The 45th final of the German competition Jugend forscht (“young people researching”), under the motto Discover New Worlds, is taking place in Essen in 2010. For the third time, ThyssenKrupp is hosting the nationwide competition, during which young researchers, jury members, and guests will gather at the Messe und Philharmonie Essen from May 13-16.
The competition is divided into seven disciplines: the world of work, biology, chemistry, geo and space sciences, mathematics/informatics, physics, and engineering. Cash prizes, research stays, and study trips are at stake, also with the incentive to make contacts with experts and peers.
“We all know that only well-trained people with a sense of responsibility will be able to cope with the global challenges. Ideas and innovations are indispensable for our country. It has been and it still is the engineers, technicians, and natural scientists that come up with innovative products,” said Ralph Labonte, Labor Director on the Board of ThyssenKrupp and the Group’s sponsoring representative at this year’s final of Jugend forscht.
“This applies quite especially to Germany, a nation whose future decisively depends on knowledge and technology,” Labonte continued. “And so for decades now we have been assisting in the organizing of the regional events of this competition. The enthusiasm and creativity of the youngsters has over many years proven just how important it is to promote this involvement.”
In 2010, the ThyssenKrupp Group has taken on sponsorship for three regional/state competitions:
- In Dortmund on February 9, the regional competition of ThyssenKrupp AG and the Federal Agency for Occupational Safety and Industrial Medicine at the German Occupational Safety and Health (DASA) exhibition
- On February 25 at the invitation of ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, the young researchers will present themselves to a jury at the Duisburg-Hamborn Education Center
- From March 1-3, ThyssenKrupp Drauz Nothelfer is hosting the state competition Schoolchildren Experimenting in the Saarland.
Persons up to the age of 21 are eligible to participate in Jugend forscht. They must be at least in their 4th school class while university students may only register in their first year of study. Of the more than 10,000 young researchers participating in the current round, just below 5% are apprentices.
The winners of the regional competitions move on to the Land or state level in February, where the winners go through to the national final round in May. At all three levels, numerous sponsors and prize donators ensure that cash prizes, research stays, and study trips together worth more than €900,000 can be awarded.
ThyssenKrupp is a global technology group with almost 188,000 employees in more than 80 countries. In the 2008/2009 fiscal year, they generated sales of more than €40 billion. Eight business areas focus the Group’s activities and know-how in the strategic competency areas of Materials and Technologies. In addition to manufacturing materials and plants, the Group also provides complete system solutions and services.