’Maximum Perspective’ - Youth Research Regional Competition at TU Ilmenau

On February 12, the West Thuringia regional competition of Jugend forscht will take place at TU Ilmenau. 72 children and young people will present the work they have previously carried out in 38 research projects on a wide range of scientific topics to a panel of experts - teenagers and young adults aged between 15 and 21 in "Jugend forscht" and pupils aged 10 to 14 in the "Jugend forscht Junior" competition. Anyone who would like to look over the shoulders of the young researchers is invited to attend the public presentation on February 12 at 3 p.m. and the subsequent award ceremony at 4:15 p.m. in the Humboldtbau at Gustav-Kirchhoff-Platz 1. Representatives of the media are also very welcome.

Information: www.tu-ilmenau.de/juge­nd-forscht

The nationwide "Jugend forscht" competition is taking place this year under the motto "Maximum Perspective". Children, teenagers and young adults are encouraged to immerse themselves in the exciting world of research and science and turn their visions into reality. TU Ilmenau and LINDIG Fördertechnik GmbH have been sponsoring the event since 2013. The range of topics covered by the young researchers’ competition entries is broad: from AI-supported health advice to a tennis robot and the question of whether glasses are hotspots for germs.

Children and young people from mainstream schools and grammar schools in Gotha, Günthersleben-Wechmar, Ilmenau, Neudietendorf, Ruhla and Saalfeld are taking part in the West Thuringia regional competition. After preparing individually or in teams for weeks or even months, the time has finally come on February 12: 72 pupils will present their 38 projects from the research areas of the world of work, biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, mathematics/computer science, physics and technology at the TU Ilmenau. An expert jury evaluates the projects and the public can be inspired by the expertise and inventiveness of the young scientists.

The best of them will qualify for the state competition on April 1 in Jena. The 61st round of Jugend forscht will then conclude with the national final in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, from May 28 to 31, 2026.