Freising Science Slam: Recap & Winners

Science Slam reel 2024 (credits: Christoph Wedmann, LfL)

The ultimate showdown of science talent

What is a Science Slam?

A presentation competition in which researchers present their projects in short, entertaining, easy-to-understand talks. The audience decides who wins at the end of the evening. Scientific accuracy matters, but so do presentation, creativity, humor, and a clear message!

Winners

Who took home the traveling trophy

The audience decides by applause, measured by a sound-level judging panel.

3rd Freising Science Slam · October 8, 2026

2026

Rocciana Bersch

Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL)

"Good Luck in Agriculture: Clover Does the Trick"

2nd Freising Science Slam · October 30, 2025

2025

Lisa Ziegltrum

Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT)

"What Would Popeye Eat Today?"

1st Freising Science Slam · November 7, 2024

2024

Helen Haug

Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV)

"Food Testing: Virus Detect"

Recap 2026

The 2026 presenters

Four researchers turned their projects into fascinating stories. Host: Kim Ludwig-Petsch, curiocity co-initiator.

The Fascination of Microstructures

Frida Köning · Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at TUM (Leibniz-LSB@TUM)

What exactly is shortcrust pastry, why do different shortcrust baked goods have different properties, and what does this have to do with paint-by-numbers? Using a delicious case study, Frida Köning demonstrates what her microscopy method can do.

Good Luck in Agriculture: Clover Does the Trick

Rocciana Bersch · Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL)

Why is clover considered lucky, what brings it bad luck, and how can that be influenced? With plenty of charm, Rocciana Bersch shows how we can deliberately breed good fortune for the future.

Are Fungi Capitalists?

Barbara Brunschweiger · TUM School of Life Sciences

Trees and fungi exchange nutrients through mycorrhizae. What happens to the fungal community in a pine forest when a new tree species, black cherry, appears? Barbara Brunschweiger explains why these invisible underground relationships matter.

A Rehabilitation Program for Bacteria

Capa Pelle Vollmar · Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT)

Bacteria have a bad reputation—and not always fairly. Capa Pelle Vollmar shows how bacterial DNA can be deliberately introduced into plant cells to obtain valuable plant compounds more efficiently.

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