Further information
Statistics 2024: https://www.jugend-forscht.de/uploads/media/Anmeldestatistik_Jugend_forscht_2024.pdf
NEWS |
According to the competition director Jochen Meyer, discipline, inventiveness, and perseverance, even during times when progress is slow, are the prerequisites for performing well in Jugend forscht. Nationwide, 10,492 teams submitted their projects in the 59th round of Youth Research and Schüler Experimentieren, with 1,652 coming from Bavaria. Of the 63 teams in the Munich West region, 11 projects have made it to the state finals.
Overview of the winners:
Workplace
Anna Klymenko (17) and Helena Link (16) from Graf-Rasso-Gymnasium Fürstenfeldbruck
Sustainable utilization of eggshells as a paper substitute
The project deals with the sustainable utilization of discarded eggshells as a paper substitute. After the shell is dissolved, the eggshell membrane is crushed and scooped like conventional paper fibers. Glycerin is added before drying to make the paper more elastic. Physical characteristics of regular paper were compared with ours to define properties and identify differences. Example experiments include determining the paper's whiteness using a spectrometer or measuring tear resistance using a Newton meter.
Additional prize: Special Prize Renewable Resources (€75, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Agency for Renewable Resources e. V.)
Biology
Wiebke Rauschenbach (17), Franz-Marc-Gymnasium, Markt Schwaben
Odor conditioning of honeybees
Honeybees are capable of remarkable olfactory feats. They recognize rewarding flowers and prefer them over flowers of other plant species. This project explores whether bees can learn and recognize odors, and whether learned odors play a role in foraging, contributing to floral constancy. Learning from stimuli is also referred to as conditioning. In this project, it is first demonstrated through a laboratory experiment that honeybees can be conditioned to eucalyptus scent. Subsequently, a field experiment shows that bees conditioned to eucalyptus scent prefer a simulated food source with this scent over other simulated food sources with different odors.
Chemistry
Clara Glatzl (17) and Oliver Barnutz (17) München Städtisches Elsa-Brändström-Gymnasium, Munich
The Maillard reaction for producing non-animal-derived meat flavor
The Maillard reaction is important for the formation of compounds responsible for the smell and taste of meat. The reaction mechanism and resulting products are very complex, making them difficult to identify and synthesize. Therefore, the Maillard reaction is conducted with defined non-animal-derived reactants to achieve a meat-like smell and taste. Various mixtures are first allowed to react on a test tube scale, and odor samples are taken. Promising formulations will be examined to determine whether they also have an aroma-promoting effect on meat substitutes in application.
Geo- and Space Sciences
Benedikt Drost (17) Neuried Feodor-Lynen-Gymnasium Planegg, Planegg
Cities of the future. Green roofs against the effects of climate change
Urban heat islands (UHI) describe the phenomenon of cities heating up compared to the surrounding area. This is associated with negative consequences for the quality of life and health of residents. Climate change will exacerbate this problem, so strategies need to be developed quickly to counteract UHIs. One space-saving measure is the installation of green roofs. The project consists of two main parts: 1) Using 1:30 scale house models and continuous electronic recording of temperature and humidity, the following effects of green roofs compared to dark or light roofs were investigated: - Cooling of the ambient temperature - Cooling of living spaces - Increase in the effectiveness of photovoltaic panels 2) For the residential area of Neuried, a green roof cadastre was created to identify roof areas suitable for greening, which can be accessed online.
Additional prize: Special Prize Energy Transition & Climate Protection (€75, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection)
Mathematics/Computer Science
Mauritz Orlinski (18), Technische Universität München, München
Battery-based route planning for UAVs in the mTSP through genetic algorithms
This work addresses the optimized solution of the mTSP (Multiple Traveling Salesman Problem) considering battery capacity, particularly in the context of route planning for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). Due to the enormous computational complexity of precise solution approaches, various heuristics and optimization methods are examined to efficiently tackle the mTSP. A genetic algorithm is thoroughly analyzed and used as an approach to address the problem in an optimized and timely manner. The results show that the genetic algorithm can achieve high-quality solutions superior to conventional greedy algorithms. However, the longer runtime of this method should be considered when choosing this approach. In addition, a mathematical construct has been developed to facilitate the battery-constrained route planning of UAVs in the mTSP.
