annual and students up to age 21 residing in Germany, Austria or Switzerland are empowered to participate. Besides individual contributions also group work or whole class activities are sought. Submissions should be in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, computer science or mathematics. Applications may be submitted in one of the following categories:
1. Presentations that demonstrate a scientific issue in consecutive figures, pages or slides
2. Digital presentations that bring knowledge vividly and exceptionally, entertainingly to the audience
3. Software that simulates experiments, processes or systems derived from mathematics or natural science
In 2007, registration is open until July 31st. Application deadline is September 17th. Detailed information about the Youth Software Award online: www.jugendsoftwarepreis.de (German)
