PARTNER of the Science Festival explOra! were   The Pedagogic Institute for the German speaking group The Pedagogic Institute organizes refresher courses for teachers of the school for German speakers and of the German Kindergartens in South Tyrol. It offers them advice and supporting activities in carrying out innovative teaching projects. It supports schools and Kindergartens in realizing processes of school autonomy, especially regarding school programmes and activities suitable for the pursuit of quality in schools. It is involved in the production of curricula and carries out research projects in the didactics and pedagogy. Realgymnasium Bruneck Our students are highly motivated to study independently through experimenting and research which makes our school attractive and future-oriented. Free University of Bozen/Bolzano Dare to be multilingual: The Free University of Bozen/Bolzano offers a multilingual, practice-oriented education and is in support of forming an international student body. Lectures and seminars are held in German, Italian and English at the School of Economics, Faculty of Computer Science and Faculty of Education. Ökozentrum Neustift Creativ and active responsibility for creation: The Oekozentrum Neustift, linked to Europe and driven by a desire for Sustainability. Platform for international communication and exchange of knowledge in the fields of energy, nature and landscape. Provider of information, formation and on-going education. Partner for consultation, conception and planning. Workshop for environmental education and nature experience The workshop for environmental education and nature experience offers children and young people a creative and playful approach to nature. The most important aim of the work is not to impart knowledge cognitively but to make young people sensitive to the protection of the universe: through heart, hand and reason. By leading pupils in a playful way to appreciate nature we help them to take responsibility for their environment. This can only be done by experiencing nature and its beauty directly. Equipped with a magnifying glass and microscope, each participant will explore and discover the secrets of nature independently. Museum of Natural History South Tyrol's Museum of Natural History is located in the former administrative offices of Archduke Maximilian of Austria. It offers the visitor an overview of the various landscapes typical of South Tyrol. The Museum of Natural History hosts numerous temporary exhibitions and performs research in botany, zoology and geology providing a central data base for the alpine area. Provincial agency of environmental and labor protection Are you interested in knowing more about pollutants, the level of radiation or genetic engineering? The provincial agency of environmental and labor protection is the right institution to get answers to your questions. We have actual researches on environmental pollution phenomenons, on risk conditions and all kinds of ecosystem protections. We also collect and publish data on the general ecological situation, and we operate a public information system, which includes a permanent monitoring of environmental impacts. Finally, we support all the initiatives of formation and education concerning the knowledge and protection of the world around us. Autonomous Province of Bozen-South Tyrol - Department of the Natural Environment The natural environment is subject to continual processes of change and development. Our work is targeted at steering and optimising those processes through environmental planning and management measures, environmental impact assessments, nature reserve management and funding instruments, with the overall goal of ensuring that South Tyrol remains a highly attractive region for the resident population and the business community. BIC South Tyrol The BIC South Tyrol is an institution of public interest. Its locally oriented structure is aimed to establish, choose and coach innovative and technologically oriented enterprises. For the established enterprises of South Tyrol the BIC South Tyrol represents a platform for technological exchange. The BIC South Tyrol is a meeting point for those, who are looking for a useful connection between science and economy. Visit us: www.bic-suedtirol.org Amateurastronomen Max Valier The "Amateurastronomen Max Valier" is a club of about 130 members of all ages with a common, fascinating hobby: astronomy. The club´s activities consist of backyard astronomy, meetings, travel, lectures ect., with the purpose of improving the common experience and of developing knowledge in astronomy. Delfin Sub Bolzano Delfin Sub has been a diving club in the Bolzano area for 30 years now, and it is active on a didactic and recreational level as well as in civil protection. The didactical work concerns the holding of diving courses for the diving organization "Federazione Ialiana Attivita Subacquee" on all levels (beginners through diving instructors). The qualifications are internationally recognized. The fact that in the 30 years of activity more than 2000 divers have been trained none of which to this point has been involved in a diving accident speaks to this high standard. In the recreational area, Delfin Sub counts about 230 members for which a variety of different activities, such as diving in mountain lakes, (diving) trips, and talks, are organized on a regular basis. The club also holds competitions (fin swimming). Ever since its founding, a group of 20 experienced divers is activ in civil protection. This group is responsible for the maintenance of our lakes in terms of their biological and geological control and works in collaboration with the regional institute for biology and the various fishing organizations. In addition, the group is on call for search and rescue operations as well as for various under-water tasks requiring diving experience. Istituto Pedagogico Provinciale italiano The Istituto Pedagogico Provinciale fosters learning and formation in the Italian schools; it carries out consultancy, research, documentation and teacher-training. The I.P. operates in the following fields: disciplinary and inter-disciplinary didactics, linguistics, interlingualism; interculturism, culture and implementation of documentation and research-action, practice of quality and evaluation; vertical continuity in the organization of schools and horizontal relationship among the several learning opportunities offered by the municipal and local realities. The Institute edits and distributes all over the country: "Quaderni di documentazione" and the bimonthly journal "Informa", and the four-monthly "Rassegna". The Ladin Pedagogical Institute The Ladin Pedagogical Institute has been set up in order to support the schools in their educational task, their development and adaptation to today's needs. As according to the law the duties of the Institute are to carry out surveys and evaluations of the situation and the development in the scholastic field, to try out new ways of teaching and/or new programmes through experimentation, to offer to all people involved in the school system the possibility of further education through regularly organised refresher courses and work groups, to put a series of means at the teacher's disposal in order to help them to improve their teaching. The Ladin Pedagogical Institute co-operates with all institutions and people who work directly or indirectly in or together with the schools, pre-schools and vocational schools of the ladin area. UPAD - Popular university of the Dolomiti Alps UPAD, Popular University of the Dolomiti Alps, was founded in 1959 with the purpose to support the students engage in the exams of junior high school and superior average. It extends his activity in 1971 to support university students and, since 1982, it starts also developing all the typical activities of a popular university, being recognized as Permanent Education Agency by the Autonomous Bolzano Province, always collaborating in an intense way with Agencies all around Italy. The activities proposed today by UPAD of Bolzano are organized in conferences, debates, seminaries, university support courses, professional refresher courses. UPAD opened centres detached in all the province: Appiano, Brunico, Bressanone, Egna, Laives, Merano, Vipiteno, Silandro, Salorno and San Candido. The Seat of UPAD is in Bolzano, via Firenze no. 51. For further informations look at the Web Site www.upad.it.   Environmental Educational Centre Uhl The Environmental Educational Centre Uhl was established as an institute of the City of Bolzano with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of society and raising environmental awareness, thus encouraging new approaches to environmental protection. With these objectives in mind, the Centre organises several teaching and training initiatives, as well as leisure and cultural activities in the following areas:  Environmental Education for schools and local citizens, as well as visitors of the region Environmental training and refresher courses for professionals, citizens, university students and public employees Educational holiday packages in the fields of environment and culture/sustainable development Bringing people closer to the environment is an important objective of the Environmental Educational Centre Uhl. Local citizens, visitors and cultural associations are therefore always welcome guests in the Centre and the surrounding forests and meadows which are an ideal setting, starting point and source of inspiration for developing a closer relation to nature: "Experience nature through science and art, through quiet meditation and music. Experience nature through all five senses." TOTOP