The plaque confirms it: The Science College at Haus Overbach in Jülich-Barmen is designated as a “Place of Progress.” Since its opening in 2009, this lighthouse for scientific education for young people has been an outstanding extracurricular learning location.
The initial groundwork was laid by the Order of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales with educational partners; today, the Christian Youth Village Organization is the sponsor of Haus Overbach.
The Science College maintains partnerships with the Forschungszentrum Jülich, FH Aachen, and collaborations with businesses..
The concept has been continuously developed further.
In addition to workshops for schools and daycare centers, vacation academies and symposia—held in person, online, and in hybrid formats—now reach young audiences even in the USA, the UK, and the Middle East. With the RollingLab, educational offerings are brought to after-school programs, daycare centers, and open youth education facilities.
The Science College is recognized as a training center for future teachers in Lower Saxony. Collaborations with East Belgium are part of everyday operations.
Since 2022, the Science College, in collaboration with the Victor Rolff Foundation, has been awarding scholarships under the title “Open Minds.” This program explores the connections between natural phenomena and technology with art, media, and social issues. In addition to active participation in a summer workshop and weekend workshops, excursions to research and cultural institutions, as well as expert lectures, are part of the program.
Since 2023, in cooperation with the Erfindergeist association, a so-called “CycleSpace” has been established has been set up. The goal is to teach people how to repair their bicycles or even make new modifications. The CycleSpace is intended to be used for various projects, including those not related to bicycles—a workshop available to the public.
