Dear readers,
In recent decades, chemical substances such as fertilizers and pesticides have had an alarming impact on wildlife. Insects and birds in particular have been affected by a dramatic decline. In Germany alone, around 40 percent of all farmland birds disappeared between 1980 and 2016. At the same time, the total number of insects counted fell by an alarming 76% between 1990 and 2017.
Three students and their innovative school project have set themselves the task of combating this worrying trend. The initiative focuses on developing scientific precipitation tests to detect pollutants and heavy metals in soil and natural water sources. The aim is to give schools the opportunity to test their environment for potentially hazardous substances.
The research was carried out by the students Filip Crockett, Danijal Kamand and Maria Herrmann, who took second place in the Jugend-forscht-Regionalwettbewerb Rhein-Main West 2024 in chemistry with this outstanding project.
Under the expert guidance of Dr. Audrey Schollier, they impressed not only their school but also the research community with their project. This recognition underlines the importance of students' commitment to environmental protection and shows that young people can play a significant role in the pursuit of sustainable solutions. Dr. Schollier, as project supervisor, has not only provided expertise but also fostered enthusiasm for environmental protection and scientific research.
Now let's take a closer look at the project...
The test collection and its development
The basis of the project consists of a comprehensive collection of scientifically based precipitation tests. These tests make it possible to detect harmful substances in a simple and accurate way. The tests have been designed to enable schools to systematically monitor their environment and identify potential sources of danger.
To ensure that the tests are reliable and precise, numerous artificial samples were used. Each test was carried out with a defined amount of the respective pollutant in order to optimize and calibrate the test procedure. This meticulous approach makes it possible to ensure that the tests are sensitive enough to detect even the smallest amounts of pollutants in nature.
Limit values as a benchmark
A crucial step in the development of the tests was the thorough investigation of the limit values for each pollutant. These values were carefully determined, and then compared to the values allowed in water sources in the EU to ensure that they were still considered safe for the environment. The tests were then calibrated so that they could reliably identify any exceedance of these limits. Our students showed that this could successfully be done for fertilizers, but not for heavy metal pollution, as the experimental detection limit was considerably higher than the concentrations allowed in the environment in the EU.
Practical application in schools
The tests developed offer schools a practical opportunity to actively contribute to environmental protection. By using the tests regularly, pupils can recognize potential dangers in their environment at an early stage. This not only creates awareness of environmental problems, but also enables concrete measures to be taken to minimize pollution.
Conclusion
The school pollution testing project is an important step in the fight against the dramatic decline of insects and birds. By providing easy-to-use tests, schools are given an effective tool to monitor their surroundings for potential environmental hazards. This example shows how scientific innovation, education and committed young people can work together to develop concrete solutions to pressing environmental problems.
Thank you for reading:)
