News › Youth research 2023: Regional winners have been selected
150 students win first places in the seven regional competitions in Thuringia – STIFT invites to regional winner coaching on March 10, 2023 – state competition in Jena on March 31, 2023
The winners of the regional competitions of »Jugend forscht«, Germany’s best-known competition for young researchers, in Thuringia have been determined: The 150 students have qualified for the state finals, which will take place in Jena on March 31, 2023.
A total of 608 young researchers with 274 projects registered for the competition in Thuringia in 2023. 316 students from 4th grade to 14 years of age competed in the »Schüler experimentieren« category, and 292 15- to 21-year-olds in the »Jugend forscht« category. In the seven regional competitions in Jena, Central, North-East, South-East, South-West and West Thuringia, they presented their work in the fields of work, biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, mathematics/computer science, physics and technology to a jury of educators, practical experts and scientists under this year’s motto »Make ideas big!
70 girls and 80 boys are now among the first-place winners with 71 projects. Among them are Casey Engelbrecht (12) and Enes Culov (12) from Johann-Heinrich Pestalozzi High School in Stadtroda. They investigated which factors, such as different types of soil or different locations, favor the growth of oak trees. Sophie Grützmacher (18) was able to determine in her project work at the Goetheschule Ilmenau that 3D cell cultures could be an alternative to animal experiments. For this, the students received a place in the state finals.
Dr. Sven Günther, Chairman of the Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research Thuringia (STIFT), congratulated the young researchers: »We are delighted with the diversity and depth of the winning research projects and look forward to welcoming the winners together with Jenoptik AG as patrons at the Thuringian state finals in the Volkshaus in Jena.«
Beforehand, STIFT invites all »Jugend forscht« state finalists to a one-day regional winner coaching session: On March 10, 2023, it will offer them the opportunity to optimize their project-related posters, stands and presentations with the support of research mentors in the student research centers of the respective regions in order to prepare them in the best possible way for the next round.
The winners of the state competition will qualify in the »Jugend forscht« category for the 58th national competition in Bremen from May 18 to 21, 2023. Dr. Günther expressed special thanks to the teachers who accompanied the projects of the young researchers: »They accompanied the students and encouraged them to keep at it, even in the event of setbacks. With their commitment, they make a significant contribution to awakening an interest in mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology (MINT) among children in the Thuringian regions at an early age, and to promoting talents and maintaining and developing them throughout the entire educational path.«
The STIFT board was particularly taken with the fact that the quota of girls in Thuringia was at a high level of almost 50% and even represented a top value on the national average. »The competition obviously motivates people to get enthusiastic about STEM subjects and forms a very good basis for supporting young people,« said Dr. Günther.
More information about the competition is available at www.jugend-forscht.de and www.jungforscher-thueringen.de.
All important figures and data on the 58th round of the Jugend forscht competition can be found at www.jugend-forscht.de/wettbewerbe/regionallandeswettbewerbe/statistiken-2023.html.