jGDNÄ – YOUNG NETWORK OF THE GDNÄ

The Young Network of the GDNÄ, or jGDNÄ for short, is the youth organisation of the Society of German Natural Scientists and Physicians. It was founded in Potsdam in September 2024 and brings together young people up to the age of 32: school students with excellent grades in natural sciences and students of natural sciences and medicine who are interested in actively participating in the GDNÄ. The jGDNÄ lives up to this claim with a variety of new initiatives. Its membership is growing steadily.

The Young Network developed from the highly successful GDNÄ school programme, which is being continued under the umbrella of the jGDNÄ. The school programme is aimed at upper secondary school students, while the jGDNÄ is open to university students and young professionals. The GDNÄ’s previous support initiatives are also still available: the Youth Research Programme , the Graduate Programme and the Teacher Programme. The programmes are made possible by the generous support of the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation, the Bayer Science and Education Foundation, the AKB Foundation and, since 2024, the Family Business Foundation.

The activities now brought together under the umbrella of the jGDNÄ represent one of the core objectives of the Society of German Natural Scientists and Physicians: to inspire young people to take an interest in science, technology and medicine and motivate them to pursue a career in science.

Through exchanges via digital media and face-to-face meetings, committed members are driving forward the development of the jGDNÄ until the GDNÄ Assembly in Bremen in 2026.

The projects of the Young Network of the GDNÄ include regular meetings between the biennial GDNÄ assemblies, a mentoring programme that brings established GDNÄ scientists together with jGDNÄ members, and events in selected German cities. In addition, regional groups are to be formed in which GDNÄ members of all ages can come together to discuss and support each other.