Awards ceremony in the 60th national "Jugend forscht" competition
More than 10,000 young people took part in the 60th "Jugend forscht" competition. In the presence of Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bär and Federal Minister of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Karin Prien, Germany's best STEM mathematics, IT, science and technology talents were honoured.
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Honoured: Award winner Louis Schwarzlose with Federal Minister of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Karin Prien and presenter Ralph Caspers
Photo: Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V.
"We are looking for the researchers of tomorrow!" Thus began the history of "Jugend forscht" 60 years ago, when Stern Magazine editor-in-chief Henri Nannen called for the first iteration of the competition. Since then, more than 340,000 children and young people have taken part in it. Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, this well-known competition for young talent has lost none of its relevance: Then as now, and in light of current societal challenges, Germany has a vested interest in promoting special accomplishments and talents in science, technology, engineeringand mathematics(STEM).
Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bär highlighted, in particular, the positive atmosphere throughout the event. She thanked all young researchers in that spirit, noting "we can once again be an optimistic, positive, fantastic country". Federal Minister of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Minister Karin Prien also emphasised this aspect: "Research is learning that is fun, arouses curiosity and is learning for the future". This is why "Jugend forscht" is so important and "a powerful symbol for the freedom of science and research in Germany."
Federal Chancellor's Prize for the "most original project"
The winners of the 60th "Jugend forscht" competition were announced at this year's "summit" of Germany's best young researchers in Hamburg. Among them is 17-year-old Louis Schwarzlose from Hamburg. The high school student built a mobile research buoy to record environmental data in bodies of water. It drives autonomously and generates its electricity from wind and wave power, as well as solar energy. In future, this will allow sensors to be placed in hard-to-reach places on the water, providing important ecological information.
Mobile research buoy for recording environmental data: Louis Schwarzlose with his project
Photo: Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V
For his analysis and creativity, his "engineering-like" approach and the successful execution of his idea to respond to environmental damage, Louis Schwarzlose was awarded the "Special Prize of the Federal Chancellor for the most original project". The young researcher will soon be able to present his work in person to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. All other award winners are also invited to this festive reception, which traditionally takes place at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin.
The Federal Chancellor's Special Prize was first awarded in 1971. It shines a light on the great importance of promoting young researchers and the esteem in which this nationwide competition is held.
Under the motto "Turning questions into answers", 10,350 young researchers from all over Germany registered for this year's event. Around 40 per cent of the participants were girls, the second-highest rate in the history of "Jugend forscht". A total of 167 young people qualified for the national competition, which is both the final and the highlight in events at the regional and state level. The five best projects in each subject area are recognised with cash and non-cash prizes such as research internships and scholarships.
Beaming winners of the national competition on stage: More than 10,000 young people registered.
Photo: BMFTR/Hans-Joachim Rickel
Germany's best STEM – the national winners
Vincent Engelbrecht (19) from Bavaria programmed special software that can be used to visualise and manage all central processes in zoo management in an app. The management platform reduces administrative burdens and improves the quality of life of the animals.
Misha Hegde (15) and Mia Maurer (15) from Hesse found a special bacteriophage (viruses that only infect bacteria) that can be used to combat the bacterium "rhizobium rhizogenes", which attacks plants, in an environmentally friendly way. Their approach replaces antibiotics and could be used in future for organic pest control in agriculture.
Elisabeth Fischermann (17) and Tom Kreßbach (17) from Bavaria developed an edible battery in tablet form using non-toxic chemicals. Their battery does not need to be charged before use and can be used as a source of energy for medical imaging of the stomach and intestines in the future.
Sienna Drack (16) and Claire Dillmann (17) from Bavaria have launched a "Citizen Science Project". It allows individuals with mobile phone cameras to photograph the reflection of earthlight on the surface of the moon. Based on the data obtained this way, it is possible to gain new insights into the development of vegetation on Earth and to drive improvements based on them.
Simon Neuenhausen (17) from North Rhine-Westphalia developed an independent, freely accessible WLAN function for a widely-available, low-cost minicomputer. This means that the built-in chip can be used to set up networks, test new applications or detect security vulnerabilities. The software renders expensive, specialised equipment superfluous.
Johanna Freya Pluschke (18) from Lower Saxony programmed software that can be used to simulate the central processes of ion thrusters, which also electrically power spacecraft. Among other things, the software can be used to simulate how the gas that provides the thrust is ionised or electrically charged.
Jonathan Baschek (16) from Rhineland-Palatinate developed low-cost augmented reality glasses. The central element is a microchip that communicates via several sensors. The optics of the glasses are designed so that a small image appears in each eye, like a head-up display. The researcher also wrote software that can be used to control the glasses. The software could serve as a digital assistant or translation aid, for example.
Prizes from the Federal President and the Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space
As the patron of "Jugend forscht", Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier donates the prize for "exceptional work" every year. This year it went to Oskar Rost (17) and Marius Strauß (18) from Jena. The two students developed AI-based software that automates error detection, point deductions and grade suggestions in exams. The user-friendly application can be seamlessly integrated into everyday school life and takes the pressure off teachers.
The Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space also honoured the young researchers with the award for "best interdisciplinary work": David Rutkevich (20) from Berlin developed a computer-aided process that can be used to supplement incomplete image information from MRI or X-ray images. Its AI model does not require any additional, fully trained auxiliary models and can be flexibly integrated into existing systems. According to experts, this procedure exceeds the state of current research.
The 61st round of the competition will be launched on 1 July 2025. Young people can apply with their projects through 30 November 2025: Jugend forscht