Digital closing event of the International JuniorScienceOlympics 2020

Of the 5,000 or so participants in this year's International Junior Science Olympics (IJSO), 40 qualified to take part in the national final. Due to the special circumstances caused by the Corona virus, this year's IJSO ended with a first: Instead of a federal final, participants, parents, the supervising teachers and those responsible for the competition met for a digital final event. The event was a success with welcoming messages from the Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek, KMK President Dr. Stefanie Hubig and the moderator Ralph Caspers.

Normally the 40 best participants of the IJSO meet for the week-long federal final at a university. An intensive program of exams and laboratory work awaits the students there. And of course, getting to know each other, which often leads to good friendships, is also an important part of the week's program. The six team members of the German National Team will be chosen at the end of the national final. However, in this special year, a final event was held digitally instead of the federal final. Unfortunately, the international competition, which was to be held in Frankfurt am Main, was cancelled.

Students could participate interactively in the final event by submitting short videos in advance or by actively taking part in a quiz during the event. Certificates, medals and small gifts were sent to the science cracks prior to the event. Students could participate interactively in the final event by submitting short videos in advance or by actively taking part in a quiz during the event. Despite the required physical distance, the final event provided a festive atmosphere, involving their families, school classes or friends. The welcoming messages of the Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek, the President of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Stefanie Hubig, as well as the witty greeting of Ralph Caspers, which many people know from "Wissen macht Ah!" or "Der Sendung mit der Maus kennen", also played a part in creating this atmosphere.

A former participant of the IJSO presented a scientific contribution during the event. Anne van Klinken, who took part in the International Competition in Azerbaijan in 2009 along with the German national team, reported on her professional career. After studying physics at the Humboldt University in Berlin, van Klinken is now doing her doctorate at the Technical University of Eindhoven. Her great interest in science was not only a vocation, she has also made this passion her profession.

November 1st, 2020, marks the beginning of the new competition year of the IJSO and students aged 15 or under can register for the competition in the coming year. The new topics of the 1st round will be laundry detergents and stain removal.

Contact at the IPN
Dr. Tebke Böschen

Die IJSO- Medaille im Wettbewerbsjahr 2020	Screenshot aus der Abschlussveranstaltung mit teilnehmenden Schülerinnen und Schülern.