One of the goals of the Heinrich Stockmeyer Foundation is to support young scientists who are working on practical solutions and application-oriented research in food-related fields,
thereby contributing to improving food safety and strengthening consumer confidence in food quality.
The prize is endowed with 2,500 euros.
The award is given in particular to bachelor’s and master’s theses as well as comparable scientific theses or corresponding publications that demonstrate the aforementioned high level of application and
practical relevance and are no more than two years old. Doctoral and postdoctoral theses as well as works that have already received awards are not considered.
Nominations may be submitted for individuals or working groups engaged in research in Germany or abroad. The award is open to individuals up to the age of 30.
Nominations may be submitted by scientists and members of scientific institutions, professional associations, authorities, and science editorial offices. Self-nominations are not permitted.
Application deadline: March 15, 2026
Further information is available on the foundation’s website (www.heinrich-stockmeyer-stiftung.de).
Call for entries: Peter Gerdsen Foundation Essay Competition 2026
The Peter Gerdsen Foundation invites you to participate in its essay competition on the topic of “People and History.”
The essays serve to promote personal success as well as networking and development in our society. The prize is awarded for innovative ideas and unusual perspectives that represent progress in the thinking and actions of society.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026
Further information at: https://www.peter-gerdsen-stiftung.de/ausschreibung-essaypreis
HackA-Bot 2026: 48-Hour Robotics Hackathon
HackA-BOT 2026 – “Where teams bring humanoid robots to life” – is the new robotics hackathon hosted by BEST Erlangen e.V., fully dedicated to the challenges and possibilities of humanoid robots.
The event will take place on 23–24 January 2026 at the modern D.hip Innovation Lab on the Siemens Campus Erlangen, organised in collaboration with Siemens Healthineers.
Over the course of 48 intense hours, interdisciplinary teams will tackle real-world tasks related to humanoid robotics—from control and perception to interaction and system intelligence. These challenges mirror what industry and research are actively working on today.
A hackathon is more than a competition: it is a fast-paced innovation lab. Participants brainstorm, iterate, build prototypes, and test ideas continuously. They gain access to mentors, workshops, and cutting-edge tools that support both software and hardware development.
At BEST, we strongly believe in the impact of hackathons: they ignite innovation, strengthen teamwork, and empower students to turn ambitious ideas into tangible solutions. HackA-BOT gives students the opportunity to showcase their skills, learn new technologies, and contribute to solving meaningful, real-world problems.
All teams will present their final prototypes to a jury. Beyond prizes and recognition, participants walk away with hands-on experience, new skills, and industry-relevant connections.
The event is open to motivated students from all study backgrounds who want to challenge themselves, learn fast, and spend an intensive weekend building real robotic solutions.
More information and registration: best-erlangen.de / Registration
STEMwarts: A Magical Journey into Interdisciplinary Learning
For one week the FAU secretly turned into “STEMwarts”: during the BEST Symposium on Education Erlangen 2025 (“STEMwarts: A Magical Journey into Interdisciplinary Learning”), 15 students from all over Europe came together to poke at skills, grades and AI with fewer wands, but similar levels of chaos.
In sessions like “From Campus to Career” and “Siriusly Smart : AI as the Student Assistant”, people argued whether AI is saving our studies or melting our brains. Other workshops focused on learning across cultures, doing experiments instead of watching slides, and mixing arts, business and STEM in one room without anyone rage-quitting.
By the end, participants had cooked up ideas for new courses, interdisciplinary programmes and delightfully weird projects – from smart cities to turning patterns in nature into music. Plus: new friends, not much sleep, and a report that is now on its way to education conferences.
Contact & join us: [kontakt@best-erlangen.de]
More info: best-erlangen.de / Instagram / LinkedIn / Youtube
Members’ Meeting: every Wednesday, 6:30 pm, room 0.154-115, Cauerstraße 7/9, 91058 Erlangen.
From campus to campus: With BEST Erlangen at Adidas HQ
On 11 November 2025, twenty FAU students swapped lecture halls for the Adidas campus in Herzogenaurach. Together with BEST Erlangen, they spent a full day behind the famous three stripes – with career insights, a campus tour and, of course, some fresh sneakers.
The day started with an introduction to Adidas as an employer and a personal career story from an employee. In an open Q&A session, participants could ask anything they wanted – from application tips to development opportunities in a global company.
After that, things became very practical: students received direct feedback on their CVs and LinkedIn profiles. Instead of generic advice from the internet, they got honest comments from someone who regularly reads applications which is a real advantage for the next internship or job search.
To make sure the visit was not just PowerPoint and coffee, the group explored the campus by bike. They saw offices, sports facilities and common areas and got a feeling for how work, sport and everyday life are connected on site. A special highlight was the Adidas archive, where around 75 years of brand and product history come together.
The visit ended with a quick stop at the campus store so some students returned to FAU in very new shoes.
The excursion was made possible by the cooperation between Adidas and BEST Erlangen. Many thanks to Manav Jain from Adidas and to the Corporate Relations team of BEST Erlangen for planning and organisation. More company visits and trainings are already in the pipeline – keep an eye out for the next calls!
Contact: [kontakt@best-erlangen.de]. Members’ Meeting: every Wednesday, 6:30 pm, room 0.154-115, Cauerstraße 7/9, 91058 Erlangen · More info: best-erlangen.de / Instagram / LinkedIn / Youtube