By Clarissa Lang
Thanks to one of our case studies, the ‘Tierpark Nordhorn,’ the Surrounded by Science project was invited to share and present the current results of our research project during the Zoo Pedagogy conference at the Burger Zoo in Arnhem, in the Netherlands. Almost 90 participants from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland came together for four days for an intensive exchange. The programme included many important and innovative suggestions on the current topics of zoo education. The focus was on education for sustainable development, with theoretical examples and, above all, practical suggestions for implementation.
The session in which SbS participated mainly focused on possibilities for evaluating informal STEM learning in Zoos and similar designed environments. After the presentation of the current results, the possibility of exchanging and discussing was given.
The Association of German-speaking Zoopedagogues (Verband der deutschsprachigen Zoopädagogen, VZP) brings together colleagues from German-speaking zoos to represent their common interests. In order to safeguard educational work at the zoo as a place of learning, they are committed to anchoring zoo education in guidelines, curricula, and training regulations.
