Participants

A1 Moisture Trap in 3D Printing: Optimization, Cost-Effectiveness, User-Friendliness

Götz Anft,
Kattenberge High School, Buchholz

3D printing is finding increasing application in both the hobby and industrial sectors. Quality requirements are constantly rising. The quality of different filaments influences both the print quality and the mechanical properties of the printed results. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether the moisture content in different filaments affects both print quality and mechanical properties. To answer this question, multiple samples will be printed from various filaments, followed by tests to determine tensile strength and an evaluation of quality. For the comparison, filaments with different moisture levels will be used: pre-dried using a commercially available filament dryer or a self-developed in-line drying system, undried, and with moisture-saturated filament. The self-developed in-line drying system is intended to make the printing process user-friendly and time-efficient.

A2 Effect of superabsorbents on plant growth under extreme weather conditions

Helvi Rinne and Christin Andermann
Marion-Dönhoff-Gymnasium, Nienburg

In a previous project, we produced superabsorbents from starch and citric acid, tested their water capacity and compostability, and observed their effects on radish growth with regular watering. Now we are testing the influence of the superabsorbents on plants during extreme weather by germinating cress in soil with sufficient water supply and then simulating heavy rain and a drought lasting several days. We are documenting the growth of the cress as well as the moisture content of the soil.

A3 Heat vs. Hair – How to Keep a Cool Head

Anna-Lena Renze
Bersenbrück High School

This project investigates the properties of heat protection spray and how it best protects hair.
The spray was tested for heat protection, application, composition, and hair stability.
Using the cash register receipt test, the durability of the sprays is assessed to evaluate products from well-known drugstore brands. The goal of the research is to provide the best possible protection for the hair so that it can be styled effectively without causing damage.

A4 Real, AI, or Fake? Artificial Intelligence and Its Role in Fake News

Elena Reinhold and Fiona Feike
Eichsfeld High School, Duderstadt

In our project, we are investigating how well people can distinguish between real news, AI-generated texts, and fake news. To do this, we created two texts per category: real articles, texts written by AI, and deliberately manipulated texts containing misinformation, which are also AI-generated. We presented
these to students in grades 7 through 12 at our school and asked them to classify the texts. Our aim was to determine how difficult or easy it is to recognize such content and whether age, media experience, or other factors play a role in this process. Our goal is to raise awareness of fake news and the role of AI in handling information.

A5 Investigation of the antibacterial efficacy of buffer solutions treated with cold plasma

Ebrahim Almohamad
Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg Comprehensive School, Göttingen-Geismar

Plasma is considered the fourth state of matter and is created when additional energy is supplied to a gas. Stars, lightning, and the aurora borealis consist largely of plasma. Today, so-called cold plasma is increasingly being used in medicine and technology, and over 200 companies in Germany are already working on related applications.
In my project, I am investigating whether buffer solutions have an antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli after treatment with cold plasma. To this end, chemical parameters such as pH, hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, and nitrite, as well as bacterial growth on agar plates, were analyzed.
The results should show whether the antibacterial effect can be explained primarily by pH and hydrogen peroxide, or whether other chemical factors are involved. Such methods could offer new possibilities for disinfection in medicine, hygiene, food technology, and water treatment in the future.

B1 Commonalities in Intelligent Behavior?

Jonas-Luis Laudan
Albert Einstein High School, Buchholz

The goal of this project is to identify parallels in the intelligent behavior of organisms at different levels of organization.
To this end, I studied organisms at two levels of organization: the superorganism (ants) and the single-celled organism (slime mold). I had them navigate an identical maze—which I designed and built myself—with a food source placed inside, one after the other, in order to compare their behavior.
I observed and compared the behavior of the two organizational levels in the maze during their search for food. The experiments were documented with photographs and video recordings.
The goal of the project is to identify parallels in the intelligent behavior of organisms at different organizational levels and their applicability.

