Cutting-Edge Research in the Classroom

In July 2026, three STEM teachers from Thuringia participated in the Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA. For one week, they experienced cutting-edge research, new teaching and learning approaches, and international exchange with colleagues from around the world.

At the beginning of the year, STEM teachers from Thuringia were able to apply for the SEPT program. Fifty teachers worldwide were selected for the program, five of whom were from Germany. Three of the five German participants were from Thuringia.

Michelle Rousseau from the Evangelisches Ratsgymnasium in Erfurt, Dr. Markus Franz from the Martin-Luther-Gymnasium in Eisenach, and Amadeus Müller from the Staatliches Thüringisches Rhön-Gymnasium in Kaltensundheim stood out in the international selection process and were given the opportunity to participate in the SEPT program.

The Thuringia Foundation for Technology, Innovation, and Research provided scholarships to enable the three teachers to participate. In addition, the trip was supported by the Evangelical School Foundation in Central Germany. Before their departure, the scholarships were presented by Christiane Kilian, chairwoman of the foundation, together with Education Minister Christian Tischner and Marco Eberl from the Evangelical School Foundation in Central Germany.

Before the trip, the three teachers wanted one thing above all else: to gain new perspectives on STEM education.

Michelle Rousseau was interested in how modern learning works at a leading international institution. Amadeus Müller wanted to learn how classes are structured in other countries and which approaches could be adapted for his own school. Dr. Markus Franz focused in particular on exchanges with international colleagues and the use of new technologies in the classroom.

All three were interested in gaining insights that could later be applied in Thuringian schools.

From July 5 to 10, 2026, expectations turned into real-life experiences. On the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, scientific lectures, workshops, and hands-on insights into research and teaching took place in rotation.

The program ranged from a challenging lecture on quarks and the smallest components of matter to questions about climate change.

In workshops, the teachers also explored how new learning approaches can be incorporated into the classroom. For example, Michelle Rousseau, Amadeus Müller, and Dr. Markus Franz spent several days working on game design and developed ideas for games related to STEM subjects such as biology, chemistry, computer science, and physics.

The use of artificial intelligence in schools and classrooms also came up as a topic of discussion. For Amadeus Müller, one insight was particularly interesting: Many of the questions currently facing German schools are also being asked internationally. The trip therefore did not simply provide ready-made answers, but above all offered the opportunity to compare different perspectives.

In addition to lectures and workshops, the program included visits to research and learning spaces at MIT, the physics department, and the Museum of Science in Boston. For Amadeus Müller and Dr. Markus Franz, the exchanges with teachers from other countries—about teaching, technology, and how to inspire young people to take an interest in the natural sciences—were particularly memorable time and again.

Not every idea from MIT can be applied directly to a classroom in Thuringia. But for Michelle Rousseau, Dr. Markus Franz, and Amadeus Müller, that was precisely where an important part of the experience lay. The trip offered fewer ready-made lesson plans, but instead provided new perspectives on how learning, research, and education can be approached.

For Michelle Rousseau, it was the close connection to research that made the biggest impression. She was able to meet experts who are directly engaged in current scientific questions and to become a learner once again herself. Since then, she has been particularly interested in the question of what space schools create for creativity. At MIT, creativity was repeatedly highlighted as a key skill for the future—especially in light of an educational landscape that is being transformed by artificial intelligence.

Practical learning methods also left a lasting impression. Small experiments, open-ended assignments, and problem-based learning demonstrated how learners can take a more active role in exploring ideas and developing their own approaches. Examples such as a course in which students conduct scientific research on the topic of coffee over the course of a semester highlighted just how much room there can be for curiosity and independent inquiry.

For Dr. Markus Franz, the direct exchange was particularly valuable. In a small group setting, he was able to discuss their research with experts from MIT. At the same time, the conversations with international educators offered new perspectives. His most important insight from this experience was that good ideas don’t always have to be reinvented. They often arise when people share their experiences and learn from one another.

Amadeus Müller, too, was inspired by the exchange on science and research. For him, one of the most rewarding aspects of the trip was the opportunity to speak directly with scientists and learn about current research firsthand. At the same time, the comparison showed him that in Germany, the integration of specialized science and pedagogy is already working well in many respects.

That is precisely why SEPT was not simply a collection of new teaching methods for the three teachers. Rather, the week raised new questions: How much freedom do students need to develop their own ideas? What role does creativity play in the classroom? How is artificial intelligence changing learning? And how can scientific content be adapted so that it becomes truly useful for schools?

All three agreed on one thing: The week at MIT was an extraordinary experience. In particular, the exposure to cutting-edge research, the change of perspective, and the encounters with people from the worlds of science and education will stay with them long after the trip is over.