Learning Physics with Refugee Children in Germany

Abstract

Since 2015, Germany has officially registered over 1.3 million refugees, many fleeing the Syrian civil war during the most recent European migrant crisis. The majority reaction of 82 million German citizens and their government to the crisis led to the welcoming culture (Willkommenskultur)—the development of multiple government, non-government organization (NGO), and private programs of accommodation, resettlement, German language training, and more general education, acculturation, and inclusion into German society for many of these refugees. With government and private funding for supplies, training, and administration, the German Physical Society (Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft or DPG) under the guidance of Professor Dr. Arnulf Quadt of Georg-August-Universität Göttingen established a program in which volunteers provide physics educational experiences to these refugee children and possible future German citizens called Physics for Refugees (Physik für Flüchtlinge or PfF).