Hotspot Forest
With the project “Hotspot Forest: The Science Fire Brigade!” (“Brennpunkt Wald: Die Wissensfeuerwehr!”), the Vienna University Children’s Office supports preventive measures to avoid forest fires in cooperation with scientists and experts from various fields. The importance of the forest in Austria and the dangers of forest fires are discussed with children aged 8 to 12 and placed in a context that is relevant to them. It explains how fires start and what can be done to prevent them. The content is communicated in various formats in a playful and realistic way, making it easier to understand for children and young people.
The project duration is September 1, 2023 to May 30, 2025.
Activities and measures
The project consists of a mix of activities dealing with forest fire prevention and developing awareness of the challenges of forest protection in the light of future climate change:
- various courses at Vienna Children’s University in summer 2024
- a research package with teaching materials for school classes on kinderuni.online
- Children’s University on Tour visiting schools in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland
- developing didactic-practical concepts for school lessons (“Science Snacks”)
The project is funded by the Forest Fund of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management.
