German Association for the Promotion of Mathematics and Science Education

The Deutscher Verein zur Förderung des mathematischen und naturwissenschaftlichen Unterrichts (MNU) — since 2016 also branded as Verein zur Förderung des MINT-Unterrichts — is a German non-profit professional association representing the subject interests of teachers of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, computer science and technology, the so-called MINT subjects. According to Wikipedia it represented around 5,000 teachers of all school types as of 2020. The association was founded in 1891 in Braunschweig in connection with the Prussian school conference and has since sought to influence the development of mathematics and science teaching in Germany. MNU is democratically organized and works closely with its regional state associations (MNU-Landesverbände) and the annual assembly of MNU members. Its federal board currently consists of twenty educators who work on an honorary basis and are themselves active in everyday MINT teaching. The association offers proven professional development, subject updates, interdisciplinary exchange and protection of professional interests, aiming to be a home for MINT teachers of all age groups. MNU publishes the MNU Journal (MNU – Der mathematische und naturwissenschaftliche Unterricht), which has appeared since 1948/49 and is free for members, as well as other publications on educational standards and the Gemeinsamer Referenzrahmen für Naturwissenschaften (GeRRN). It organizes the annual MNU-Bundeskongress during Holy Week, regional conferences and subject-leader meetings. The association awards prizes such as the Archimedes Prize (mathematics and physics, with the Westermann Group), the Friedrich-Wöhler Prize (chemistry, with the Fonds der chemischen Industrie), the Ursula Hill-Samelson Teacher Prize (computer science, Saarbrücken) and a competition for special MINT teaching ideas with the Klett Verlag. It also awards the Franz-Mutscheller Medal and honorary membership.

The Deutscher Verein zur Förderung des mathematischen und naturwissenschaftlichen Unterrichts (MNU) was founded in 1891 in Braunschweig in connection with the Prussian school conference. Since then it has sought to influence the development of mathematics and science teaching in Germany. In 1934 the association had almost 4,000 members; in 1997 it reported 7,000; in 2011 around 5,150; and at the end of 2020 exactly 4,951. Since 2016 it has given itself the additional brand name Verein zur Förderung des MINT-Unterrichts in its statutes. The association is democratically organized and works closely with its regional state associations and the annual assembly of members. Its federal board currently consists of twenty educators working on an honorary basis. MNU publishes the MNU Journal, which has appeared since 1948/49 as the successor to the Unterrichtsblätter für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften (1895–1943); the journal has been published by Verlag Klaus Seeberger in Neuss since 2006. From 2009 to 2011 the association also published MNU Primar for primary school teachers. MNU organizes the annual MNU-Bundeskongress during Holy Week, regional conferences and subject-leader meetings. It awards several prizes, including the Archimedes Prize (mathematics and physics, with the Westermann Group), the Friedrich-Wöhler Prize (chemistry, with the Fonds der chemischen Industrie), the Ursula Hill-Samelson Teacher Prize (computer science, Saarbrücken) and a competition for special MINT teaching ideas with the Klett Verlag. Former prizes include the Johannes-Kepler-Preis (astronomy, with Cornelsen, 1997–2018), the Robert-Boyle-Preis (interdisciplinary, with Cornelsen, 2005–2019), the Johannes-Kühnel-Preis (primary school, with Klett, only 2011 and 2013), the Eduard-Strasburger-Preis (biology, with Klett, 1997–2016), the Wilhelm-Schickard-Preis (computer science, with IBM Deutschland, only 2001, 2003 and 2005) and the Leonardo-da-Vinci-Preis (technology, with VDI, 2014–2019). The association also awards the Franz-Mutscheller-Medaille and honorary membership. Karl Smalian was a co-founder and honorary member.

• 2020

  Membership exactly 4,951 at year-end.

• 2016

  Statutes add the brand name Verein zur Förderung des MINT-Unterrichts.

• 2011

  Membership around 5,150.

• 2009

  MNU Primar for primary school teachers begins publication (until 2011).

• 2006

  MNU Journal begins publication with Verlag Klaus Seeberger in Neuss.

• 1997

  Membership reported at 7,000.

• 1948

  MNU Journal begins publication as successor to the Unterrichtsblätter.

• 1934

  Association has almost 4,000 members.

• 1895

  Unterrichtsblätter für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften begins publication (until 1943).

• 1891

  Founded in Braunschweig in connection with the Prussian school conference.

Non-profit professional association for MINT teachers in Germany, offering professional development, publications, awards and advocacy.

• MNU Journal (MNU – Der mathematische und naturwissenschaftliche Unterricht)

  Published since 1948/49, six times a year, free for members; successor to Unterrichtsblätter für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften (1895–1943).

• MNU Primar

  Journal for primary school teachers, published 2009–2011.

• GeRRN publications

  Publications on the Gemeinsamer Referenzrahmen für Naturwissenschaften.

• Themenheftreihe zu den Bildungsstandards

  Series of thematic booklets on educational standards.

1. 1MNU - Verband zur Förderung des MINT-Unterrichts – Startseitemnu.de
2. 2MNU - Verband zur Förderung des MINT-Unterrichts – Bundesverbandmnu.de
3. 3Wikidata: Deutscher Verein zur Förderung des Mathematischen und Naturwissenschaftlichen Unterrichtswikidata.org
4. 4Wikipedia (de): Deutscher Verein zur Förderung des mathematischen und naturwissenschaftlichen Unterrichtsde.wikipedia.org