Jugend forscht

Two research projects on sustainable materials in Germany’s national youth science competition – each won 1st place at state level and reached the national final.

Strong, Light and Sustainable – a Fibre Composite Made from Wood

06.2020 – 01.2022

Densification turns wood into a high-strength fibre composite with an extended range of applications. The work covered experimental design, sample preparation and tensile testing in a materials testing lab.

1st place, state competition 2021
National final 2021

Weser-Kurier article: “Schüler gehen viele Themen an” (German) ↗

Poster as PDF (1.3 MB) ↗

Samples of highly densified wood.
From spruce block to densified board.
Delignification: samples in the hot bath.
Wood layers in the mould.
Bending test.
In the chemistry lab.
Competition during Covid: set-up for the online presentation.

Competition video: making and testing the fibre composite (3 min, German). · video on YouTube

Improving the Mechanical Properties of Mycelium-Based Materials

06.2018 – 09.2019

Fungal mycelium can bind organic residues into a solid material – a sustainable alternative to some plastics. The aim was to improve the mechanical properties of such materials, combining microbiological work in a BSL-1 lab with mechanical testing.

1st place, state competition 2019
National final 2019
2nd place Hans Riegel Subject Prize
Vordenker für Bremen award

Weser-Kurier article: “Kleben mit Pilzfäden” (German) ↗

Posters as PDF (3.4 MB) ↗

At the stand at the national final.
Talking to a visitor.
Visitors at the stand.
The stand with posters and samples.
Lab workspace.
Award ceremony at the national final.

Mycelium growth time-lapse, 60 hours.

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