Since 2021, young scientists have been able to receive a special prize in the “Jugend forscht” competition at regional and state level, which is dedicated to the topic of resource efficiency. Young people's ideas and achievements that contribute to a more careful and efficient use of raw materials are honored. This year the prize was also awarded at the federal level for the first time.

The BilRess network (education for resource conservation and resource efficiency) awards the annual special prize with the Federal Environment Ministry. The Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen ( THM ) is an active member of the BilRess network and, together with the Justus Liebig University of Gießen also supports young people in the regional competition “Jugend forscht” Mittelhessen.

Now 48 winners of the special prize “Resource Conservation and Resource Efficiency” from 2023 and 2024 met for two days for an exchange at the Federal Environment Ministry in Berlin. Prof. Holger Rohn, sustainability manager at THM and project manager at BilRess, presented the special prize to Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke in the presence of the young people. Three research teams – including the federal winners – presented Minister Lemke with their research results on bioplastics, environmentally friendly asphalt and “green copper”.

“Using the resources available to us as efficiently and carefully as possible is already a major issue for research and industry. “But future generations will have to deal even more intensively with the shortage of raw materials,” explained Prof. Rohn. “These young people are already making a decisive contribution to securing their future and an environment worth living in,” he said.

“Jugend forscht” is considered Germany’s best-known school and youth competition in the MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology) and is aimed at children and young people up to the age of 21. Since 1965, the foundation has made it its mission to discover and specifically promote young talent. The special prize “Resource Conservation and Resource Efficiency” is endowed with 1,500 euros at the federal level, 250 euros at the state level and 75 euros at the regional level. The aim of the special award is to recognize the outstanding achievements of young talent in the MINT subjects on resource efficiency. They should be encouraged to engage with sustainable, climate-friendly and future-proof technologies, products and processes and to become enthusiastic about a field of research and work that is in demand worldwide.