Background of the project: In 2006 the Beegroup led by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Trautz initiated the project Honey Bee Online Studies (HOBOS) at the University of Würzburg. A hightech beehive equipped with numerous measuring and observation instruments collects data about the behaviour of bees and their environment. The project is based on the idea of a virtual teaching and learning platform: On the website www.hobos.de interested visitors – pupils, scientists and apiarists alike – can study bees by exploring the hive at the University of Würzburg via webcam. Studying the behaviour of bees also provides insights into physics, chemistry and even mathematics. Project objectives: With the help of the University of Würzburg, a company run by pupils develops and builds simplified observation stations (HOBeebox) and distributes them in Europe. Partner schools and other institutions use the HOBeebox to collect data that is networked to HOBOS at the university. Institutions of teacher training will use the data to develop, test and evaluate skills- and practice-oriented STEM lesson plans in German and English. The partner schools will then translate these lesson plans and tailor them to the educational needs of their respective countries. Using eTwinning, pupils will communicate about their findings free of charge and without barriers. In doing so they will get to know different environments, use foreign languages and reduce national stereotypes. The know-how gained in the project will be employed in the education and training of teachers. Number and profile of potential participants: This strategic partnership will be coordinated by europafels, an institution that successfully connects educational institutions in many European countries and trains teachers. In addition to the University of Würzburg and a Bavarian seminar that develops high quality HOBOS lesson plans, innovative schools in seven European countries take part in the project. They are renowned educational institutions in their respective regions and experienced in opening the school to the outside world. They ensure a competent integration of the HOBOS lesson plans into the national education systems. Based on a network of twenty European countries, Science on Stage Europe contributes significantly to the spread of the project among innovative teachers of the STEM subjects. Implementation of the project: The HOBeeboxes will be installed, populated with bees and operated. The data obtained regarding the behaviour of the bees and the environment will be placed on the HOBOS server. The lesson plans are made accessible on the HOBOS homepage free of charge to all users worldwide. The project partners disseminate the project idea as well as the project results in various ways. Information about the HOBeeBox is freely accessible, too. After completion of the project, the distribution of the HOBeebox will be continued. Intended results and long-term benefits: The project combines real observation of nature with the potentials of both electronic data processing and communication. The construction and operation of the HOBeebox promote manual and organisational skills as well as the pupils’ sense of responsibility. The complexity of the data obtained requires interdisciplinary evaluation and consequently the understanding of holistic scientific thinking. The network of educational institutions in Europe creates opportunities for communication. The access to an institution basically serving science builds bridges between school and science. Pupils from underprivileged educational backgrounds will be acquainted with scientific procedures and their inhibitions towards pursuing a career in the field of the STEM subjects will be reduced. Exchanging information about the features of the different natural landscapes and the distinct behavioural patterns of the bees as a consequence of the various living conditions in Europe as well as the necessity of using foreign languages improve the pupils’ intercultural competencies. Via eTwinning socially disadvantaged pupils are also able to participate in the international exchange of information and thus have access to intercultural experiences. The vividness and practical relevance of the lesson plans and material motivates pupils with learning difficulties and provides disabled pupils with barrier-free access to nature observation. The project has already had a successful preliminary phase for several years now and aims at sustainability by further developing HOBOS.