During their tour, the judges assessed the young researchers' diverse projects with great attention. Their expert questions and the mutual exchange of ideas provided the competition participants with valuable feedback on their work. Professor Dr Jörg Wagner opened the subsequent award ceremony with encouraging words: "Keep your ideas, who knows what potential they still have. A spirit of research is the foundation for future innovation and progress."

An emotional highlight of the event was the farewell to Uta Herz, the long-standing regional director of the competition. Dr Daniel Giese from the "Jugend forscht" Foundation, who travelled from Hamburg, paid tribute to her as one of the "veterans among the regional directors" and presented her with the golden Jugend forscht pin. Her successor will be Heike Ludewig, a dedicated teacher at Humboldt-Gymnasium Nordhausen.

Dr Giese also reminded those present of the motto of the 59th round of the competition: "Make up your mind". He emphasised: "Take this as a message: everyone is called upon to actively tackle the problems of this world. Young researchers can develop innovations that make a valuable contribution." At the end of the event, Dr Sven Günther from STIFT Thüringen addressed a few words to all participants in the "Jugend forscht" regional competition. He strongly encouraged the young researchers to continue pursuing their scientific curiosity and possibly continue their research in a student research centre, where the participants can further develop their projects under professional guidance. One of these centres is located directly at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences.

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, as the competition sponsor, and the "Jugend forscht" Nord-Thüringen organisation team would like to thank all participants, jurors and supporters.

THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S REGIONAL COMPETITION ARE:

Biology:

• 1st prize (€75), donated by the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, was awarded to Barbara Markiewicz (18) from Evangelisches Gymnasium Mühlhausen for her innovative project "A night like in Avatar" - transferring bioluminescence from fungi to aquatic plants.
• The 2nd prize (€60) went to Maya Kautzleben (17) and Laura-Sophie Kopf (18) from Kyffhäusergymnasium Bad Frankenhausen for their study on the influence of an exercise programme for type II diabetics on the metabolic state.
• Lynn Barche (18) and Charlott Bartsch (18) from Seiler-Gymnasium Schlotheim were awarded 3rd prize (€45) for their project on living buildings and green architecture in the context of climate, flora and fauna.

Chemistry:

• The 2nd prize (€60) was awarded to Ben Hoffmann (17), Anneliese Aedtner (17) and Luca Goldacker (17) from Kyffhäusergymnasium Bad Frankenhausen for their entry "Sweet, but with a bitter aftertaste. What's behind sugar and its substitutes".
• The entry "Energy Drinks - chemical energy" by Hannah Richardt (16) and Oreli Victoria Zimmermann (15) from the Staatliche Gemeinschaftsschule Tonna was awarded 3rd prize. The 3rd prize for chemistry (€45) was donated by the Chemical Industry Fund of the German Chemical Industry Association.
• The entry "Voll im Trend alkoholfreies Bier" by Jannes Voigt (16) and Leander Rübbert (16) from the Staatliche Gemeinschaftsschule Tonna also won 3rd prize.
• The entry "Changing hair structures with chemicals?" by Hannah Weise (15) and Heli Iwan (15) from the Staatliche Gemeinschaftsschule Tonna also won 3rd prize in the Chemistry category.

Physics:

• The 1st prize (€75), presented by the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, went to Xuancheng Zhao (16) from the Landesschule Pforta, Naumburg, for his in-depth investigation into the realisation of the spin launch concept in orbit.
• Lennart Zenker (18), Lea Sophie Reich (18) and Helena Schünzel (18) from Kyffhäusergymnasium Bad Frankenhausen were awarded 3rd prize (€45) for their computer-aided calculation of bearing reactions of plane and spatial load-bearing structures.
• Mia Luisa Hohlstein (15) from Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Gymnasium Großengottern also received the 3rd prize (€45) for her overlay pressure test on humans.

In addition, several special prizes were awarded for outstanding achievements in environmental technology, quality assurance and other categories. The winners of the "Jugend forscht" regional competition in northern Thuringia qualify directly for the state competition, where they can present their projects at a higher level.