Research, Innovation, Patient care, Education / 03.03.2025
“Jugend forscht” at Campus Berlin-Buch

From better 3D printers for biological structures to soil remediation with microorganisms – in the 60th round of “Jugend forscht,” regional students presented their exciting research projects on the Berlin-Buch campus.

“Turn questions into answers” – this challenge inspired many Berlin students to once again participate in the nationwide “Jugend forscht” and “Jugend forscht Junior” competitions. At sponsor institution Campus Berlin-Buch, 37 projects from a total of 84 were on display. On February 26, young researchers presented their projects to the jury and to the public. Participants also had the chance to visit laboratories at the Max Delbrück Center, the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, and the biotech company FyoniBio. Additionally, they conducted hands-on experiments in two workshops at the Gläsernes Labor student lab.

Students aged 10 to 18 participated in the competition, exploring a wide range of exciting and practical research questions such as: How can AI and stenography improve keyboards, whether bacteria or fungi can help clean copper-contaminated soil, and how to build an affordable 3D printer for research projects involving cell structure. Other topics included developing an environmentally friendly alternative to glow sticks, finding solutions to remove pollutants and plastic from plants, testing coffee grounds as a substitute for traditional fertilizers, and analyzing how slime molds react to heat. Former national Jugend forscht winner Alois Bachmann competed again in the Mathematics/Informatics category with his project “The next GENErAltion – deciphering transcription factors with AI.” And Amelie Stadermann once again won a regional victory in biology in the Jugend forscht category — she won an award last year in the Junior category.

At the award ceremony, Kirstin Bodensieck, acting Administrative Director of the Max Delbrück Center, welcomed the participants: “You have set out to find answers to research questions that are important to society — whether in biology, technology, or sustainability. Each project and your dedication to science are remarkable and have helped make our world a little more understandable. Just like the scientists on our campus who tackle urgent health questions to better understand and treat diseases.”

Bodensieck encouraged the young researchers to stay curious: “Why not pursue a career in science one day? Feel free to reach out to us, take a look at the everyday life of researchers, and seize the opportunity for a future as a scientist.”

Award ceremony and special prizes

The jury awarded nine first-place prizes – seven in the Jugend forscht category and two in the Jugend forscht Junior category. The winners will have the opportunity to advance to the state competition held at the Technical University of Berlin.

In addition to first through third place prize winners, special awards recognized achievements in areas such as Resource Efficiency, Environmental Technology, and Renewable Raw Materials. Some winners received exclusive invitations to visit the Berlin-Buch campus, the Free University campus, or the DESY research laboratory.

The three outstanding projects that won the special prize are:

• Biology: “Substrates in NFT Aquaponics – A Comparative Study” by Jan Brüggemann, Luca Wroblewski, and Hannes Schweizer (Martin-Buber-Oberschule)
• Mathematics/Informatics: “Can synthetically generated training data improve AI object recognition models?” by Tom Smee (Nelson-Mandela-Schule)
• Technology: “A low-cost bioprinter for printing structures from biocompatible materials” by Rufus Dreger (John-Lennon-Gymnasium)

Additionally, Campus Berlin-Buch GmbH awarded a special prize for outstanding commitment in the Jugend forscht category to project mentor Sascha Werner from Kurt-Tucholsky-Oberschule.

“We are always impressed by the dedication students bring to their projects. Jugend forscht inspires young people to engage with STEM subjects, learn scientific methods, and to fiddle with and to stick to scientific research,” says Dr. Ulrich Scheller. “A big thank you also goes to our volunteer jury, whose members provided valuable motivation and guidance for the young researchers.”

We congratulate the winners of the regional competition at Campus Berlin-Buch!

Workplace

Vibbodh Somani, Yamahn Tanjour, Sarah Ali
Nelson-Mandela-Schule
“Creating More Efficient Keyboards with AI and Stenography”

Best Interdisciplinary Project (Workplace)

Youanna Banjamin, Johann Bredemeyer, Paul Bierbüße
Heinrich-Hertz-Gymnasium
“Device for Assessing Motor Conditions Using Artificial Intelligence”

Biology

Lilja Gemballa, Liese Kalklösch, Frederik Maass
Rückert-Gymnasium
“Nurturing Coffee”

Amelie Stadermann, Cosima Tödt
Europäisches Gymnasium Bertha-von-Suttner
“Physiological Stress Memory? The Slime Mold During and After Temperature Stress”

Leo Heinkelmann, Ella Bahat Treidel, Kjell Wenzel (Jugend forscht junior)
Martin-Buber-Oberschule
“Bacteria vs. Fungi – Comparing Microorganisms for Copper-Contaminated Soil Remediation”

Chemistry

Josephine Kosin, Stella Maria Blöbaum, Frederik Bär
Lessing-Gymnasium
“NatürLICHT – The Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Glow Sticks”

Tim Gies, Emilia Schröter, Theodor Rauschning (Jugend forscht junior)
Grundschule am Tegelschen Ort
“Cola against Rust – Does the Type of Soda Make a Difference?”

Mathematics/Informatics

Tom Smee
Nelson-Mandela-Schule
“Can Synthetically Generated Training Data Improve AI Object Recognition Models?”

Victor Güsmar
Heinrich-Hertz-Gymnasium
“Angles of View in the Plane”

Physics

Vibbodh Somani, Bhuvana Reddi, Kerem Semiz
Nelson-Mandela-Schule
“Acceleration of Water Rockets”

Further information

• Jugend Forscht
• Jugend Forscht at Max Delbrück Center (2024)
• Jugend Forscht 2023 at the Berlin-Buch Campus