At the closing event of the 40th Erfinderlabor of the Zentrum für Chemie (ZFC) on February 6th, the high school students demonstrated their abilities. Confident, self-assured, and with an impressive sense for the essentials, they presented the results of their week-long research at TU Darmstadt in the Merck company's Conference Center to 60 guests from schools, industry, and academia.

Their teamwork focused on high-performance materials – key technologies that determine how efficiently energy is generated and stored, how durable technical components are, and how sustainably modern applications function. Advances in this area will determine the future viability of technologies in industry, mobility, and the energy sector. High-performance materials are of paramount importance, especially for a climate-neutral future.

“Look at this pencil!”

Did you know that this pencil contains a high-performance material? How do we make high-performance magnets for wind turbines and electric cars sustainable? How can we make storage more energy-efficient – ​​and what does all this have to do with butterflies and dragonflies? Under what conditions is hydrogen truly sustainable? The students opened their presentations with such intriguing questions.

They made complex technical terms accessible to their audience. For example, one participant illustrated the concept of “charge transfer resistance” with an everyday analogy: “You can imagine it like being at a concert and needing to use the restroom.” There are obstacles along the way: dense crowds, long queues, and the distractions of the music. The goal of her team's research was “to make this path as undisturbed as possible for charge carriers.”

In small teams, the young talents spent a week conducting independent, experimental research on highly topical subjects typically encountered only during university studies. Working in four research groups, they addressed key questions in modern materials science. They investigated how high-performance materials can be combined with sustainable recycling concepts, developed nanostructured catalysts for hydrogen production, and analyzed the aging processes of graphene surfaces. They also explored novel thin-film materials for electronic memory chips that could enable energy-efficient and high-performance data storage in the future. The work was supervised by experienced scientists from TU Darmstadt:

• Functional Materials: Prof. Gutfleisch/Dr. Benedikt Beckmann, Aybike Paksoy, and Mario Schönfeldt: High-Performance Materials and Recycling – A Contradiction?

• Surface Research: Prof. Hofmann/Ann-Kristin Stief, Barbara Gonzalez, Daniel Zellner, and Dennis Wenzel: Nanostructured Nickel Oxide Catalysts for Hydrogen Production

• Physics of Surface: Prof. Stark/Christian Dietz, Marvin Hoffer: Aging Effects and Cleaning of Graphene Surfaces

• Thin Films: Prof. Alff/Dr. Eszter Piros: Electrical characterization of hafnium and yttrium oxide-based resistive random-access memories

“A strong sense of community”

The Erfinderlabor clearly made an impression on the participants. “I realized how important teamwork is – and how much fun it can be,” said one student. Working together fostered a strong sense of community, “almost like a family.” One student particularly emphasized the substantive aspect: “We explored current issues at the intersection of society and natural sciences.” Working as a team allowed them to reflect and contextualize their experiences. “I'm leaving here not only with new scientific insights but also with new friendships,” she said. The students also gained valuable insights for their future studies and career choices. And they described the guided tour of Merck as a “highlight of the week.”

“Today we celebrate the natural sciences, but above all, we celebrate the participants of the Erfinderlabor” said Dr. Thomas Eberle. A central concern of the Merck company is to inspire young talent for the natural sciences at an early age and to provide them with targeted support. “The natural sciences are crucial for progress and for solving societal challenges – from health and nutrition to climate protection,” Eberle continued.

This is precisely where the ZFC's Erfinderlabor comes in. While groundbreaking innovations were often the work of individuals in the past, inventions today are created in teams. “Diverse expertise and perspectives are needed,” said the Head of Educational Partnerships at Merck. “Nobel laureates work in teams today,” he said, just like the students who participated in the ZFC's week-long workshop.

Professor Dr. Heribert Warzecha, Vice President of TU Darmstadt, emphasized Darmstadt's special role as a city of science. “Darmstadt boasts a unique ecosystem,” he said. It is characterized by the interplay of universities, research institutions, and industry, which collaborate at various levels and across disciplines.

TU Darmstadt also sees itself as an active part of this network. “Research and the acquisition of knowledge are inextricably linked for us,” said the Vice President of TU Darmstadt. The goal is to pass on scientific thinking from one generation to the next – and as early as possible. The Inventors' Lab is an excellent example of this: “Here, high school students can conduct research on current future topics such as the energy transition even before beginning their university studies.”

