Wolf-Rüdeger Schanz

Wolf's experience integrating the science and the learning around solar power systems into primary and secondary schools in Germany is unparalleled. For the last 15 years, he has delivered practical workshops for students and professional development for teachers as part of a German government-funded initiative to teach about solar power. Wolf, originally a secondary school physics teacher, runs the NILS programme, a joint initiative between the ministry of education of lower saxony and researchers at the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). Here the teachers are introduced to topic areas of regenerative energy, photovoltaics, solarthermal energy, hydrogen technology and climate change; they develop lesson ideas and learning, while students, from age 7 to 18, are also given practical lessons around solar energy and science. Wolf is the head of “Sundidactics Solar Systems” (www.sundidactics.de) with the help of his daughter B.Sc. Gesa Schanz, this company develops and produces equipment and tea