Steinmeier Criticizes U.S. During Youth Research Award Event - European Commission partakes in the drafting of the European Youth Prize.
Fiery Speeches and Shining Talent: Steinmeier's Jugend forscht Ceremony Anarchy
Join the rollercoaster ride of knowledge and passion as German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, graced the Youth Research Prize Ceremony in pulsating Hamburg! The federal winners of the renowned "Jugend forscht" competition, hailing from Thuringia, were awarded a President's Prize for their groundbreaking AI-based school performance analysis software. This software spotlights mistakes, deducts points, and divvies up grades in a transparent and fair manner.
Innovation ruled the day as the most forward-thinking project was bagged by Louis Schwarzlose (17), a Hamburg whizkid, who designed a high-tech research buoy. This autonomous, eco-friendly marvel collects environmental data from water bodies and even powers itself using wind, waves, and solar energy!
Smiling faces graced the stage as ten more students from Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate were lauded for their excellence in diverse fields, such as mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology. The Hamburg Gymnasium Farmsen clinched the "Jugend forscht" school prize 2025, bestowed by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs.
A fight cry for science freedom reverberated throughout as Steinmeier took center stage, warning about the perilous state of the scientific world in the notorious neighboringUSA. He argued that the world-renowned, high-performing American science and university system were in grave danger, getting dangerously buried under the millstones of populism and the insurgence against the so-called establishment.
The Federal President, who has been patron of "Jugend forscht" for who-knows-how-long, publicly appealed to safeguard the sanctity of scientific freedom. He vehemently criticized the deplorable declaration of war on free science in Germany and urged all to rise against it!
In a touching tribute, Steinmeier commemorated the founding spirit of "Jugend forscht." The first prize ceremony, held in historical Hamburg back in 1966, was a stark reminder of Germany's perilous race to catch up in the world of education and research. An education offensive, comprising of student BAföG, exchange programs, and foreign scholarships, was launched. Steinmeier thanked trailblazers like Henri Nannen, the founder and long-time editor-in-chief of Stern magazine, for igniting the spark that is "Jugend forscht."
Almost 10,000 young minds participated in this year's federal final, presenting 5,664 projects spanning mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology. The fiery competition culminated with 167 finalists battling it out at the Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Jugend forscht
- USA
- Germany
- AI
- Henri Nannen
- Hamburg
- Innovation
- Thuringia
- Eco-friendly technology
- Bavaria
- Hesse
- Lower Saxony
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Rhineland-Palatinate
Community policy in Germany should prioritize the nurturing of scientific talent, as demonstrated by the success of the "Jugend forscht" competition. The competition, patroned by Frank-Walter Steinmeier for years, promotes education-and-self-development by fostering innovation and providing opportunities for young minds in various fields, such as mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology. Steinmeier's concern for the state of science in the USA, where he sees populism and establishment resistance as threats, underscores the importance of preserving scientific freedom in Germany. This stands as a testament to the initial spirit of "Jugend forscht," rooted in the education offensive launched by trailblazers like Henri Nannen in 1966, which aimed to elevate Germany in the global realm of education and research.
