Unleashing Genius: The Star-Studded 60th Federal Final of Jugend forscht
Sixtieth National Competition of Young Scientists in Germany - Winners Announced for the 60th National Youth Research Competition
Pen by Doris Schneyink
curiosity burns brightest in the young! Shall we crack the code on nature's time-tested, million-year-old secret of generating natural gas? Ever dreamt of donning a suit that lets you scale walls like Spider-Man, speed-racing style? What about crafting an edible battery for the non-invasive diagnostic market - envision a mini-sensor or camera in a capsule for endoscopies, powered by a digestible battery? These were the tantalizing questions that set the stage for the 167 participants competing in seven disciplines at the 60th federal final of Jugend forscht last weekend. The jury scrambled to pick winners from the sea of intellect - torn between complex theories and ingenious, practical solutions.
The Grandstanding of our Future Researchers
When Henri Nannen, the trailblazing editor-in-chief of stern, conjured up this competition for young researchers back in 1965, nobody could predict its reach. Fast forward to the anniversary year - over 10,000 students participated, backed by tens of thousands of teachers and numerous patrons such as Airbus, Bayer, Zeiss, universities, and research institutes.
"Jugend forscht embodies something crucial that our society cannot afford to lose, something we truly need: the audacity to tackle questions and problems objectively using reason and evidence-based science," said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the ceremony. He also denounced the "assault on free science" in the U.S., reiterating the need for resistance in Germany. "You, courageous young researchers, are already taking a stand, and I salute you for that," the Head of State, who is traditionally the competition's patron, said.
Collections from this Gala
- Jugend forscht
- Louis Schwarzlose's Footsteps
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- The Science Whiz Kids
- The Minister's Squad
Behind the Scenes:
- Louis Schwarzlose, a prodigy hailing from Hamburg, bagged the Federal Chancellor's Special Prize for the most innovative project. He engineered a self-propelled research buoy that harnesses wind, wave, and solar power to collect environmental data in remote aquatic areas[1].
- During the event, Germany's brightest minds were celebrated in Mathematics, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Technology (MINT). The ceremony was graced by influential figures, including Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and various government ministers[4].
For an exhaustive list of winners, check the official Jugend forscht website or consult detailed reports from the event.
- The community policy of the Jugend forscht competition emphasizes the importance of objective inquiry and evidence-based science, as reflected in the winning project of Louis Schwarzlose, who developed a self-propelled research buoy for fisheries environmental data collection.
- As the competition progresses, participants demonstrate their commitment to health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, technology, and education-and-self-development, as evident in the diverse disciplines and innovative projects presented.
- In the spirit of learning and scientific advancement, the Jugend forscht competition collaborates with various institutions, including universities, research institutes, and companies in the fields of science, health, and technology, fostering a strong foundation for future collaborations and groundbreaking discoveries.
