Young Germans Engage in Research

Enlarge image Two pupils from Darmstadt studied the effects of green tea and rose hip tea substances on herpes virus (© picture alliance / dpa) Forty-five years ago, young Germans were invited to participate in a research competition under the motto “We’re Looking for the Researchers of Tomorrow!” – marking the birth of the Young Researchers competition. The aim of the contest is to arouse young Germans’ enthusiasm for science and research and to promote the up-and-coming young scientists and researchers who are so essential to Germany’s future. Young Researchers is now considered Europe’s biggest young talent contest in the categories the working world, biology, chemistry, geo- and space sciences, mathematics/computer science, physics and engineering.

More than 10,000 young people took part in this year’s nationwide Young Researchers competition. A hundred and seven of their projects, in which a total of 179 young people were involved, made it to the national finals. Ten projects eventually received awards from Federal Research Minister Annette Schavan.

The competition is open to pupils of schools in Germany and German schools abroad, provided they have a good command of German (for more information on competition entry rules, follow the link below to the “Jugend forscht” website). Contestants are initially required to submit a written exposé of their project. The competition proper is then held on three levels: first, the young innovators take part in one of the regional contests; then, the winners compete at federal state level; finally, the best minds are invited to participate in the national finals. Enlarge image Young Researchers 2010 (© picture alliance / dpa)

Originally conceived by the magazine “stern”, the competition is now organized by the “Stiftung Jugend forscht e.V.” (Young Researchers Foundation) in Hamburg, in cooperation with the German Federal Government, “stern”, German companies and schools. The “Stiftung Jugend forscht” is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the competition is held under the patronage of the Federal President.

The winners of the Young Researchers competition receive attractive cash and non-cash prizes. But the young researchers probably benefit much more from the experience they gain in project work, from the media competence they acquire and from what is mostly their first contact with top-flight research. For many of the young researchers, competing in the contest is the springboard to a successful scientific career, as evidenced by the fact that many contestants go on to become science students.

© Auswärtiges Amt