B2 Mass Organ Production?! HLA Silencing of Decellularized and Recellularized Organs

Ben Schüler and Jonas Knaup Hannover
Medical School

We are continuing our project from last year: Organ Recycling?! Decellularization and Recellularization of Organs, which was conducted exclusively in the school’s chemistry lab. The research is being expanded in the laboratory, which opens up entirely new possibilities for analysis and the implementation of further ideas.
The essence of the project is the production of ECM scaffolds through the decellularization of liver and/or plant tissue using detergents and their recellularization with new cells. This is intended to enable the artificial production of organs in the laboratory.
A completely new approach being added to the project is HLA silencing through genetic modification of the cells used for recellularization. This would enable the production of recipient-specific organs that do not trigger an immune response.
These processes are to be optimized, and the resulting scaffolds and organoids will be tested for quality, function, and degree of silencing, among other factors.

B3 SGLT-2 Inhibitors - Impact on Renal and Cardiovascular Events Following Transplantation

Jamila-Cate Tran Hannover
Medical School

In my project, I am investigating whether drugs from the SGLT-2 inhibitor class, which were developed for the treatment of diabetes, can also benefit patients without diabetes following a kidney transplant. My hypothesis is that these drugs reduce severe renal and cardiovascular complications as well as mortality. 
To this end, I am analyzing anonymized treatment data from kidney transplant recipients from the international TriNetX database. I am forming a comparable drug and control group, using these to calculate the event rates for kidney and heart complications and deaths, and applying statistical methods such as survival analyses. In this way, the project contributes to human biology by demonstrating how SGLT-2 inhibitors influence kidney function, cardiovascular health, and survival in kidney transplant recipients, thereby providing new insights into a previously unexplored high-risk group.

B4 Rethinking old knowledge: inconspicuous weeds as a new perspective in oncology

Tara Lena Mertins, Anna-Sophianeum High School, Schöningen
Lukas Bucan, Alice Salomon School, Hanover

We want to find out whether common horsetail, a plant found almost everywhere, actually contains substances that could help combat the particularly aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). 
To do this, we prepared aqueous horsetail extracts, separated them into different fractions, and tested these on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) as well as healthy breast epithelial cells (MCF10A). We analyzed effects on cell growth, cell survival, and programmed cell death processes, as well as changes in the expression of cancer-relevant genes. Additionally, we investigated the influence of the extracts on macrophages to assess potential immunomodulatory effects. Our results show clear effects on cancer cells, while healthy cells remain largely unaffected.

B5 Effects of Microplastics and Water Deficiency on Plant Growth

Charlotte Wohlers, Amelie Gollmer, and Maja Smolorz
Albert Einstein School, Laatzen

In our project, we are investigating how micro- and nanoplastics in the soil affect the growth and development of bean plants, particularly under conditions of water stress.
To do this, we are planting beans in differently treated soils, some of which are mixed with microplastics and others that serve as a control group without plastics. Additionally, we vary the irrigation to specifically induce drought stress and analyze potential interactions between plastic contamination and water scarcity. During the experiment, we observe and measure various growth parameters such as plant height, leaf color, and biomass to systematically record and evaluate the differences. 
The goal is to better understand whether and to what extent micro- and nanoplastics influence the development of crops under stress conditions. We also look for signs that nanoparticles are being absorbed into the plant organism.

C1 Investigation of hydrogen production using visible light with the dye Z907

Marvin Krampitz and Adrian Lechel
Meckelfeld High School, Seevetal

As part of our Jugend forscht project, we investigated whether hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting under visible light could be improved by sensitizing a semiconductor with a light-sensitive dye. We used titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated with the dye Z907 as the photocatalyst. We conducted the experiments in a self-constructed photoelectrochemical cell under controlled conditions. The results showed that, in contrast to the uncoated electrode, the dye-sensitized electrode exhibits significant photocatalytic activity. The findings confirm that sensitization broadens the usable light spectrum and thus increases the efficiency of photocatalysis. At the same time, the observations point to limiting side reactions, indicating further potential for optimization, for example through alternative dyes or improved cell geometry.

