The Goldene Plietsch
The GOLDENE PLIETSCH 2026
What do projects such as the 3D scanning of historical seals, a transformation stele based on the motto ‘Come as you are’, and the upcycling of discarded computers have in common?
That’s right; in addition to their shared aim of supporting the University of Bremen’s strategy on sustainability, climate protection and climate justice, these three projects are among the GOLDEN PLIETSCH projects funded for 2026.
On 28 January 2026, the final of the GOLDEN PLIETSCH 2026 took place at the Forum am Domshof. Under the theme of sustainability, climate protection and climate justice, the finalists had a total of three minutes to convince not only the jury – comprising trustees from the University of Bremen and the NKK Commission – but also the audience of the merits of their ideas. The presenters and their ideas came from all departments and addressed areas within research, campus operations or teaching. Ultimately, the decision as to which projects would receive funding from the �25,000 prize pool and thus be able to continue their projects rested with everyone present. As a result, 10 of the 12 presenters were delighted to receive their funding and proudly accepted their certificates. In addition, the votes cast by the jury and the audience resulted in a Jury Prize and an Audience Prize, each of which was also honoured with a certificate. We congratulate the 10 projects and look forward to reporting on their progress very soon!
The following projects have received funding:
Lisa Sophie Scholl & Dr. Jan Ulrich Büttner: Smarte Sphragistik – How medieval seals are inspiring the technologies of tomorrow (�2,700 and the People’s Choice Award)
Jan-Hendrik von Stemm: Wandlungsstele – ?Come as you are“ making visible on campus (�1,700 and the jury prize)
Prof. Dr. Jens Falta & Torben Rohbeck: Upcycling of discarded Windows 10 computers and laptops (�1,100)
Prof. Dr. Mathias Kluge: Wo Nachhaltigkeit wurzelt: The first reforestation project in German history (�1,000)
Esther Feeken & Dr. Oliver Hinelbein: G?rtnern Mittenmang (�5,000)
Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler & Dr. Jannis Stoppe: Energie-Noerdman - informative and humorousl (�1,000)
Karen Albers: Educational Escape Room (�4,500)
Ayla Satilmis: Fair-teilen on campus – An interdisciplinary teaching and practical project (�3,400)
Dr. Thomas Jan?en: What’s on, what’s running – and how many? (�700)
Raphaell Moreira, Ph.D.: From Waste to Awareness: Circular Materials and PFASFree Campus Initiative (�5,000)
You can find more detailed profiles of the funded projects here.
The GOLDENE PLIETSCH 2023
Lucky winner: The first prize, the “Golden Plietsch” worth 8,000 euros, went to Dr Detta Sophie Schütz for her project “ZDL School: Goal-oriented dialogic reading as a method for integrating language development into everyday life in primary schools”. University Chancellor Frauke Meyer and Dr Helga Trüpel, members of the University Foundation’s Executive Board, presented the awards.
The ‘Golden Plietsch’, worth 7,000 euros, was won by Professor Anna F?rster for the student project ‘MoleNet: Underground sensor networks for the Sustainable Development Goals’. PD Dr Guido Schmiemann received 5,000 euros for the project “Climate-conscious prescribing of inhalants”, as did Dr Bror Giesenbauer and Julia Twachtmann for their “Wiki-Retreat: Writing workshop on sustainability communication at universities”.
With their compelling presentations in the packed Olbers Hall, the four prize-winners prevailed over three other excellent projects that had qualified for the final. The competition sought bold and innovative ideas that contribute to sustainable development and have an impact on (Bremen’s) society.
The jury, comprising representatives from the participating foundations, voted together with the audience in the Olbers Hall to decide which projects should be awarded a total of 25,000 euros.
The Goldene Plietsch 2021
The GOLDENE PLIETSCH 2021 for the BIND: Bike Friend project
Creating meaning and knowledge in the anniversary year
Everything is different this year as part of MACHT SINN!
The decision on which projects will receive the "Das Goldene Plietsch" sponsorship award was made at a public event on 1 November 2021 - and you decided!
We were looking for bold and innovative ideas that contribute to current social challenges. Projects on nature conservation and climate protection were included as well as social cohesion, renewable energies and education. The jury, made up of representatives from the participating foundations and the alumni association, voted together with the audience in the Olbers Hall and on the screens to decide which projects should be honoured with a total of 30,000 euros.
Dr Eva Sch?ck-Quinteros, Peter Lüchinger, Marcel Golczyk and Raul Clermont won the Golden Plietsch for 8,000 euros for the 18th project in the "From the files to the stage" series, Chile: On the way to a new democracy? Among other things, the project team will examine the consequences of the Chilean military dictatorship (1973-1990) and the trade in raw materials with Germany, which has lasted for more than 100 years and has also made many Bremen merchants rich. The project is part of the successful event series "From the files to the stage".
Dr Dennis Philipp and Dr Christian Pfeifer received 6,000 euros for "From Bremen to Space - Aiming High with Science" They want to get young people interested in space travel and increase public acceptance of science. Plans include a social media campaign, public lectures (Haus der Wissenschaft, "Science goes public"), a summer academy for school pupils and a mentoring programme for students in their first semesters and Prof. Rita Gro?-Hardt, Silvia Blum, Jens Schellhass for "Radio Hertz-Rhythmus", which is setting up a radio station aimed specifically at listeners over 70 and created by people of this age themselves. Pupils and students will also be involved in the production. Only music created before 1970 will be played. With their original presentations on Monday evening at the Haus der Wissenschaft, the four prizewinners beat five other great projects that had qualified for the final.
The Golden Plietsch, endowed with 10,000 euros, was awarded on Monday evening to Dr Wanli Yu and Prof Alberto Garcia-Ortiz for their project BIND: Bike Friend, which aims to ensure greater safety and sustainability on the roads with intelligent bicycles. The researchers want to use the prize money to equip bicycles with an intelligent sensor system that measures the current speed and the distance to other road users. If a collision is imminent, the self-learning system warns with a vibration signal. If the intelligent bike is parked for a longer period of time, the system acts as an anti-theft device and sends a warning message to the bike owner's smartphone in the event of unusual movements. University Rector Professor Scholz-Reiter and Chancellor Frauke Meyer presented the awards.