Louisenlund is "Youth Research School of the Year"

The Louisenlund Foundation is "Youth Research School of the Year" in Schleswig-Holstein. This special award in the form of a large plaque has now been presented to the boarding school by the President of the Research Forum. At an extraordinary school assembly in the Art and Culture Hall, Education Minister Dr. Dorit Stenke praised the excellent learning conditions at Louisenlund and the dedicated team of teachers who support and motivate the pupils in their research projects. "Louisenlund is an important and great school in Schleswig-Holstein," emphasized the politician. Louisenlund is characterized not only by top-level support, but also by broad-based support in which young people are individually supported according to their abilities and talents. "There is potential in everyone, talent is not a random superpower," emphasized Dorit Stenke. As a plus-MINT talent development center, Louisenlund offers the freedom to develop and expand talent, she said, highlighting the entire faculty and student body alongside plus-MINT Director Frank Dallmeyer and plus-MINT Coordinator Christopher Tropp.

The guests have their projects explained to them by the Louisenlund pupils.

There are 99 grammar schools in Schleswig-Holstein. Receiving this award is both praise and an entitlement, said Dr. Peter Rösner, head of the foundation. He also pointed out the joint achievement of all. "At Jugend forscht, everyone has a common goal, an idea and the same passion. Everyone makes their contribution and achieves a lot," said Peter Rösner. Everyone benefits from the school's good reputation and excellent standing.

Before the award ceremony, the guests were able to get an idea of the innovative and creative ideas of our students. Some of them presented their current research work in the KuK foyer. One group of students is working on an AI-controlled underwater drone that will help to detect old munitions on the seabed in the future - a highly topical issue for environmental protection in the North and Baltic Seas. Another team is dedicated to the topic of hydroponics, i.e. growing plants without soil. The students are researching sustainable methods to cultivate these in a resource-saving manner.

The Schlei and its pollution by microplastics is also coming into focus: the young people are using scientific methods to investigate how badly the water is affected and what consequences this has for the ecosystem.

In addition, one group is working on generalized chain lines - a mathematical phenomenon with diverse applications in physics and technology.

plus-MINT Director Frank Dallmeyer in conversation with Princess Ingeborg

Participation in school competitions is a fixed and institutionalized part of the plus-MINT programme at Louisenlund. Taking part in school competitions motivates young STEM talents and encourages them to impress with their own projects in competitions. At the same time, they gain experience while still at school of how their own research work needs to be well prepared and presented in order to be successful.

And just how successful Louisenlund has been in the competition for many years was made impressively clear by Dr. Christiane Wasle from the Jugend forscht association using figures: since 2019, 96 pupils from Louisenlund have taken part in the competition with 73 projects. 55 of them placed at regional level, 22 took first place. There were six winners at state level, with a further eleven taking second to third place. In the national final, Louisenlund came third, fifth and two special prizes. "You can see that Jugend forscht is an affair of the heart for Louisenlund, an affair of the heart that writes success stories."