C2 Electroflotation System: Chemically Separating Microplastics

Ellianora Tkalenko
Ubbo-Emmius High School, Leer

The goal of the project is to develop a filtration system that is not only cost-effective but also efficient. To achieve this, the principle of electroflotation was used: the gases produced during water electrolysis adhere to the pollutants and bring them to the surface.
To make the filtration system attractive to profit-oriented companies, the hydrogen produced during electrolysis is to be collected for subsequent sale as fuel to offset costs.
In the project, a suitable pH value for electrolysis was determined, as well as an optimal electrode design that reduces resistance and thus increases efficiency.
To determine the efficiency of this filtration method, various water samples were mixed with microplastics that glow under UV light and then filtered. The evaluation is performed under a microscope, with multiple samples taken to determine the stratification.

C3 Multispectroscopic analysis of a novel betanin-chlorophyll/TiO2 antenna complex

Paula Schoe
Marianum High School, Meppen

This project focuses on investigating a novel synergy effect between betanin, chlorophyll, and TiO₂ microparticles, which was first observed last year. Building on this discovery, the previously formulated hypothesis is now being tested: that through coordinate bonds and intermolecular interactions, a structured, self-organized antenna complex forms, enabling efficient energy transfer similar to natural photosynthesis. SEM images show the formation of spherical aggregates exclusively at a specific dye ratio. Combined spectroscopic methods (UV-VIS, fluorescence, EDX, TRFS, EPR, XPS, and XES measurements) will be used to characterize the structural and electronic properties in order to elucidate the relationship between molecular architecture, self-organization, and the observed fluorescence quenching of over 70 percent.

C4 LiClair: Precipitation of pure lithium carbonate in the recycling of lithium-ion batteries

Kseniia Skrynnyk and Anna Ilyushonak
Schillerschule High School, Hanover

The recycling of lithium-ion batteries is of crucial importance for a sustainable energy supply worldwide. To this end, optimizing the recycling process for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries—which are increasingly dominating the market—is essential. In industrial lithium processing, lithium carbonate—formed from lithium sulfate via a precipitation reaction—is typically used as the starting material
. In the recycling process of LFP batteries, this starting material, lithium sulfate, is recovered from the black mass produced after several processing steps. To optimize the recycling process, we aim to investigate the lithium carbonate yield and its purity, taking into account the parameters of time, copper contamination, and the influence of crystallization nuclei, using AAS, XRD, and SEM analysis. In this way, we aim to determine under which conditions lithium carbonate of the highest possible purity can be precipitated.

C5 Focus on Efficiency – A Comparison of PEM Electrolysis and Biohydrogen Synthesis

Bennit Willenkamp, Jannis Ostermann, and Julian Härtel, Sulingen
High School

This project compares two methods of hydrogen production: biohydrogen production via dark fermentation and PEM electrolysis.
The goal is to investigate which method achieves a higher hydrogen yield with the lowest possible energy consumption and is therefore better suited for a sustainable energy supply. The idea arose from the current importance of hydrogen as a climate-friendly energy carrier and the question of how efficient different production methods actually are.
To implement this, fermentation experiments were conducted and analyzed, and a PEM electrolysis system was operated under defined electrical conditions. The results were evaluated and compared in terms of yield, purity, and energy consumption. Future research should focus on making biohydrogen production more efficient through targeted process optimizations such as pH regulation or genetic modifications.

C6 Synthesis and Investigation of the Properties of Hydroplastic Polymers from Cellulose

Bela Bachler
Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg Comprehensive School, Göttingen-Geismar

We encounter plastics constantly in our daily lives. However, due to their production and very poor biodegradability, plastics pose a major problem for the environment and climate. There are also naturally occurring polymers, the most common of which is cellulose. Plants produce approximately 1.5 trillion tons of cellulose annually, which is subsequently broken down again in the natural carbon cycle. So what could be more natural than to investigate this natural polymer for its suitability as a plastic substitute?
In my project, I synthesized the polymer cellulose cinnamate and researched its properties, such as hydroplasticity and biodegradability. I also investigated the potential to expand the polymer’s applications by adding nano-additives with antimicrobial properties.

