Two Luxembourg students earned global recognition at the Taiwan International Science Fair, with Maxime Buck winning first prize for his self-assembling robot system and Moritz Rohner securing second prize for his innovative quantum physics project.

Luxembourg’s rising scientific talents have achieved global recognition at the Taiwan International Science Fair (TISF), held in Taipei from 20 to 25 January, 2025. Competing against 430 students from 30 countries, Maxime Buck (18, Lycée Michel Rodange) and Moritz Rohner (17, Lycée de Garçons Esch) brought home top honors, cementing Luxembourg’s place on the global science stage.

Maxime Buck won 1st prize in the “Computer Science and Information Engineering” category for his project, M.I.R.A.S., an innovative system of self-assembling robots. His groundbreaking work earned him 5,000 Taiwanese dollars (€145). A seasoned competitor, Maxime previously won awards at ISEF 2023 (International Science and Engineering Fair 2023) and Jonk Fuerscher for his “Marble VR” virtual reality game and is a current contestant on RTL’s science TV show “Take Off.”

Moritz Rohner secured 2nd prize in the “Physics and Astronomy” category for tackling a profound quantum physics problem: “Can a Quantum Mechanical Two-State Theory Model Coulomb's Force?” Inspired by Nobel laureate Richard Feynman, his project demonstrated conceptual depth and earned 3,000 Taiwanese dollars (€87). Reflecting on his experience, Moritz called the trip a chance to build international friendships and explore Taiwan’s unique culture.

Both students were selected through Luxembourg’s Jonk Fuerscher National Competition and supported by Paul Wurth SA and the Fondation Jeunes Scientifiques Luxembourg (FJSL).

The TISF, one of the world’s premier science fairs, showcased 250 innovative projects across 12 categories.