Award Showdown in Hamburg: Steinmeier Slams US Academia Under Threat
U.S. critique by German President Steinmeier at a youth science honor event - European Commission Participates in the Planning of European Youth Prize
Get ready to applaud the brilliant minds of tomorrow as the federal winners of "Jugend forscht" are honored in Hamburg! Oskar Rost (17) and Marius Strauß (18), from Thuringia, took home the President's Prize for their exceptional AI-based software. This groundbreaking software aims to revolutionize school performance evaluations by correcting errors, deducting points, and suggesting grades!
Louis Schwarzlose, a 17-year-old innovator from Hamburg, took home the prize for most innovative project. His masterpiece? A mobile research buoy designed to navigate autonomously and generate electricity from wind, waves, and solar power, collecting vital environmental data in our waters. A total of 10 Federal winners hailed from Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate, excelling in the fields of working world, biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics/informatics, physics, and technology.
In his speech to the 1,000 guests, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier raised an eloquent alarm about academic freedom. He stated, "The high-performance science and university system of the USA is under threat, being carelessly eroded in the mill of populism and the fight against the so-called establishment." As the patron of "Jugend forscht," Steinmeier implored his audience to join him in defending academic freedom in Germany!
During his speech, Steinmeier reminisced about the founding of "Jugend forscht" in 1966, in the heart of Hamburg. Concerns about Germany's competitiveness spurred an education offensive, including the implementation of student BAföG, exchange programs, and foreign scholarships. Legendary figure Henri Nannen, the founder and longtime editor-in-chief of "Stern" magazine, played a crucial role in launching the competition.
This year's competition saw 167 hopefuls presenting 112 research projects, with a record-breaking 10,350 young participants and 5,664 projects. Held under the motto "Turning questions into answers," the finalists had previous qualified at one of the 16 state competitions.
While the search results provided some concerns about academic freedom in Germany, they revealed no specific comments from Steinmeier regarding academic freedom in the USA. To gain a full understanding of the current academic freedom landscape in the USA, it is necessary to delve into reports and statements from relevant organizations or events. Generally, academic freedom in the USA is safeguarded by laws and policies, but debates and challenges remain, particularly when tackling political or sensitive topics. To find Steinmeier's specific comments on the issue in the USA, it would be prudent to consult official German government sources or transcripts of his speeches.
- The Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, while addressing the 1000 guests, expressed concerns about the erosion of academic freedom in the science and university system of the USA, highlighting the potential threats from populism and the fight against the so-called establishment.
- In the context of the current debates and challenges surrounding academic freedom in the USA, it would be insightful to refer to official German government sources or transcripts of Steinmeier's speeches for his specific comments on the issue in the USA, as such discussions can contribute significantly to understanding the academic freedom landscape in the US.
