Successful BTU debut in the Jugend forscht family

Eight outstanding projects qualified for the state competition Jugend forscht, which will take place on 26 March at Emil-Fischer-Gymnasium Schwarzheide.

The young people presented their research results in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science as well as Technology at the Konrad Zuse Media Centre on the university campus in Senftenberg. The participants came from ten secondary schools from Senftenberg, Schwarzheide, Elsterwerda and Cottbus to Beeskow, Frankfurt (Oder) and Potsdam. With their exciting and practice-oriented current topics, they explored, for example, the influence of pesticides and fungicides on the growth of crops, the decomposition of plastic in water or applications of artificial intelligence as well as the possibility of developing a practical everyday device for blind people to orientate themselves based on research into the echolocation of bats. They also made structural change tangible with their Lusatia energy system model.

Prof. Dr Peer Schmidt, Vice-President for Academic Affairs at BTU, welcomed numerous interested visitors, including the Mayor of Senftenberg, Andreas Pfeiffer, and led them on a tour of the young researchers' stands. He also presented future-oriented projects from the university's Centre for Student Acquisition and Study Preparation (College), such as the new VR lab.

"Welcome to the Jugend forscht family," said Christine Stahlschmidt, Network Coordinator of the Hamburg-based Jugend forscht e.V. foundation , and presented Prof. Dr Peer Schmidt with the Jugend forscht plaque for BTU as part of the award ceremony for the new regional competition. "It was a very nice competition. I was able to experience very approachable people here, a very well-organised team and great premises. I'm looking forward to the future with the BTU alongside Jugend forscht."

Patricia Reich, State Commissioner for Student Competitions at the Brandenburg Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MBJS), emphasised: "Jugend forscht offers excellent opportunities to introduce students to science and research at an early age. We are very grateful to the BTU for joining us as a partner company. This is very valuable for the competition and the participants and a win-win situation all round."

There was also praise from Christian Theuner, head of the state competition Jugend forscht and head of the Mathematics department at Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium Cottbus: "The fact that we were able to win BTU as a partner for the new regional competition is wonderful. It is particularly important for us to work together with the BTU at this level and to tackle the promotion of young talent together."

Michael Schulz, head of theBrandenburg South regional competition of Jugend forscht, teacher of Mathematics and Computer Science at Emil Fischer Gymnasium Schwarzheide and Computer Science graduate of BTU in Senftenberg, was able to draw an extremely positive conclusion. I would like to thank the BTU for what they have achieved here in recent weeks and months, and especially Ms Erdmann and her team from the college," he emphasised, also highlighting the support of Jugend forscht, the great commitment of the competition jury, the schools and the talent promotion there.

The regional victories went to the following projects and participants:

Biology

- Influence of pesticides and fungicides on the growth of crops by Jasmina Lang, Einstein-Gymnasium Neuenhagen

- Relationships between horse husbandry and the soil composition of meadows by Mathilda Elisa Pietsch, Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium Cottbus

Chemistry

- Investigation of the decomposition of plastic in water by Jonas Grafe and Timo Röpke, Elsterschloss-Gymnasium Elsterwerda

- Solvent influence on the synthesis success of an OLED polymer by Tobias Schröder, Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Gymnasium, Frankfurt (Oder)

Mathematics/Computer Science

- Jacob - the AI in easy language by Magnus Schlinsog, Humboldt-Gymnasium Potsdam
This project was also honoured with the special prize of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

Physics

- Bounce behaviour and elasticity coefficient of a football by Raphael Szerement, Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium Cottbus

Technology

- Energy system model Lusatia - making structural change tangible by Tim Roeschke and Tim Guss, Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium Cottbus

- Feel like a bat (development of a device for the orientation of blind people based on investigations into the echolocation of bats) by Lisa Nitschke, Friedrich-Engels-Gymnasium Senftenberg

The following regional special prizes were awarded:

- "Laser meets X-ray" from the Chair of Joining and Welding Technology at BTU

(two-day research internship at BTU, modern Manufacturing Engineering and innovative material testing)
Energy system model Lusatia - making structural change tangible by Tim Roeschke and Tim Guss,Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium Cottbus

Special prize from Sparkasse Elbe-Elster

Reflection and refraction of electromagnetic waves by Jannik Heyde, Elsterschloss-Gymnasium Elsterwerda

Special Environmental Prize of the Institute for Environmental Technology and Recycling Senftenberg e.V.

Investigation of the decomposition of plastic in water by Jonas Grafe and Timo Röpke, Elsterschloss-Gymnasium Elsterwerda

Special prize from GA Generic Assays

(one-day research internship)
Chitosan - the miracle cure for mould? by Hanna Jergler, Miriam Forbrich and Malena Geißler, Emil-Fischer-Gymnasium im SeeCampus

The following schools took part in the regional Jugend forscht competition:

Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Gymnasium Frankfurt (Oder)
Einstein-Gymnasium Neuenhagen
Elsterschloss-Gymnasium Elsterwerda
Emil-Fischer-Gymnasium im SeeCampus Schwarzheide
Friedrich-Engels-Gymnasium Senftenberg
Humboldt-Gymnasium Potsdam
Marie-Curie-Gymnasium Ludwigsfelde
Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium Cottbus
Paulus-Praetorius-Gymnasium Bernau
Rouanet-Gymnasium Beeskow

About Jugend forscht

The Jugend forscht competition is Germany's best-known competition for school pupils and young people in the seven fields of Mathematics/Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, Working Environment and Technology. The organiser of the annual national competition is the Hamburg-based Jugend forscht e.V. foundation. The competition takes place on three levels: regional competitions, at least one state competition and the best projects are presented at the national competition. The patron of the competition is the Federal President. A board of trustees, whose board chairperson is the Federal Minister of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, heads the Jugend forscht e. V. foundation.
The competitions are organised by sponsoring companies from various sectors.

The Jugend forscht Regional Competition Brandenburg South was supported by:

Kjellberg-Stiftung
Förderverein der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg e.V.
REWE Markt Kerstin Radke oHG / REWE Markt Jan Radke oHG
ZEDAS GmbH
GA Generic Assays GmbH

Contact us

Regional competition Jugend forscht for Brandenburg South
at the BTU in Senftenberg

Youth researches competition management
Michael Schulz
Tel.: 01522 2620029