What happens when children and young people don’t just observe, but actually participate in the research—and help make decisions? Gabriela Gan and Adis Serifović from the LBG OIS Center experienced this firsthand on April 13, 2026, while working with the Children and Youth Advisory Board of the TU Transformer project.

The Youth Advisory Board has a clearly defined advisory role: the children and young people provide feedback to the researchers on what should be changed in the Transformer, what could be improved, and how the space could be used differently. The process is methodologically guided and supported by the LBG OIS Center.

The focus of the current round was a co–creation process that views young people not as a target group, but as active co–creators. Participants had the opportunity to experiment, try things out, and ask their own questions about science and technology. A special focus was placed on working with artificial intelligence: The children tested AI tools and reflected together on what this technology can do—and what it cannot do.

The TU Transformer sees itself as a space for learning and experimentation where children and young people can discover their own strengths and understand science as something accessible and malleable. The Youth Advisory Board is more than just a participatory format—it is a model of what science communication can look like when it takes participation seriously.