Since 2011, I have been working as a teacher at Gymnasium am Waldhof in Bielefeld, teaching biology and educational sciences. In addition, from summer 2014 to 2022, I was seconded to Bielefeld University’s Department of Biology Education (Botany/Cell Biology) under Prof. Dr. Claas Wegner (renamed the Osthushenrich Center for Giftedness Research at the Faculty of Biology since June 2018 Biology (OZHB)). Here, I supervised the practical work of students in school courses, advised students on curriculum planning, and worked as a lecturer in seminars. Since 2022, I have continued to support subject-specific didactic research and the creation of teaching materials.
Since 2012, the Gymnasium am Waldhof (GaW) has had a school vivarium under my supervision, where various species of amphibians and reptiles are cared for. Since its establishment, the school vivarium has been a special attraction for students of all grades at the school. The animals are cared for by participants in the school zoo club from the 5th grade science class. The GaW is also a member of the Ring der Vivariumschulen (Association of Vivarium Schools). This association is a network of schools that keep animals and plants for use in biology lessons and exchange information, materials, and animals through this network. Currently, more than 25 schools in Germany belong to the association.
The firesalamander project
The populations of the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) in Germany in general and in Bielefeld in particular are in immediate danger!
The deadly skin fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), habitat destruction and climate change threaten the iconic black and yellow amphibian. Salamander plague poses major challenges for species conservation. According to current knowledge, infected salamanders die unless they are treated. Unfortunately, the fungus can be transmitted not only from salamander to salamander, but also via soil, water, living and dead plants, and other amphibians. Not only the salamander plague but also the extreme weather conditions caused by humans as a result of climate change are further exacerbating the already difficult living conditions for fire salamanders in Bielefeld. Spawning waters are being flooded by heavy rainfall or drying up more and more often during heat waves. For example, the Twellbach stream in Dornberg dried up completely in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2025, preventing the population from regenerating during those years. Overall, the situation for fire salamanders is extremely precarious.
That is why I founded in 2018 a project at the Gymnasium am Waldhof to establish a preventive conservation breeding program for fire salamanders, which is primarily aimed at educating students and informing them about the endangered status of this species. This project is scientifically supported by Citizen Conservation as part of a Germany-wide network.
To this end, I converted two light wells in the basement of the GaW into terrariums for fire salamanders. The real estate company of the city of Bielefeld (ISB), the German Society for Herpetology and Terrarium Science (DGHT), and the HIT Umweltstiftung supported, financed, and made possible the necessary conversion of the window. Large-format interactive posters on the walls to the right and left of the display terrarium provide information about the fire salamander as a species and the threat posed by Bsal. Here, students can find short texts with information on the topic and QR codes that can be scanned with a cell phone to access videos and websites, e.g., from the DGHT or Citizen Conservation. This allows interested students to learn about the topic independently and interactively during breaks or free periods. Due to its permanent accessibility, the terrarium serves an even more important purpose by presenting the animals and raising awareness and providing information about the serious threat to fire salamanders to everyone who passes by. And in a school with almost 1,000 participants, the reach is immense…
Information about the fire salamander and the current threat situation, as well as protective measures, can be found at feuersalamander.net.
psgehring.com 