Cross-section of student research

What does the TV series "Buffy" have to do with Plato? This is just one of the questions that the academic articles in the new student online journal `forsch!' aim to answer. Other topics in the first issue: fashion blogs, guilt and remorse or marriage as an event.

Everyone can read - and write: in future, university students will be able to publish their academic work in their own online journal. `forsch!' is the name of the student research magazine, the first issue of which is now available to download from the university's homepage.

"During their studies, students research and write scientific papers with extremely remarkable results. These are then usually presented to fellow students in seminars and then often disappear into a drawer. We want to change that," explains educational scientist Dr David Kergel, who coordinates the online journal. `forsch!' offers a platform to publicise student research results and essays beyond the boundaries of the respective subject and to present them to an interested public.

The idea for `forsch!' came about as part of the "Research-based learning in focus" (FLiF) project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The aim of FLiF is to develop innovative teaching/learning concepts and to introduce students to all phases of research and scientific work in order to combine learning and research. With `forsch!', students are given the opportunity to go through an entire research cycle - from the research question to publication.

Bachelor's and Master's students from all disciplines can submit their research papers, essays or scientific articles to `forsch! A team of editors consisting of academics from the university checks the scientific criteria of the work and supports the students in the publication process. In addition, there is a co-operation with the learning workshop of the Central Student Advisory Service for a scientific writing workshop.

The first issue of the student research magazine reflects a cross-section of student research activities: scientific essays are dedicated to the "study effort of subject and two-subject Bachelor students" or investigate the question of whether the US fantasy series "Buffy" is a modern adaptation of Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

A scientific exposé analyses the "Future of Civic Engagement" and looks back on 15 years of the Enquete Commission. An essay analyses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its significance in Germany. The "Experimental Format" looks at fashion blogs in a video feature. In addition, the first issue presents award-winning final theses.

`forsch!' is published twice a year, and special issues are also planned for student conferences or large-scale seminars, for example.