"When I Grow up I Want to Be a Scientist"

The project "Young Uni" at the University of Innsbruck was launched in September 2001 - the first of its kind in German speaking countries. This year it celebrates its tenth year with the slogan "Setting out into New Worlds". The first time the University opened its doors for children and teenagers was on the occasion of the ten year anniversary of the discovery of Ötzi the Iceman in 2001. The goal of the project was to invite all children regardless of their educational strata to come to the University and interest them in science - with great success. Since then the formats of the children's university of the University of Innsbruck and the University of Tubingen, developed almost at the same time, have been adopted by almost 100 other academic institutions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Slovakia and Columbia. The Head of the University of Innsbruck Tilman Märk regards the Young Uni as an investment in the future: "The University of Innsbruck provides an important service to our society as it brings science and research to young people in a playful manner and at an early age. Sparking interest in science, using the natural curiosity of children and combining this with science and education early on, are the essentials for developing a knowledge-based economy." - The Innsbruck concept has indeed been successful: On average every year more than 10,000 children and teenagers attend and participate in the events organized by the Young Uni.