Honoured for teaching physical principles of climate change

Prof Dr Katharina Theis-Bröhl has been awarded a senior professorship by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation. This makes her only the second woman to be awarded this honour. Over the next three years, she would like to support schools in Bremerhaven with educational programmes on climate change and sustainability issues. At her inaugural lecture, she spoke to around 70 guests about the latest scientific findings and presented the climate experiment kit from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) as a possible educational programme. "I am delighted that so many people came to talk to me about this important topic. Many thanks to the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation for awarding me the senior professorship and to everyone who supports me so much in my work," says Prof Theis-Bröhl.

Professor Katharina Theis-Bröhl has been committed to communicating the physical principles of climate change and sustainability for many years. As the university's sustainability officer, she has launched knowledge-based and awareness-raising initiatives - including as part of the "Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences for Future" project, which focussed on the challenges and consequences of climate change. She is also a volunteer with Scientists for Future. "There is no question that Prof Theis-Bröhl is an inspirational figure in the academic community whose work has far-reaching implications for education and the understanding of climate change and sustainability. Her contributions are of enormous value not only to Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, but also to society," says the university's Rector, Prof Dr Dr Alexis Papathanassis.

"There are still sceptics who deny man-made climate change. It is therefore essential to inform young people about the facts of climate change. The activities planned by Prof. Dr Katharina Theis-Bröhl for this purpose fit perfectly into the programme of the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Senior Professorships," says Dr Stefan Jorda, Managing Director of the Foundation.

According to a recent survey by the International Central Institute for Youth and Educational Television, 20 per cent of 12 to 19-year-olds in Germany have never heard of climate change. Even one sixth of the 18 to 19 age group could not relate to the term. According to Prof Theis-Bröhl, it is therefore all the more important to sensitise young people to this topic. She is therefore focussing her work as WE Heraeus Senior Professor on the LMU's climate experiment kit. In future, she will offer further training for teachers and be available to support schools in activities with the kit. She would also like to continue her commitment to climate protection at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences and anchor education for sustainable development more firmly in the institution. 

The Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation would like to encourage academics to dedicate themselves to improving physics education after retiring from active service, whether at the university or at schools, for example through the training and further education of teachers, by awarding "WE-Heraeus Senior Professorships for Innovative Education Concepts in Physics". Prerequisites for the award include a high professional reputation, many years of experience in teaching, acceptance and support from the university and - depending on the project - a convincing commitment to issues of teacher training and school teaching. 

Contact
Prof. Dr. Katharina Theis-Bröhl
WE-Heraeus-Seniorprofessorin
Mail: ktheisbroehl@hs-bremerhaven.de
Telefon: +49 4714823471