Projects. Schloss Neubeuern.
Mountain world as a laboratory
19.05.2025- 23.05.2025
Pupils research the decline of pollinators with the TU Munich
Neubeuern/Heuberg – Catch nets instead of pens, flower analyses instead of biobooks: for five days, a hut on the Heuberg became a classroom. 13 pupils from the Schloss Neubeuern, Louisenlund and Birklehof boarding schools joined scientists from the Technical University of Munich to conduct research on a topic that is increasingly coming to the fore – the dramatic decline of insects.
Three days of research were on the programme under the direction of Prof. Dr Sara Leonhardt’s Chair of Plant-Insect Interactions. Marielle Schleifer, Kiril Arsovski, Dr Fabian Rüdenauer and Prof. Leonhardt accompanied the young people in their work – from the field study to the statistical analysis.
Insect mortality begins in the meadow
With landing nets and observation sheets, they first went into the alpine surroundings of the Heuberghütte. The aim was to document flowering plants and catch pollinators such as wild bees and hoverflies – and to correlate their occurrence with the vegetation.
A central problem was already apparent here: the more uniform the flowering areas, the lower the diversity and quantity of insects. Wild bees in particular, of which there are over 500 species in Germany, suffer from the loss of near-natural habitats. The honeybee, as was discussed at the camp, is prominent – but not endangered. “They are well looked after by beekeepers. Wild bees, on the other hand, have no protective organisation,” was the tenor of the discussion.
Findings in the laboratory
The samples were then analysed in the laboratory at Schloss Neubeuern. Using the Bradford assay, the students analysed the protein content of the pollen – crucial for the nutrition of many pollinator species – under the guidance of Dr Rüdenauer.
The results were statistically analysed together with Prof. Leonhardt. The conclusion was clear: stable pollinator populations require a high diversity of native flowering plants – in gardens, on balconies and in the agricultural landscape.
Not just saving the bees
These findings are also supported by recent studies: according to the highly regarded Krefeld study (2017), the biomass of flying insects in Germany has fallen by around 75 per cent in 27 years – even in nature reserves.
“What helps is diversity,” emphasised Prof. Leonhardt – and openly answered a student’s question as to whether dealing with such findings was not frustrating: “Yes, on some days. But I have the opportunity to make a difference – by working with young people who may be taking on responsibility themselves tomorrow.”
More than biology lessons
In addition to science, there was also time for personal development: hiking, climbing and evenings around the campfire strengthened the team spirit. And above all, learning about an often overlooked group of animals changed our perspective. Where there was initially disgust or indifference, interest and awareness of the problem grew.
As a result, the camp not only became an example of successful promotion of young talent in the STEM field, but also an experience that shifted perspectives – and gave insects a voice that is otherwise often ignored.
Magdalena Schwaiger, teacher at Schloss Neubeuern
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