Young researchers from Höxter shine at the regional competition Jugend forscht!

Young researchers from Höxter shine at the regional competition Jugend forscht!

On March 13, 2025, the exciting competitions of "Jugend Forscht" took place in the Heinz-Nixdorf-Museum Forum (HNF) in Paderborn, in which 73 talented young researchers took part. A total of 40 projects were presented, including 14, which come from the Höxter district. The young scientists' innovative strength and commitment were carefully examined by a 23-member jury. This event marked the highest number of participants since 2016, and the full gender parity among the participants was remarkable.

The event served as a regional competition that leads to qualification for the state competition in North Rhine-Westphalia. Under the outstanding performance, Josefine Rabcenko (12) in particular stands out from the König-Wilhelm-Gymnasium Höxter. She won in the "Jugend forscht Junior" division and was also able to look forward to the special prices "Environment" and "Youth Jury". The jury convinced its project on the subject of biological control against mildew, which is based on the mushroom type of Trichoderma.

other winners and their projects

Simon Badde (13) from Warburg also achieved a first place with his project to conduct salt and vinegar solutions. These practical experiments testify to a deep understanding of physical principles. In the field of technology, the victory went to Ninib Hanna (18) from Rheda-Wiedenbrück, while Mariia Pravoslavna (15) from Geseke was awarded for the best interdisciplinary project.

The winning projects not only emerged at the regional level, but also qualify for the upcoming state competitions in Essen and Leverkusen in April. The best participants in the state competitions have the opportunity to qualify for the renowned federal competition in Hamburg. This offers young scientists the opportunity to present their projects to an even larger audience and continue their research at national level.

The regional competition "Jugend Forscht" is an important platform that not only promotes creative ideas, but also arouses the curiosity of youth for science and technology. A clear proof of the success of these initiatives is the remarkable projects from the Höxter district, which reflect the high level of education and the commitment of the teachers and students in the region. Further information and a detailed overview of the competitions can be found on jugend-forscht.de .