We are delighted to announce the publication of a new article by our INSE project partners Dominik Eibl and Michaela Panzenböck in the current issue of R&E-SOURCE – research & education of the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria (issue “futures.learning / learning.futures”):
Eibl, D. & Panzenböck, M. (2025): Nature of Science meets early childhood education: Shaping the future through early science education. R&E-SOURCE, 12(4), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.53349/re-source.2025.i4.a1488
The article addresses the central question of how to foster an understanding of science in children at the early childhood level. The aim is to make the “nature of science” – the essence of science – accessible and engaging for children through play. Curiosity, observation, creativity, and collaborative exploration are central to this approach. Only when children experience how science works at a young age can they later think critically, understand connections, and grasp science as an important part of our society.
This article demonstrates that picture books are ideally suited for conveying scientific concepts in early childhood education. They make key aspects of the “Nature of Science” (NOS)—such as provisionality, empirical evidence, and social and cultural context—tangible and accessible to children. In this way, children are introduced to scientific thinking at an early age.
Picture books serve as a didactic medium for presenting complex concepts in an understandable way and supporting educators in their work. The project emphasizes the importance of a sound scientific education in early childhood, as it lays the foundation for a critical understanding of science and empowers children to actively participate in shaping society and the environment.