Project School*Vape*Science: Combining Student-Led Research and E-Cigarette Prevention in Secondary Education

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are increasingly used by adolescents and represent a growing public health concern. In Germany, school-based nicotine prevention programs focusing on ENDS are rare. The prevention project School*Vape*Science was developed to integrate science education, health literacy, and participatory research in order to engage students in critically examining e-cigarette-related risks. This paper describes the implementation and initial acceptability of a participatory, science-based school program addressing ENDs use. The project comprised a six-week elective course and 90-minute educational sessions targeting students in grades 5-12 (11-19 years). The elective course introduced scientific methodology and facilitated student-led investigations of ENDS, including survey development and physiological data collection using medical devices, followed by discussion and presentation of results. Program evaluation was conducted using standardized digital questionnaires. In 2024, the program was implemented in three secondary schools in northern Germany. The six-week curriculum and associated 90-minute sessions were conducted within regular school structures. A total of 47 students participated in the six-week project groups, and 977 students attended the school-wide sessions. Evaluation data from 38 students of the project groups showed a mean enjoyment score of 7.08 (SD = 2.29) on a 10-point scale. Most respondents rated the course structure as logically coherent. The findings demonstrate that the School*Vape*Science program can be implemented within regular secondary school settings and is generally accepted by participating students. This participatory approach may serve as a scalable model for regional and longitudinal nicotine-prevention initiatives. Further research using controlled and longitudinal designs is required to assess potential effects on knowledge, risk perception, and ENDS-related behavior.