Internationally three most distinguished science, technology and mathematics related StarT projects by young people and three best StarT educational practices by educators were awarded at the International LUMA StarT Gala 2018 in Tampere, Finland, today. The winning teams came from Turkey, Portugal, Jordan and Finland. The Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education, Mr. Olli-Pekka Heinonen, handed the awards.
The winning projects have provided ideas on how mining accidents could be prevented by programming a safe helmet, and on how students can educate each other on climate change through their own club. One of the winning projects showed how kindergarten children can actively learn about history by doing same things people in the Stone Age did, during all of the school year.
| International LUMA StarT Award 2018 (best projects by students)
“Baret Care”, students Halil Ataberk Bakırcı, Ahmet Efe Bakırcı and others, Turkey “EcoChange”, Agrupamento de escolas de Alcanena, students Bárbara Correia, Catarina Naia, Guilherme Santos, José Coutinho and Maria Farinha, Portugal “Jump into the life at the Stone Age: Winter” (Hyppy kivikauden elämään: talvi), Day Care Center Piilometsä, Finland |
The winning best educational practices showed how to make true real-life connections in secondary school mathematics, how kindergarten children can be real researchers and gave an example of creating a culture of scientific and technological learning in a country. In their evaluation criteria, the StarT jury has focused on innovativeness, interdisciplinarity, collaboration and creativity.
| International LUMA StarT Education Award 2018 (best educational practices of instructors and teachers)
Innovation for Creativity Development Association, Suraaya Ayyad, Jordan MEF Middle School, Simge Sohtorik, Turkey Preschool group Puuhiset Satulaiva, Kirsi Rehunen, Finland |
The International LUMA StarT Awards were awarded for the second time.
The StarT gala is organized by LUMA Centre Finland, a network of all Finnish science and technology universities with a common goal of promoting science, mathematics and technology education on all grade levels.
In 2017-2018, 500 project teams and 100 best educational practices from 20 different countries have participated in the StarT programme of LUMA Centre Finland.
“The key to success is curiosity, creativity and collaboration. They are needed to conquer the wicked problems of our times. The participants of the Start projects have demonstrated all these characteristics and skills which will benefit them in all areas of life in the future.” Director General for the Finnish National Agency for Education, Mr. Olli-Pekka Heinonen
The public’s most voted favourites and the most active countries were also awarded. In addition, the Finnish national awards were handed.
The public’s favourites
Public’s favourite project:
“Waste Busters” with their project “Lemna grinder”, students Zeynep Sude Çetin, Bora Özkan, Zeynep Eyüpoğlu, Berfin Elçin, Kerim Berber, Umay Eskialp, Melike Damla Özdemir, Aslıhan Eşkin, Gizem İdil Tunçbilek and Bilgesu Gökçenur. Turkey.
Public’s favourite best practice:
“StarT Day in S.O.S. Project Schools” S.O.S. Project Schools, Turkey.
The most active countries
The most active countries out of the 20 countries participating in the StarT programme in 2017-2018 were Turkey and Estonia.
Turkey has registered the most StarT projects, and Estonia has organized a national StarT Science Festival.
Additional information
The composition and the comments of the StarT jury 2018.
Director of the LUMA Centre Finland network and of the StarT programme, Professor Maija Aksela, University of Helsinki, Finland, info@start.luma.fi.
Text: Anette Markula. Photo: Lauri Vihma.
