05.05.2026

Young Researchers from Lower Franconia Qualify for the Jugend Forscht National Finals

Jugend forscht is Germany’s best-known young researchers’ competition and inspires school students to get excited about technology, mathematics and the natural sciences. As a sponsoring company, Region Mainfranken GmbH alternates with the Initiative Bayerischer Untermain in hosting the regional competition. Following the regional competition last February, two Lower Franconian projects have now qualified at the state competition for the national final, taking place from May 28 to 31, 2026 in Herzogenaurach.

Chemistry Category

In the chemistry category, Timo Spatz (17) and Sophie Slowik (16) from Hanns Seidel-Gymnasium Hösbach won the state championship. They investigated how photosynthetically active algae can be used in a technically optimized bio-solar cell to generate electricity sustainably and efficiently.

Physics Category

The physics state championship went to Luise Schmittner (19) from Olympia-Morata-Gymnasium in Schweinfurt. She investigated whether the motion of a playground zip line can be physically described as a double pendulum and whether it exhibits chaotic, i.e., only limitedly predictable, behavior under certain conditions.

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State championship in the chemistry category: Timo Spatz (17) and Sophie Slowik (16) from Hanns Seidel-Gymnasium Hösbach

Photo credit: Rudi Merkl