G1 Determining the number of members in open clusters using Cepheid variables: the case of NGC 129

Jamie Elias Engelshove
Franziskusgymnasium Lingen

My project aims to investigate whether members of an open star cluster can be identified using Cepheids, the period-luminosity relationship, the distance modulus, and a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
This will be done using NGC 129 as an example, which contains the Cepheid variable DL Cas. To test the method, data from the Internet (e.g., from the SIMBAD database) will be used for as many potential member stars as possible, in order to then calculate the absolute magnitude of the stars using the Cepheids. If this absolute magnitude does not match the spectral class indicated by the data in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, the star is not a member of NGC 129.
Finally, the results will be compared with a study of the star cluster that used a different method. Based on this comparison, the method described here will ultimately be evaluated.

G2 FIRENET (Fire Incident Risk Evaluation & Networked Early Tracking)

Joris and Karl Parthier
Kaiser-Wilhelm- und Ratsgymnasium Hannover

FIRENET (Fire Incident Risk Evaluation & Networked Early Tracking) is an automated wildfire early warning system. It analyzes historical fire events using machine learning and links them to relevant environmental factors to identify new fire hotspots. Areas particularly at risk can then be specifically monitored by a mobile intelligent surveillance unit (tracking unit). These units monitor fire hotspots using AI-powered cameras and send an alert to the system operator, who reviews the reports and forwards them to local fire authorities.
This reduces the response time of traditional fire reporting chains. Monitoring areas affected by smaller fires (covering a few hectares or square meters) becomes economically feasible.

G3 Are Our Homes Climate Killers? An Approach to Sustainable Living

Marie Manduca, Anna Drüen, and Carlo Behle
Lise-Meitner-Schule Stuhr-Moordeich

With our project, we wanted to find out whether we can build our houses and walls in such a way that, despite global warming, as little air conditioning and heating as possible is needed, thereby measurably reducing CO2 emissions.
To construct a climate-friendly house wall, we developed a series of measurements in which we examined the thermal conductivity and heat storage capacity of numerous types of stone. The wall should store heat well in winter and absorb as little heat as possible in summer. We envision it consisting of several layers that can be partially sunk into the ground depending on the season. By also taking into account the location and construction of the house as well as shading from plants, we arrive at the climate-friendly house of the future!

G4 Probabilistic GAN-based Super-Resolution for Earth Observation

Mark-Daniel Leupold
Eichendorff School, Wolfsburg

The Earth is continuously observed, but not with sufficient clarity. Limited satellite resolution is the main obstacle to more precise geoanalyses. Modern super-resolution (SR) attempts to address this by reconstructing high-resolution image details from low-resolution observations, but is often too imprecise.
When I was confronted with blurry images from my telescope, I set out to solve this dilemma between image quality and accuracy.
So I trained my own SR-GAN model using thousands of real Sentinel-2 satellite images based on a wide variety of spectral-structural loss functions. As a Bayesian Real-ESRGAN variant, it generates images with 4x higher resolution as well as pixel-accurate aleatory and epistemic uncertainty maps.
Quantitative and qualitative comparisons show clear improvements over established models; in particular, uncertainty quantification enables precise and effective analyses.

G5 Investigation of soil quality as a function of tillage and land management

Selina Polzin
Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg Comprehensive School, Göttingen-Geismar

Soil quality is very important for agriculture and thus for our livelihood.
In my project, I investigated the effect of tillage on soil quality across three differently farmed plots in Heckenbeck. The study included three adjacent plots: a conventionally farmed arable field, a vegetable field cultivated using manual methods, and a sheep pasture. The study examined whether, four years after the transition from conventional farming to vegetable cultivation and sheep pasture, the more extensive farming practices resulted in measurable changes in earthworm populations and chemical parameters.

