Engineers and scientists, i.e. STEM educated persons, are seen as strong drivers for technology and knowledge-driven growth and productivity in the high-tech sector including ICT services. However, since 2020 there has been a decline in the absolute number of new entrants to STEM courses.

In 2023, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany reported that 6.5% fewer students had enrolled on STEM courses in Europe. By contrast, countries in the Arab world and East Asia were able to significantly increase the proportion of STEM graduates.

A variety of measures are needed to make STEM attractive to students. This paper explains a package of measures to systematically familiarize children and young people with STEM and thus allay their fears of studying science and engineering. Over the past eight years, the Faculty of Engineering at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences has developed a concept in which participants from pre-school age to high school graduates are addressed with all their senses in age-appropriate laboratory experiments. The Ansbach model for promoting STEM acceptance begins with children of pre-school age by playfully awakening their natural curiosity. In child-friendly experiential spaces at the university, children experience themselves as researchers. In workshop topics from the fields of microbiology, food technology, and molecular biology, which become increasingly complex with the level of education, pupils are introduced to engineering and scientific issues in an age-appropriate way. It is always about experiencing science with all the senses and thus opening up not only a cognitive but also an emotional awareness for STEM.

To reduce the heavy time burden on individual members of the university, the measures are coordinated within the faculty and realized with the involvement of as many faculty members as possible in a modular way resulting in approximately four to six person weeks to attract 400 pupils per year.

Die Generation Alpha wird in einer digital vernetzten Welt sozialisiert. Konnektivität ist ein Schlüsselaspekt im Leben dieser jungen Menschen. Das hat Auswirkungen auf ihr Konsumverhalten. Inwiefern, das erläutert Prof. Dr. Katharina Klug, Professorin für Wirtschaftspsychologie an der Hochschule Ansbach, in ihrem Beitrag.

Der Fachbeitrag beleuchtet die Herausforderungen des Wissensverlusts durch den Ruhestand von Babyboomern in kommunalen Verwaltungen. Die Stadt Nürnberg hat in Zusammenarbeit mit der Hochschule Ansbach verschiedene Instrumente entwickelt, um das Erfahrungswissen von ausscheidenden Mitarbeitenden zu sichern. Diese Methoden umfassen Seminare, Leitfäden, Erklärvideos und ein digitaler Assistent. Ein besonderes Augenmerk liegt auf dem Expert Debriefing, bei dem Wissenstragende durch moderierte Sitzungen unterstützt werden. Zudem wird die innovative Methode der Büro-Fika vorgestellt, die das Wissensteilen in einem informellen Rahmen fördert. Der Einsatz von KI-gestützten Assistenten zur Wissenssicherung zeigt die zukunftsorientierte Ausrichtung der Stadt Nürnberg in diesem Bereich. Der Beitrag verdeutlicht, wie durch gezielte Maßnahmen der Wissensverlust minimiert und die Qualität der Dienstleistungen aufrechterhalten werden kann.

Dieses Buch führt in die Grundlagen der Statistik ein. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf Prognose-Modellierung. Es ist ein angewandtes Buch für Anfänger. Sie lernen, Daten mit Hilfe der Programmiersprache R aufzubereiten und Vorhersagen abzuleiten mit Hilfe einfacher linearer Modelle.

Industrial parts often demand high dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength. This study introduces a method using Response Surface Methodology and composite desirability to simultaneously optimize these performances in components manufactured through additive processes. The approach was validated on Polylactic Acid parts fabricated through Fused Filament Fabrication. Optimized process parameters included a print speed of 80 mm/s, a layer height of 0.2 mm, a fan speed of 50%, and an extrusion temperature of 210 °C, yielding tensile strength of 53.27 MPa and dimensional deviations under 5%. Experimental validations showed less than a 5% deviation between predictions and outcomes. The findings provide valuable insights into improving the quality and performance of printed components in various industrial applications, such as gears, highlighting the significance of multi-response optimisation in 3D printing processes. This study ultimately contributes to more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing processes.

Plastics components are degrading over time to small entities mostly known as microplastics (MP). Microplastics particles (MPPs) (by definition <5 mm) can enter the human food chain on different levels. MPPs have been found in several organisms and human heart tissue. MPPs also occur in the plant world. MPPs can be analyzed by light microscopy (LM). The different MP hydrocarbons distinguish from biomaterial matrices. But the degradation doesn’t stop. Microplastics can degrade further to nanoparticles (NPs), being smaller than cells. These nanoplastics particles (NPPs) require higher efforts to be detected. Electron microscopy (EM) is suitable to depict those nanoscale regions. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are often well visible in bulk biomaterial with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). But polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) are more difficult to be detected in biomaterials than MNPs. Dependent on experiment and imaging conditions, PNPs can be distinguished from bulk biomaterial with SEM. Thus, we approach this issue with correlative microscopy (CM) to develop reliable NPP analytics. Using a plant model system with PNPs, combining LM and fluorescence microscopy (FM) with SEM data in a correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) approach, non-uniform patch formation of NPPs in- and outside the biomaterial matrix is observed. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman, micro-computer tomography (uCT), ultramicrotomy (UM) and focused ion beam (FIB) data provide additional information. Specific discovery of contaminated plant biomaterial areas is thus possible with single NP resolution. The investigation of the biomaterial matrix behaviour exposed to different PNP sizes and materials is so enabled. The procedural correlative microscopy approach reveals that PNPs seem to be tightly attached to the biomaterial. It indicates further that basic food cleaning procedures might be insufficient for PNP or NPPs removal. The model system can reliably detect PNPs, showing solution pathways in general NPPs analytics.