Engineering
Philipp Lorff (17) Gröbenzell Gymnasium Gröbenzell, Gröbenzell
Development of a remote-controlled measuring boat
Due to climate change, conditions in our ecosystems are constantly changing. Monitoring small bodies of water such as lakes and rivers with existing technologies like buoys and satellite imagery is cumbersome, expensive, and often unsuitable. The solution is a self-designed remote-controlled measuring boat with sensors and GPS, capable of capturing climatic data at any point in a body of water. This simple and cost-effective solution for monitoring water conditions allows for a better understanding of our bodies of water and climate, enabling faster and more precise responses to ecological changes.
Biology
Simon Dilling (12) München Rupprecht-Gymnasium München, Munich
Plant growth with LEDs Student experiments, Biology
Which light colors do plants grow best with? The goal is to determine whether indoor plants are influenced by, for example, standing in a room with red lighting. Which light color do plants grow best with? Hypothesis: Plants with red color grow best because red is the complementary color of green. Two greenhouses were built from Tetra-Paks, each with three dark cabins in the lid containing a self-soldered circuit board with three LEDs, shining on cress. The growth in the cabins is compared to see which light color plants grow best with.
Geo- and Space Sciences
Viyona Singh (12) und Aarav Singh (12) München Gymnasium Gröbenzell, Gröbenzell
AI Smart Watering
One cause of increasing water scarcity on Earth is the wasteful irrigation of garden areas. Weather forecasts and regression models are incorporated to assess soil moisture. This allows for the calculation of the optimal watering amount. As a result, irrigation water can be saved, and plants do not wither. The collected and calculated data were integrated into an Android app and supplemented with water-saving tips.
Special Prize Resource Efficiency (€75, sponsor: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection)
Mathematics/Computer Science
Aarav Singh (12) und Viyona Singh (12) München Gymnasium Gröbenzell
aMAZE with a Robot Swarm
Mazes contain many challenging concepts, both from the mathematical and computer science fields. Due to their complex construction, mazes are difficult to solve. Swarm intelligence plays a crucial role in implementing maze generation and solution algorithms. Robots rely on cooperative action to collectively tackle complex tasks. This collective approach not only saves time but also conserves their battery capacity, which they consume during specific actions. They can recharge their energy reserves by locating a conveniently placed charging station in the maze. The astonishing results of numerous conducted experiments have been mathematically proven and systematically documented. Additionally, a model based on reinforcement learning has been developed to optimize time and battery consumption.
Physics
Feiya Li (13) und Chiara Haeuserer (14), Max-Planck-Gymnasium, Munich
Energy Conversion
During a falling motion, potential energy converts into kinetic energy. Upon impact, kinetic energy partially converts into thermal energy. We attempted to experimentally replicate these conversions as accurately as possible by measuring and deliberately changing various influencing factors during a falling motion.
Engineering
Lina Marie-Therese Klinger (12), Nymphenburger Gymnasium des Schulvereins Ernst Adam München e. V., Munich
#SustainableRoofChallenge: Antarctica on the Roof
How can we counteract anthropogenic global warming? A documentary inspired my idea: just because the poles are white, they reflect up to 90% of solar energy back into space. However, due to global warming, the area of the poles is decreasing; a vicious cycle begins. I searched for a way to stop or at least slow this down by finding another area that could be made white. Roof surfaces could offer themselves for this purpose: not only are there millions of them, but perhaps energy could even be saved. In the summer, wouldn't it be less unbearable in the house due to the use of the albedo effect (saving energy by cooling less)? And in winter, could black tiles attract warmth and thus reduce heating costs? To answer these questions, I built 6 small houses with different tiles. Two temperature sensors measured and provided data daily for half a year.
The state competition Jugend forscht will take place in April
For the winners of the Youth Research Regional Competition, it's now off to Vilsbiburg on April 10-12, 2024, for qualification for the nationwide final in Heilbronn (May 30 - June 2, 2024). The state competition for "Schüler Experimentieren" will take place on April 26th and 27th in Regensburg. There is no federal competition for them.
Further information
Statistics 2024: https://www.jugend-forscht.de/uploads/media/Anmeldestatistik_Jugend_forscht_2024.pdf