Research, Innovation, Patient care, Education / 21.12.2020
Calling all young STEM talent

The 57th edition of the “Jugend forscht” competition will soon kick off under the theme “Lass Zukunft da.” The MDC is once again co-sponsoring the search for tomorrow’s scientists – this year to be held fully virtual. The young researchers apparently don’t mind the new format: almost 9,000 children and young people have signed up for the competition so far.

During extraordinary times like this pandemic, it is particularly important to promote young talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through special initiatives. The Germany-wide young researcher competition “Jugend forscht” is therefore going virtual this year, with the regional round starting in February.

For the first time, Buch campus is one of the three locations in Berlin. The competition’s sponsors include the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Campus Berlin-Buch GmbH and – as an associate sponsor – the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

“Let there be a future”

Despite facing difficult circumstances at school and in their free time, almost 9,000 children and young people have signed up and submitted a project idea. This year, they will present their research projects under the theme “Lass Zukunft da” (Let there be a future) at over 120 competitions across Germany.

A total of 64 projects by schoolchildren and students between the ages of 10 and 21 will compete in the regional round hosted by the Buch campus. The sponsoring institutions are in charge of organizing a program for the regional rounds – from the introductory event to the presentations and their evaluation by the jury to the award ceremony.

“As a science and biotech campus, we’re excited about being able to support the ‘Jugend forscht’ competition,” says Dr. Ulrich Scheller, managing director of Campus Berlin-Buch GmbH. “Promoting young talent in the STEM fields is one of our key aims, which we also pursue through other activities such as the Life Science Learning Lab (Gläsernes Labor) for schoolchildren.”

About the competition
“Jugend forscht” is Germany’s biggest and best-known competition for the next generation of researchers. It is a joint initiative of the federal government, the magazine Stern, the business and scientific communities, and schools. The aim is to support talented achievers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Young researchers compete each year in seven subject areas. Gifted children up to the age of 14 can take part in the junior segment “Schüler experimentieren,” while “Jugend forscht” is open to young people from the age of 15 onwards. The non-profit association Stiftung Jugend forscht e.V. organizes the competition. (https://www.jugend-forscht.de/information-in-english.html)

Further information

• “Research can be addictive”