Young Researchers Conference 2025

On July 25, 2025, this year's Young Researchers Conference took place at the Chair of Science Education at Otto Friedrich University in Bamberg as part of the DiKuLe wild bee project. Pupils and teachers from five different schools gathered at the Noddackhaus to discuss their research projects, gain new perspectives, and immerse themselves in the world of wild bees.

The conference opened with a presentation of the key findings of the ongoing citizen science pilot project. Participants gained insights into the evaluation of the colonization of nesting aids, the analysis of flowering plants in the vicinity of the nesting aids and a comparison of two types of nesting aids, including a 3D-printed concrete version. Two groups of pupils also presented their own observations and findings in the form of posters they had designed themselves.

This was followed by two practice-oriented workshops, which were planned by students from the seminar “Bee the change - understanding and protecting wild bees through social entrepreneurship in schools” and carried out together with the participants:

• In the workshop “Wild Bee-Friendly (School) Garden” the pupils evaluated the university grounds at Markusplatz using a detailed list of criteria. The result: despite being open to the public, the grounds meet the requirements of a wild bee-friendly garden – an achievement that was recognized with a plaque on site. The participants are now able to examine and certify gardens and schoolyards themselves using the same criteria.
• In the workshop “Saving wild bees – we build habitats” participants built their own nesting aids under expert guidance. This resulted in a variety of nesting options – for example, hollow stems and wooden blocks with different holes – tailored to the needs of different wild bee species. All participants were able to take their self-made nesting aids home with them.

During the macroscopic walk, wild bees and wasps were examined closely under a binocular microscope. An accompanying quiz encouraged participants to look closely and made them think about what they were seeing.

The event concluded with a short presentation by a student on the endangered poppy bee, which is found in remarkable numbers in the Kemmern area. Participants learned more about its unique way of life and the mapping of ground-nesting species—a topic that has become increasingly important in recent years.

The lively participation, the great interest of the students, and the intensive discussions on the topic of wild bees impressively demonstrated that research thrives on participation.

We would like to thank all participating schools, teachers, and students for an insightful, practical, and inspiring conference day!