A systematic sequence of materials was investigated to develop phytic-acid (Phyt)–based flame retarded poly(lactide acid) (PLA), while factoring in molecular weight (MW), crystallinity and mechanical properties. Synergistic approaches were developed based on combinations with lignin and expandable graphite (EG), as well as by applying different Phyt salts of melamine (Mel), piperazine (Pip), and arginine (Arg). Compounds were twin screw extruded, injection molded, hot pressed and investigated with thermal analysis, size exclusion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing, limited oxygen index (LOI), UL 94, cone calorimeter, and scanning electron microscope. 16.7 wt.% flame retardant (FR) slightly enhances crystallization while MW remains unchanged in PLA Phyt Arg and PLA Phyt Mel. LOI was improved to 43.7 vol.% for PLA Phyt Arg, UL 94 V0 achieved for PLA Phyt Pip. Cone calorimeter results show total heat evolved reduced by 14 %, maximum average rate of heat emission 43 % lower, and peak heat release rate reduced by 50 % for PLA Phyt Mel. Phyt Mel combined with EG increased the char yield of PLA to 20 wt.% and 15.5 wt.% at 600 and 900 °C, respectively. Phyt is exploited to enhance char yield, stabilize the intumescent char, and lower the apparent effective heat of combustion. The combination of Phyt Mel and EG was proposed as an efficient FR for PLA via an evidence based developing route.

This study explores the unique operating behavior of an alkaline water electrolysis cell equipped with an ion-solvating membrane, operated with a diluted alkaline electrolyte, specifically 1-M potassium hydroxide (1M KOH), in anode feed mode. Our investigations reveal several key insights. Charge transport: In an ion-solvating membrane, charge transport occurs through both the cations and anions of the electrolyte. Due to electro-osmosis, cation transport to the cathode results in a combined hydrogen-electrolyte discharge from the cathode compartment of the electrolysis cell. The discharged electrolyte is more concentrated than the electrolyte supplied to the anode. The concentration and flow rate of the electrolyte increase with current density and electrolyte temperature. Current density dependence: Since only a fraction of the total charge is transferred by hydroxide ions within the membrane, current density strongly depends on the electrolyte flow through the anode compartment. Membrane stability and performance: The membrane’s mechanical and chemical stability enables operation at high temperatures, up to 80 ◦C. This stability enables increased current density at a given cell voltage. Effects of catalyst use: Using cathode catalysts with high surface areas, such as Raney-Ni, enhances current density because highly concentrated liquid potassium hydroxide forms at the cathode during operation. Anode catalysts with high surface areas increase current density, but only if the flow of hydroxide ions is not impeded. Otherwise, the jV-curve exhibits transport-limited behavior.

This study examines the effectiveness of digital nudging in enhancing email marketing strategies for non-profit organizations (NPOs) involved in emergency and disaster relief (EDR). Specifically, it aims to explore the potential of digital nudges to convert one-time and occasional donors into regular contributors. By investigating whether, and to what extent, digital nudging can facilitate this conversion, the research provides insights into optimizing donor engagement. Based on literature, four digital nudges were developed and tested in a quantitative field experiment conducted in partnership with the German emergency and disaster relief organization, Caritas international. The findings reveal that the phantom decoy and identity coherence nudges are particularly effective in increasing click-through rates on recurring donation buttons in emails from NPOs focused on EDR, highlighting their potential as tools for improving donor retention.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries. The data were collected between November 2022 and August 2023 as part of the global Many Labs study “Trust in Science and Science-Related Populism” (TISP). The questionnaire contained comprehensive measures for individuals’ trust in scientists, science-related populist attitudes, perceptions of the role of science in society, science media use and communication behaviour, attitudes to climate change and support for environmental policies, personality traits, political and religious views and demographic characteristics. Here, we describe the dataset, survey materials and psychometric properties of key variables. We encourage researchers to use this unique dataset for global comparative analyses on public perceptions of science and its role in society and policy-making.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. We interrogated these concerns with a preregistered 68-country survey of 71,922 respondents and found that in most countries, most people trust scientists and agree that scientists should engage more in society and policymaking. We found variations between and within countries, which we explain with individual- and country-level variables, including political orientation. While there is no widespread lack of trust in scientists, we cannot discount the concern that lack of trust in scientists by even a small minority may affect considerations of scientific evidence in policymaking. These findings have implications for scientists and policymakers seeking to maintain and increase trust in scientists.

Evidence syntheses, such as systematic reviews, aim to summarise the current state of research in a field, often using the publication language of a study as a criterion for inclusion or exclusion. However, this has serious implications for capturing evidence from a wider range of geographical areas, and the potential for linguistic bias. In order to explore this issue, a trilingual tertiary mapping review of 446 evidence syntheses within the field of educational technology (EdTech) and published in English, Spanish and German was undertaken, analysing the frequency of multi- and monolingual evidence syntheses, reasons for language choice by research teams, and the composition of research teams in multi- and monolingual evidence syntheses. Items were included if they were a form of evidence synthesis with an explicit method section, indexed within ERIC, Scopus, Web of Science, Dialnet, FIS-Bildung, or Google Scholar, education-related, and published between 1983 and May 2022. The results showed that only eight languages were considered in published syntheses, only five languages were used to construct search strings, most evidence syntheses included research published in English without explaining why, and multilingual research team composition did not predict multilingual evidence syntheses. The findings suggest the need to address publication languages not only as a formal criterion but as an integral aspect of methodological approach, influencing the content and scope of syntheses in educational research.