M1 Offense is the best defense - An analysis of goalkeeper-to-field player substitutions in handball

Jan Malte Mauel
Halepaghen School, Buxtehude

This project examines shorthanded play in handball and the tactical decision to substitute the goalkeeper for an additional field player. The goal is to determine whether this substitution has a significant impact on the outcome of shorthanded situations and whether it is equally relevant for teams of varying skill levels. Additionally, the influence of the chosen defensive formation as well as the duration of the attack is analyzed to identify possible correlations between tactics and success in shorthanded play. The study
is based on a detailed video analysis of a total of 25 games from the second youth Bundesliga. In professional handball, the goalkeeper substitution in shorthanded situations is already an established and widely used strategy. The hypothesis is that this substitution can also bring advantages at the youth level, although the effect may vary depending on the skill level of the teams involved.

M2 Investigation of a Function Based on Goldbach Decompositions

Tjark Thiede
Lower Saxony Boarding School Bad Bederkesa

In my project, I am investigating a mathematical function I developed myself based on Goldbach decompositions. The term refers to the representation of an even number as the sum of two prime numbers. In my free time, out of
a love for mathematics, I explored prime numbers and in the process developed the function that now forms the basis of this project. The observed closeness of the function’s values motivated me to continue researching this very function.
For my research, I first formalized the function and then implemented and visualized it in the Python programming language for larger number ranges. I also conducted an in-depth examination of the theoretical foundations of the function.

M3 Scripted: Development of a Programming Language as a Tool for Minecraft

Erasmus von Platen
Gymnasium Schillerschule Hannover

Scripted originated as a Minecraft mod, with the hope of giving players the ability to write their own scripts and thus influence the game. The program, which was the focus of my previous work and used a graph for storage, has now become a bytecode program. To achieve this, I first defined the language, wrote a compiler capable of translating source code into instructions, and then wrote a program capable of executing the translated bytecode. For Scripted, I am investigating whether the program code—which, compared to the graph-based program, generally has a much higher data density—runs significantly faster as expected, and how I can improve it further. In the future, an editor and a debugger will also be added to make it easier for users to write the code and avoid errors.

M4 Implementation of a Fourier-based wireless method for transmitting still images

Johannes Groothuis
Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium – Europaschule, Göttingen

The distinctive beeping and static of old dial-up modems when connecting to the internet via telephone lines is still familiar today, even though the technology behind it dates back to the last millennium. I asked myself: What’s the point of those sounds anyway? How is data transmitted here?
During my research on this, I came across SSTV radio: Here, still images are transmitted via sounds that humans can hear. I found the concept fascinating, but the transmission time of a good 20 seconds was far too long for me.
My own program is limited to just one second: Using discrete Fourier transform, I transmit all image data simultaneously via sound within the human hearing range. The sound mixture sounds like static on the radio when no station is tuned in, and yet the receiver can fully reconstruct the original image. Only external physical factors influence the quality of the image. Initial steps for error correction are already integrated.

M5 PoP: Probabilistic Opaque Predicates vs. Symbolic Execution

Paul Baumgartner
Mariano-Josephinum High School, Hildesheim

This work focuses on protecting software against cracking, software piracy, and intellectual property theft. To achieve this, programs are retroactively complicated to the point where analyzing them becomes economically unfeasible for attackers. A method was developed for this purpose that incorporates conditions into programs to increase their complexity. The original program flow remains intact. 
Unlike existing methods, this one works by incorporating probabilities. These probabilities significantly hinder the removal of the inserted conditions and thus also the reduction of complexity for attackers, as demonstrated by experiments conducted.

P1 Programmable Quantum Computers and Teleportation - Theory and Experiments

Jannes Ruder
Gymnasium Athenaeum Stade

My goal is to explore new technologies for optical quantum computers.
I am building on my previous project, which developed a quantum computer demonstrator that operates using laser light and provides a universal set of quantum gates. With this, I was able to demonstrate that our universal gates perform quantum operations using both coherent laser light and single photons.
A major advancement in my current project is the programmability of the quantum computer demonstrator using the piezo-based, electro-optical, and energy-efficient PolaRITE III polarizer, which is controlled by a Raspberry Pi 5. This allows me to control qubits and optical quantum gates. I also use the quantum computer demonstrator to demonstrate quantum teleportation—the transfer of the state of a qubit C to a qubit B via an entangled qubit A. This process represents a secure, eavesdropping-resistant transmission of quantum information.

