Emilia Saadia, Ariel Ulman and Lola Wölcken, recent graduates of the Pestalozzi School, won first place in the regional stage of Jugend Forscht (Youth Researches), one of the most important scientific competitions for secondary school students in Europe.
The team, led by Julieta Campi, a scientist from the Institute’s neuroscience area, investigated the potential of superbugs in public transport. “When we studied superbugs at school, we were very curious about the topic, so with Julieta’s help, we finished shaping the idea”, says Lola Wölcken about the emergence of the research topic.
Through their work, the students were able to see that the bacterial samples they took from public transportation were resistant to two of the four antibiotics they used. “In addition, we were able to prove that time is an important variable in taking an antibiotic, which is related to the misuse of antibiotics in the world”, explains Ariel Ulman.
Lola was thinking of going into research, so she was particularly interested in learning what it is like to work in such a place: “This opportunity allowed me to experience firsthand what it would be like to work in research, and I was able to learn a lot of things I didn’t know”, says Wölcken gratefully.
“Before traveling the idea gave me fear and excitement, but once in Hamburg it was impressive and delightful to see all the projects that were being exhibited. It was also very interesting to get feedback from the jury and the people who participated in the event, who asked us questions that we might never have asked ourselves”, adds Lola.
The second round of the competition will be held on April 3 and 4, again in Hamburg.
The preparation of student groups by IBioBA researchers to participate in the competitions began in 2016 and since then they obtained third place in the Frankfurt regional competition (2017), first place in the Düsseldorf regional (2018), second place in the Hessen-Mitte regional (2019), third place in the Giessen regional (2020), and second place in the second (provincial) stage -after having achieved first place in the regional stage- (2023 and 2024).
This activity is carried out within the framework of an agreement signed in 2012 between the German school Pestalozzi and IBioBA, and represents one of the pillars of the Institute, which seeks to complement its basic research work with actions aimed at science communication and the promotion of scientific vocations.