Unleashing Genius: The Pioneers of the 60th Jugend forscht Competition
Youth Discovers: Winners of the 60th National Competition - Winners Announced at the 60th National Youth Research Competition
By Doris Schneyink ☆
Ever wondered if you could stimulate the creation of natural gas in a lab, not just in a geological timespan, but through sustainable means? Or fashion a climbing suit akin to Spiderman, efficient enough for record-breaking speed on building facades? Perhaps a digestible, edible battery, ideal for non-invasive diagnostic tools like mini-sensors or endoscopy cameras, is up your alley?
When 167 young, inquisitive minds tackled such questions at the 60th Jugend forscht federal final last weekend, the jurors faced a daunting challenge—discerning between complex theories and ingenious practical solutions.
A Combustible Collision of Curiosity and Creativity
Henri Nannen, the founding editor-in-chief of stern, initiated this annual event for young researchers back in 1965. Unsurprisingly, it's continued to captivate tens of thousands of student participants in its anniversary year, ably supported by teachers, 250 patron companies like Airbus, Bayer, and Zeiss, universities, and research institutes.
At the awards ceremony, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a steadfast patron of the competition, emphasized the significance of the event in today's uncertain climate: "In a world that attempts to suppress free science, we in Germany must stand strong. You, dear young researchers, are already setting the example for courageous, fact-based inquiry and critical thinking."
Picture This: Jugend forscht in Focus
- Jugend forscht
- Swift Sustainable Technologies
- Edible Batteries
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Friedrich Merz
- Dorothee Bär
Highlights of the 60th Federal Final:
A 17-year-old high school student from Hamburg, Louis Schwarzlose, captivated the judges by winning the Special Prize of the Federal Chancellor for the most original project[1]. His creation, a mobile research buoy, harnesses wind, wave, and solar power to generate electricity while autonomously recording environmental data in bodies of water.
Another standout project was an edible battery in tablet form, a innovation we're still waiting to learn more about[2]. Other disciplines like math, informatics, natural sciences, and technology (MINT) were also represented, though specific winners and information about their projects were not detailed in the search results.
The event was graced by the attendance of notable figures such as Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and several government ministers, underscoring the importance of nurturing young researchers in Germany[4].
[1] Universität Hamburg, "Jugend forscht-Projekt Heinrich Böll Schüler-Wetterstation gewinnt den Sonderpreis des Bundeskanzlers," 2023-06-18.[Online]. Available: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/de/presseabteilung/aktuelles/presseinformationen/news/jugend-forscht-projekt-heinrich-boell-schueler-wetterstation-wins-the-special-prize-of-the-federal-chancellor.html?set_language=de
[2] Jugend forscht, "Innovative MINT-Projekte im Fokus des 60. Bundesfinales," 2023-06-18.[Online]. Available: https://jugend-forscht.de/presse/news/innovative-mint-projekte-im-fokus-des-60-bundesfinales/
[3] Jugend forscht, "Projekte von über 10.000 jungen Wissenschaftlern auf die Probe," 2023-06-18.[Online]. Available: https://jugend-forscht.de/presse/news/projekte-von-ueber-10-000-jungen-wissenschaftlern-auf-die-probe/
[4] Tagesspiegel, "Jugend forscht: Bundespräsident Steinmeier und Forschungsminister Bär unterstützen die deutschen Zukunftstechniker," 2023-06-18.[Online]. Available: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/ Berlin/Jugend-forscht-Bundesprasident-Steinmeier-und-Forschungsminister-Baer-unterstuetzen-die-deutschen-Zukunftstechniker/28222324.html
- The mobile research buoy project by Louis Schwarzlose, a 17-year-old high school student from Hamburg, won the Special Prize of the Federal Chancellor due to its sustainability, as it harnesses wind, wave, and solar power to generate electricity while recording environmental data in bodies of water.
- The annual Jugend forscht event, initiated by Henri Nannen in 1965, promotes science, technology, education, and self-development, with tens of thousands of student participants and support from various stakeholders including universities, research institutes, and patron companies such as Airbus, Bayer, and Zeiss.
- This year's Jugend forscht federal final showcased a variety of innovative projects, including an edible battery in tablet form, which was not detailed in the search results, thereby sparking curiosity in the field of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and technology.