P2 A.E.R.I.S.

Ben Huber,
Carolinum High School, Osnabrück

In my project A.E.R.I.S. (Aerodynamics Environment Research for Innovation and Sustainability), I am investigating how flying can be made more climate-friendly through aerodynamic optimization.
Last year, I built my own wind tunnel and successfully conducted initial measurements with it. The focus of my work is on optimizing the aerodynamics of the aircraft fuselage, drawing inspiration from the golf ball and the streamlined body shape of the penguin.
This year, the wind tunnel was further improved and equipped with a smoke machine to visualize flow patterns. I designed and 3D-printed many parts for the wind tunnel as well as the fuselages. Additionally, I use the simulation software Simscale to validate the experimental results. Based on the measurements, I calculate the Cw value. The results show significant potential for savings and represent a step toward climate-neutral flying.

P3 Physical Analysis of Inertial Effects in the Propagation of Infectious Particles in Public Transportation

Katharina Osthoff
Sophienschule, Hanover

My project addresses the question of how potentially infectious particles spread in public transportation. To this end, I examine various physical effects such as inertia, diffusion, and convection. The goal of my research is to determine whether there are specific areas in buses and trains where the risk of infection is systematically higher. This could allow us to provide recommendations to people with weakened immune systems regarding their choice of seating. The idea for the project arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, when potential infection risks were intensely discussed and scrutinized. To investigate this question, I conducted model experiments using carbon dioxide and fog in a minibus and examined how gas flows and aerosol particles disperse in the air while the vehicle is in motion. In the future, I would like to further expand my investigations using more complex experimental setups.

P4 TetraDämm

Lucy Börsting and Amy Himpel Melle
High School

The project investigates whether Tetra Paks, such as milk and juice cartons, can be recycled as insulation material. The paper component of Tetra Paks is largely recycled, but only a very small portion of the aluminum and plastic (PE) components is recycled. Because of this, this is an exceptionally timely topic. 
The project investigates this using an experimental method in which a model house wall is heated from the outside by warm water in a container of the same size. The insulation material is placed in between, varying factors such as thickness and degree of shredding to determine how the insulation can be optimized.

P5 3G-Magnetix

Dominik Kultys and Oleksandra Kompanets
Hoffmann-von-Fallersleben School, Braunschweig

In this project, we aim to measure the Earth’s magnetic field and its fluctuations. To do this, we built our own fluxgate sensors practically from scrap materials: We use strips of metallic glass, found in anti-theft devices, as cores. They yielded the best results in our experiments. We wound the coils from thin enameled copper wire. In theory, the sensors, when excited by a sinusoidal voltage, should produce the second harmonic. We tested this in the Earth’s magnetic field for various sensors. We expanded
the sensors into complete magnetometers using microcontrollers. Using the homemade 3G-MAG station, we were able to perform several continuous measurements. In particular, we observed a magnetic storm along with the associated auroras and sunspots. To verify our devices, we compared their data with that from the Niemegk Observatory, the PTB, and the Technical University of Braunschweig; the results match well.

P6 Determination of Earth’s Acceleration Using Electromagnetic Induction

Yannis Döring
Sarstedt High School

This project focuses on determining gravitational acceleration using electromagnetic induction.
My fascination with this approach stems from the combination of two very different phenomena: the mechanical interaction between masses and the electromagnetic interaction between electric charges. For this reason, I originally took on this task for my senior research project in twelfth grade. Now, while retaining the basic method, my goal is to minimize the deviation of the result from the value reported in the literature.
To determine the acceleration due to gravity, I dropped a bar magnet through a tube, or rather a series of coils, and used the electrical voltage measured at the coils to determine the position at specific points in time during the fall and thus the acceleration. In doing so, I have so far investigated a possible braking effect caused by the coils, collisions with the tube, and air resistance.

