Physicists at the University of Oldenburg have offered sound level metres and disco ear protectors as prizes to the top physics A-level students in the Oldenburg region. Their aim is to raise awareness of their ‘Come and join us – get involved in research’ initiative, which offers mini-jobs in research for four semesters to particularly committed first-year physics students. Each school may nominate one winner. The prizes for the top physics A-level students will be presented during the school-leavers’ graduation ceremonies.

A wide range of original prizes are on offer, reflecting the various research focuses at the Institute of Physics. For example, there are prizes on the theme of renewable energy, such as a solar-powered mobile phone charger, a model car powered by a fuel cell, or non-fiction books on current physics topics. In keeping with the field of nano-optics, for example, a high-tech laser pointer is up for grabs.
Many of the prizes relate to acoustics and signal processing. Some are designed for hearing protection, which could be put to use against the deafening ‘vuvuzela noise’ at public live broadcasts of the Football World Cup. “Successful A-level students can look forward to a calibrated mini sound level meter, which they can use to reliably measure when the noise limit of 85 dB(A) for noise harmful to health is exceeded,” says Prof. Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier, hearing researcher and initiator of the campaign. “Others will receive high-tech earphones with active noise cancellation or custom-fitted ear protectors for use in nightclubs or by musicians. In this way, we want to show how hearing research can also offer practical help for everyday life”.
The first sound level meter was recently presented to school-leaver Markus Prinzler from the Upper Secondary School Centre in Bremen. “We don’t know whether he used the sound level meter straight away to measure the volume of the applause at the school-leavers’ ceremony,” said Kollmeier.