(Frankfurt a. M./Lübben, 09.10.2024) Microchips are the invisible heart of today's world. These small but powerful components form the foundation of modern technology – in everyday life, medicine, mobility and also in areas such as renewable energy and artificial intelligence (AI). Yet it often remains unclear how they actually work: We use our smartphones every day – but how is silicon turned into a microchip? How can information be transferred to a microchip? The nationwide INVENT a CHIP (IaC) (German version) competition asks pupils these and many other questions. The school competition organized by the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies and sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims to familiarize young people with the technology of the future and get them excited about the world of technology. The high number of participants in the IaC quiz speaks for itself: a total of 1,607 pupils from 169 schools submitted their solutions this year in order to win the IaC School Prize.
A complete success in Invent a Chip: Ralf Berger (left), head of the VDE Region Ost, presents the school prize certificate to a class from the Dahme-Spreewald Upper School Center. Sharing in the joy are: head teacher Eckhard Thiele (second from left), teacher Gerald Tonn (fourth from left), Manja Behrendt-Genilke, head of the Lübben site, and Nadine Starke, representing the school authority of the Dahme-Spreewald district.
| Anja Rottke / VDETechnology that inspires: High school center Dahme-Spreewald conquers the world of microchips
Vocational school and high school students shine with expertise on microchips
90 pupils from the High school center Dahme-Spreewald (OSZ D-S) in Lübben and Schönefeld have successfully tackled the challenging issues surrounding microchips and AI. This secured them third place in the IaC School Prize and prize money of 500 euros. In addition to the vocational school for various technical fields, the HSC D-S also includes the vocational grammar school and the technical secondary school.
The INVENT a CHIP competition is an enrichment for everyone at OSZ D-S across all locations, as teacher Gerald Tonn explains: “The IaC quiz links electrical engineering with the major social issues of our time such as sustainability, mobility and digitalization. It enables our vocational students to test and develop their knowledge in a motivating and practice-oriented context, which ideally complements their vocational training and specialist lessons. For our secondary school students, the quiz also promotes their STEM skills and is therefore ideal preparation for degree courses in STEM subjects.”
Teachers are key figures in STEM education
Gerald Tonn is both a teacher at the OSZ D-S and a specialist trainer for computer science and electrical engineering at the Studienseminar in Cottbus. He has been taking part in the INVENT a CHIP competition with his students every year since 2011. Ralf Berger, Head of VDE Region East, thanked him in particular when he presented the certificates in person:
“I am delighted with every teacher who supports our INVENT a CHIP competition. Working with pupils is very important for our society with the demands expected in the future, especially in the field of STEM subjects. We at VDE say thank you! Congratulations to the young people, third place shows a high level of understanding for technology.”
Competitions and experience spaces for STEM education
In addition to participating in competitions such as INVENT a CHIP, Gerald Tonn sees another pillar of STEM education: “I want to make learning lively and hands-on. I like to organize excursions to inspiring places and am not content with the classroom, but actively look for ways to bring knowledge to life.” Perhaps there will be an opportunity to do this next year. “The VDE is planning to roll out the Technology Day, which took place at a school in Berlin this summer, further into the East-Central region with lots of exciting STEM hands-on activities,” says Ralf Berger.
Numerous sponsors support INVENT a CHIP to get young people interested in microchips and their applications, including: Bosch, Cologne Chip, Globalfoundries, Infineon, Mentor Graphics, Siemens, DKE.
About VDE
VDE, one of the largest technology organizations in Europe, has been regarded as a synonym for innovation and technological progress for more than 130 years. VDE is the only organization in the world that combines science, standardization, testing, certification, and application consulting under one umbrella. The VDE mark has been synonymous with the highest safety standards and consumer protection for more than 100 years.
Our passion is the advancement of technology, the next generation of engineers and technologists, and lifelong learning and career development “on the job”. Within the VDE network more than 2,000 employees at over 60 locations worldwide, more than 100,000 honorary experts, and around 1,500 companies are dedicated to ensuring a future worth living: networked, digital, electrical.
Shaping the e-dialistic future.
The VDE (VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. For more information, visit www.vde.com
