Cooperation project "DiNaPLAN - with ChangeUP!"
Education Minister Sven Teuber visits Siebenpfeiffer-Gymnasium in Kusel to find out more about the "DiNaPLAN - with ChangeUP!" cooperation project, in which the chemistry didactics department at RPTU in Kaiserslautern is involved.
Kusel, 31.10.2025 - During a school visit to Siebenpfeiffer-Gymnasium in Kusel, Education Minister Sven Teuber learned about the innovative cooperation project "DiNaPLAN - digital sustainability simulation journalism by students for students", which is being implemented in collaboration with RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU).
The RPTU and thus the DBU-funded project was represented on site by Prof. Dr. Johann-Nikolaus Seibert, didactics of chemistry. Together with students and teachers from the school, he presented the ChangeUP! learning company, which was created as part of DiNaPLAN and is considered a model project for innovative democracy and STEM education.
In the ChangeUP! learning company, students take on the role of journalists and science communicators. They research current sustainability and future topics - such as climate change, energy, environmental chemistry or digitalization - and create podcasts, videos or social media posts based on journalistic working methods and strategies. The aim is to present scientific content in an understandable way, reflect critically on it and discuss the social relevance of scientific issues.
"Projects like DiNaPLAN show how democracy education can succeed in the 21st century: through critical thinking, teamwork, digital skills and social responsibility," emphasized Education Minister Sven Teuber during the tour of the Schüler:innen editorial office. "This shows that STEM subjects do far more than just provide factual knowledge - they are a key to participating in future issues."
Prof. Dr. Johann-Nikolaus Seibert emphasized the importance of cooperation between schools and universities:
"With ChangeUP! we are creating learning spaces in which young people experience that science, language and democracy belong together. The students learn to raise their voices, take responsibility and communicate scientific topics in an understandable way - that is democracy education in action."
The DiNaPLAN project is part of a longer-term cooperation between the RPTU and Siebenpfeiffer-Gymnasium Kusel. It builds on state-wide initiatives that aim to promote sustainability and democracy skills in STEM lessons.
The positive response during the school visit shows that projects such as DiNaPLAN not only strengthen technical and media skills, but also raise awareness of social responsibility - and demonstrate how modern education combines scientific curiosity and democratic action.
Contact: Prof. Johann Seibert(Email)