The best young researchers in Bavaria

After three exciting days of competition, the winners of Jugend forscht Bayern 2017 were at an award ceremony. The eleven state winners will represent the free state at the great national finals of Jugend forscht at the end of May. According to the State Secretary Georg Eisenreich, "Promoting interests and talents in the field of science and technology is one of the main tasks of the schools. 'Jugend forscht' makes an exceptionally valuable contribution to this."

Sara-Luisa Reh, 17, and Anja-Sophia Reh, 14, from Stadtbergen in the rural district of Augsburg received a special distinction. Their work on "A look at blood sugar" will receive a special award by Eisenreich from the Bavarian Minister of State for Education, Culture,  Science and Art for the best inter-disciplinary Project.

In their work, the two pupils from the Maria Stern Augsburg secondary school from the Schulwerk of the diocese in Augsburg examined the relation between the size of pupils and blood sugar. They came to the conclusion that pupils contract when blood sugar levels are low. With the help of video glasses and a SmartPhone App, Sara-Luisa and Anja-Sophia then developed a hypoglycemic warning system. Diabetics wearing the video glasses receive a warning via SmartPhone when their pupils contract and show a risk of hypoglycemia.

An overview of the other state finalists:

Working world
Project: Fall protection for movable Silos
Christoph Hecker, 17, from Sengenthal
Jakob Götz, 16, from Deining
Florian Otto, 18, from Freystadt
Trainees at Pfleiderer Neumarkt GmbH

Biology
Project: Species of Xanthoria lichens as bio-indicators in fruit growing
Felix Leon Braun, 17, from Mömbris
Friedrich-Dessauer secondary school in Aschaffenburg

Chemistry (two state winners)
Project: Examining the phenomenon of Liesegang's rings in gelatine gels
Johannes Greiner, 16, and Stephan Wagner, 15, from Neuburg at the Kammel
Simpert-Kraemer secondary school in Krumbach

Project: Cleaning the air with photo catalysis in daylight: Looking for the quantum leap
Philipp Herget, 16, from Laufach
Maurice Noll, 16, from Weibersbrunn
Hanns-Seidel secondary school in Hösbach

Geo and Space Sciences
Project: Analysis of flucutation in the Fe-K-Alpha line in the Cygnus X-1 System
Johannes Klatt, 17, from Bamberg
Franz-Ludwig secondary school in Bamberg

Mathematics/Informaton Technology
Project:  Developing and testing methods to show a live video stream in a virtual world with as little delay as possible.
Constantin Geier, 18, from Riedering
Ignaz-Günther secondary school in Rosenheim

Physics (two state winners)
Project: Chemical post-treatment of bicycle tires
Christoph Setescak, 18, from Pentling
Albertus-Magnus secondary school in Regensburg

Project: Pulse form analysis of a radon ionisation chamber
Bernhard Kirchmair, 17, from Reichersbeuern
Vincent Nieraad, 16, from Gaißach
Gabriel-von-Seidl secondary school in Bad Tölz

Technology (two state winners)
Project: 4D chair
Sebastian Lew, 15, from Bad Füssing
Wilhelm-Diess secondary school in Pocking

Project: Self-balancing Unicycle
Luca Fäth, 17, from Karlstein
Friedrich-Dessauer secondary school in Aschaffenburg

1,961 participants had registered for Jugend forscht 2017 with 1,214 projects throughout Bavaria. Only the best 85 young researcher made it to Vilsbiburg for the national finals. There, alone or in a team, they presented a total of 58 projects to a panel of experts and to the public. The State Secretary Eisenreich was very impressed by their achievements: "The young researchers have enthusiastically put their clever ideas into effect. Their scientific skills and their competent presentation to the jury helped the winners achieve their victory in the national competition of "Jugend forscht". I'm sure that this has  strengthened some decisive competences for their later life: Commitment, creativity and endurance."

This year, Jugend forscht Bayern took place in Vilsbiburg for the first time. From now on, the DRÄXLMAIER Group will be holding the competition every other year. "The initiative and determination of the young researchers is impressive. The DRÄXLMAIER Group is proud of being able to welcome such motivated young researchers to Vilsbiburg", said Dräxlmaier, the CEO of the DRÄXLMAIER Group.

Jugend forscht is the largest youth competition in Europe in the area of science and technology. Today, numerous former participants work as scientists at universities and research institutes or as executives in companies. "We care very much about encouraging the inquiring minds and spirit of research in young people", said the sponsorship representative for Jugend forscht Bayern at DRÄXLMAIER Dr. Tobias Nickel. "We hope that Jugend forscht will encourage many young people to complete training or a degree in one of the MINT subjects."