Researching from an early age

Integrating research into everyday life from an early age. This is what the "Haus der kleinen Forscher" certification of the foundation with the same name stands for. This is the 6th time in a row that the "Einsteinchen" day care centre at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon has received this certification. The official award ceremony took place yesterday on the grounds of the day care centre.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics – STEM in short. Something that most people only come into contact with when they start school is a natural part of everyday life for the children at the "Einsteinchen CompanyKids" daycare centre from an early age. The current focus is on sustainability. In this context, the children have, among other things, made paper and dealt with the extraction and filtering of water. Above all, this means: discovering, trying out, testing and exploring on their own as well as asking lots of questions.
For this, the company-affiliated day-care centre at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon is receiving the "House of Little Researchers" certification today for the 6th time in a row. The certificate, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), not only emphasises the transfer of knowledge to the children, but also to the educators. They themselves regularly take part in educational programmes offered by the "Haus der kleinen Forscher" foundation and take elective courses with a STEM focus during their training.

Reconciling work and family life

Generous opening hours, care even during holiday periods and the direct location on campus: the day care centre offers Hereon employees the flexibility they need to combine work and family. Around 40 children can be cared for in the facility. These are divided into two crèche groups for children aged between eight weeks and three years and an elementary group for children from the age of three.
"The "Einsteinchen Company Kids" daycare centre is a very important cornerstone at the Geesthacht site for our employees with children, enabling them to combine family and work. We congratulate the day care centre on its recent certification as a "Haus der kleinen Forscher" and thank the staff very much for their commitment. We are particularly pleased that we are already promoting the researchers of the future with our focus on STEM education," says Martina Ollesch, Head of Human Resources Development at Hereon.