27.05.2024

A great accolade for the young researchers from the field of water research: Dr Sabina Marks from the Faculty of Biology and Dr Lisa Voskuhl, junior research group leader at the Faculty of Chemistry, came fourth in the final of the "Forum Junge Spitzenforscher" 2024 competition. They are investigating how algae bacteria can help to eliminate oil contamination. Their presentation on the research project "Nature's oil warriors" will now be rewarded with prize money totalling 2,000 euros.

"We are researching microbial and ecological processes in natural oil leaks and films on water and soil," explains Dr Sabina Marks. Using samples they have taken themselves from natural oil leaks in Germany, they are analysing the composition of algae and bacterial communities adapted to oil as well as their role and speed in oil degradation, among other things. The work of the two young researchers may have great significance for the elimination of oil contamination: "Our results show that the algae bacteria isolated from natural oil leaks can support and accelerate the degradation of man-made oil contamination.

The Forum Junge Spitzenforschung was organised by TU concept GmbH of TU Dortmund University with the support of the Stiftung Industrieforschung. The motto of this year's competition was "Resource-efficient circular economy".

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