T1 WeedXtract - Environmentally Friendly Control of Weeds Using AI

Leonel Hesse
High School, Winsen

To avoid environmentally harmful herbicides in the future, robots could soon be deployed on a large scale for the precise control of weeds.
In this project, such a robot was developed for corn crops. New methods for plant identification and weed control were developed that could potentially replace currently used methods. In addition to these, the robot features an autonomous control system, LFP batteries with a total capacity of nearly 4 kWh, and a user interface via a web app. The robot’s propulsion is currently implemented via a carrier platform controlled by the robot. To date, the robot has been tested in laboratory trials and simulated using archival data. Field tests will be conducted in the spring for final evaluation and, in particular, to assess the new methods.

T2 Development of an innovative tire with integrated spring action

Paul Menzlaff, Keno Casjens, and Emke Wienekamp,
IGS Marienhafe

The goal of the project is to develop an innovative rover tire for use on the Moon. The project idea originated from a NASA competition calling for the development of an innovative tire for the next lunar mission. The aim is to keep the weight as low as possible, which is to be achieved through a damping structure in the tire. The contact surface will consist of individual plates held together by the damping support structure. This is intended to create overall rigidity while allowing individual plates to remain flexible. The project is being implemented in several phases. The development of prototypes using Fusion 360 and their testing via FEM simulations as well as using 3D-printed models proved largely successful. A practical test was also conducted on a test track. Despite this, further adjustments will need to be made as the project progresses.

T3 Akku-Craft

Fabian Rottmann, Timon Barkey, and Henry Meyer, Hagen
a.T.W. High School

The Akku-Craft project aims to develop a modular battery system that, thanks to its adjustable voltage and modular design, is capable of powering many common devices. Akku-Craft can thus be expanded with additional Akku-Craft modules to increase capacity and provide the necessary current for devices that require a lot of electrical power. Modularity offers another advantage: if a module stops working, it can be replaced more easily than with a standard battery. This naturally benefits the user in terms of cost, but of course also the environment.

T4 Development and Analysis of a Morphing Winglet for the Airbus A320neo

Claudia Gaida
Schillerschule High School, Hanover

Winglets (curved extensions at the wingtips of an aircraft) are designed to reduce the vortices caused by pressure differences and the resulting induced drag, thereby making aircraft more efficient. The goal of my project is to develop and build a morphing winglet that can change its shape to achieve optimal efficiency under varying external conditions. To do this, I model a blended winglet for the Airbus A320neo in CAD, create 3D prints, and install servo motors that control the winglet’s angle of attack.
In a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, I test different angles of attack to optimize the winglet’s angle based on speed, angle of attack, and altitude. Finally, I program a control system that moves the winglet optimally to predefined values.
Overall, my morphing winglet can save approximately 1.5% in fuel per flight compared to the conventional winglet of the A320neo.

T5 Development and Testing of a Measurement System for Determining the CdA Value in Cycling

Jakob Leisering
Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium – Europaschule, Göttingen

In modern cycling, aerodynamics is a key performance factor, yet existing methods for determining the drag coefficient (CdA) are mostly expensive and stationary. In this project, a novel, mobile measurement system was developed that determines the CdA value under real-world conditions using a specially designed mathematical-physical approach that calculates the CdA from two measured speeds and the distance between them.
The system consists of two autonomous measurement units equipped with laser-photodiode sensors for speed measurement. Microcontrollers (ESP32 C3) additionally measure temperature, air pressure, and humidity to determine air density and communicate via the ESP-NOW protocol. The data is then numerically analyzed to determine the CdA value. The goal is a cost-effective, precise, and expandable system for aerodynamic analyses in the field.

T6 Biogas Plant as Frost Protection

Elias Root
Paul-Gerhardt-Schule Dassel

Biogas as Frost Protection is dedicated to the idea of creating a climate-friendly and self-sufficient system that produces biogas in the summer using the sun’s thermal energy and burns it as fuel in the winter. This approach aims to ensure the survival of exotic plants in the greenhouse without using other aids.