Rikke Schmidt Kjærgaard (Founder and Managing Director at Videnskabsklubben) and Rubina Raja (Centre Director at UrbNet and Professor in Classical Archaeology and Art at Aarhus University) welcomed 40 attendees to the reception and they spoke about the importance of humanities in society and the role of archaeology in opening up dialogues between academia and the world and their long-lasting – now come through - wish to have an archaeology program as part of Videnskabsklubben. Julia Steding (Project Coordinator, UrbNet), who has handheld and developed the program together with staff at Videnskabsklubben and Kirstine Haase (Odense Museum), reflected on the program’s development and highlighted the successful partnership that resulted in an engaging and educational program. Attendees were also given the opportunity to try some of the activities created over the past year, such as reconstructing a temple using Lego, identifying food remains in ancient poop, and testing their historical knowledge with a timeline game.

This fall, the archaeology program will debut in ten schools across Denmark, offering 4th and 5th graders the chance to explore a range of cultures and archaeological methods. These young "mini researchers," as they are called, will engage with various aspects of archaeology - from fieldwork in Denmark to studying archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological remains from prehistoric China. The program is designed to show the mini researchers how archaeologists work, the questions they ask, and the methods they use to uncover the past.

The archaeology program is Videnskabsklubben’s first foray into the humanities, and everyone at UrbNet is incredibly proud of this milestone. Thanks to the collaboration of a diverse group of researchers and experts, the program successfully showcases the intersection of the humanities and natural sciences. During the reception, everyone agreed that initiatives like the archaeology program are an excellent way forward to educate a new generation to become engaged and interested in understanding the complexities of the past, and how it shapes our present and future. By fostering curiosity and hands-on learning, the program aims to inspire young minds to explore not only archaeology but the broader world of science and history, encouraging critical thinking and a lifelong love for discovery.

Do you have children in 4th or 5th grade? There are still a few spots available for the fall: https://www.videnskabsklubben.dk/nyhed/ledige-pladser-2024/ 

You can also read more about the archaeology program here and here.