"Dresden - City of Science"! On Saturday, 11 March 2023, the network of the same name, together with the state capital Dresden, presented the DRESDEN EXCELLENCE AWARD (DEA) in the city hall. Three of the four prizes went to scientists from TU Dresden for their excellent research and final theses. One of the award winners is physics teacher training studtend Carsten Albert.

Carsten Albert receives the Dresden Excellence Award for his state examination thesis „Entwicklung eines Leitfadens zur Erstellung von Begleittexten mit Interpretationshilfen für Exponate zur Quantenmechanik“ ("Development of a guideline for the creation of accompanying texts with interpretation aids for exhibits on quantum mechanics"). In it, he develops a physics didactic and museum educational approach to the seminal topic of quantum mechanics in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW) and the Technischen Sammlungen Dresden (TSD). 

© Carsten Albert

The three-part mediation concept builds on the pedagogical strategy that is already frequently used in physics lessons. The core idea behind it is to motivate the audience to experiment, stimulate predictions in the process and then let them observe effects. Albert is thus supporting the Technischen Sammlungen Dresden (TSD)  with the exhibition „Quantenphysik zum Ausprobieren und Mitmachen“ ("Quantum Physics to Try Out and Join in") (opening 2024) and the regional contribution to the International Year of Quantum Physics 2025. The award for scientific work, endowed with 6,000 euros, is a flagship for the networking of studies, research and outreach as well as for the networked cooperation of university, research institute and museum in the Science City Dresden. One of its driving forces is the combined innovative power of the University of Excellence TU Dresden.

About the DEA:
The prize money totalling 30,000 euros is awarded annually in four categories (Bachelor's, Master's/Diploma/State Examination, Doctorate and Habilitation) and is based on the jury's decision in accordance with the guideline https://www.dresden.de/excellenceaward. 26 scientists from the TU Dresden, the University of Applied Sciences Dresden, the HTW Dresden, the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Dresden and the Berufsakademie Sachsen - Staatliche Studienakademie Dresden applied for the DRESDEN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2022. Lord Mayor and DEA jury chairman Dirk Hilbert: "The four professionally different award-winning works have in common that they were achieved with excellent results and this due to profound, comprehensive and networked scientific work, with which opportunities and solutions were developed from challenges that have special relevance for science and the future of our society."

Further information:

https://www.dresden.de/excellenceaward