Sula Lockl, Managing Director of VCI Hessen, was impressed. VCI Hessen has been closely associated with the Erfinderlabor for many years – and is always thrilled: “We are blown away by the content, but also by all of you who presented here. It was truly exceptional.” Lockl provided insights into VCI Hessen's role as the representative body for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in the state. The sector is one of the largest employers in Hesse, invests heavily in research and development, and plays a central role in its interaction with other industries such as the automotive sector. For young people interested in innovation, curious about unexplored questions, and passionate about development, the industry offers diverse opportunities. “We need bright minds, inquisitive people, researchers, developers, and engineers,” she said.

“You are on your way to leaving your mark”

Anke Hundt described her expectations for the day very personally: She had already sensed that morning “that today would be something special.” She was particularly impressed by “what emerges when students are given the space to research, experiment, and develop themselves.” Hundt emphasized the importance of strong educational partnerships in STEM fields. When schools, academia, industry, and associations collaborate, “truly great things can happen”—together they are stronger. Finally, she looked to possible paths into the future and referred to the career of chemist Stephanie Kwolek as an example of how curiosity and perseverance can lead to inventions that benefit society. Addressing the students, Hundt said: You are on your way to leaving your mark—with ideas that can shape the future.

Experts from research, industry, and politics were impressed.

Following their presentations, the students received appreciative feedback. Prof. Dr. Heribert Warzecha praised the clarity of the presentations: “You succeeded in delving deeply into a topic and presenting it in such a way that even non-experts could follow along.” He added that science is not just about conducting research, but also about communicating complex content in an understandable way.

Anke Hundt emphasized the clear and concise design of the presentations: Each slide provided targeted insights without appearing cluttered, and the team also presented a cohesive and articulate presentation. Dr. Thomas Eberle was also impressed by the teams' presentation style. He particularly praised their ability to engage the audience and develop a clear storyline. “That was excellent. You can even remember complex relationships without taking notes – top-notch,” Sula Locke aptly summarized.

Q&A Session with Lennart Hagemann and Alexander Find

In a Q&A session on study and career orientation, Lennart Hagemann, a materials science student at TU Darmstadt, and Alexander Find, a dual-study chemistry student at Merck, shared their personal journeys. Hagemann described how he first gained insights into materials science through a university information day and subsequently made a conscious decision to pursue the subject. He particularly appreciates the broad scope of the degree program and its strong focus on sustainability: “With materials science, you can work on solutions to societal problems.” As an example, he mentioned a startup in his field that is working on magnetocaloric cooling – a technology that operates without climate-damaging refrigerants. He advised students to remain curious and actively ask questions: “Whether from fellow students or professors – don't be afraid to ask!”

Alexander Find offered insights into his daily life as a dual-study chemistry student at Merck. The particular appeal of the dual study program, he says, lies in the close interplay between theory and practice: “You're involved in work processes early on and get direct insight into how chemical research is applied in industry.” In addition to scientific content, you also gain insights into operational procedures and can get to know various laboratories.

His advice to students: get informed early, take advantage of opportunities like the “Night of Apprenticeships” at Merck, try out different paths, and don't put yourself under pressure. “Take your time – then you'll find your way.”

“Ask the MINTIES”: Explainer Videos, Shorts, and Reels

Dr. Thomas Schneidermeier presented the “Ask the MINTIES” format: Former participants of the inventors' lab – so-called “MINTIES” – explain current topics related to the future in shorts and reels on social media channels such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Part of the program was a project that the ZFC implemented together with Clarissa Corrêa da Silva, presenter of the German children's television program “Die Sendung mit der Maus,” and BASF: Informative YouTube videos explained hydrogen production through electrolysis in an easy-to-understand way. The “do-MINT!” club, in which students independently translate classroom content into practical applications, is also part of the program. This makes complex topics of the future tangible and understandable.

MINTIES were also actively involved in the 40th Inventors' Lab: Joelina Gärter and Pablo del Rio moderated the closing event confidently and eloquently, while Benjamin Kunkel mentored the participants throughout the week.