Prizes
The participants compete for a number of core prizes on the basis of a written description of their work, their exhibited material and the interviews with the Contest Jury. In addition to this, a limited number of special donated prizes are awarded by the Jury, to offer some winners the opportunity to benefit from the specific experiences linked to these prizes. It is up to the Jury to decide whether a prize-winner can receive both a core prize and a special donated prize.
Core Prizes
The Core Prizes are the principal prizes awarded at the contest. These are cash prizes. In the case of a team winning such a prize, the amount is shared equally between the members of the team.
There are three categories of Core Prizes:
- Four First Prizes worth €7,000 each
- Four Second Prizes worth €5,000 each
- Four Third Prizes worth €3,500 each
Honorary prizes associated with the first prizes
- London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF)
Up to three contestants receive an all-expenses paid trip to London to attend the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF). - Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS)
Two contestants will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Stockholm to attend the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS) and the Nobel Prize Ceremony.
Special donated prizes
The Special Donated Prizes are offered to contestants who, according to the EUCYS Jury, would benefit from the specific experience that these prizes offer. The European Commission is very grateful to the organisations that offer these special prizes to the contestants,
The EIROforum Prizes
EIROforum award the following prizes:
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) – offers a project prize (for up to 3 people) of a week’s visit to their Geneva site
- EUROfusion (JET) – home of plasma physics and fusion research, offers one project a one week stay (for up to 3 people) at their Culham, Oxfordshire, UK site
- The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) – offers a project prize (for up to 3 people) of a week’s placement at their premises in Heidelberg, Germany
- The European Space Agency (ESA) – offers a single prize winner the opportunity to attend a major space science conference in Europe or to spend a week at ESA’s main technical centre, ESTEC, in The Netherlands.
- European Southern Observatory (ESO) – offers the winner of a single-student project, a visit to their facilities in Chile including trips to the Paranal Observatory and ESO’s Scientific Centre in Santiago, Chile
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) – operator of Europe’s most powerful synchrotron radiation source, offers the leader of a winning project a one week visit to their site in Grenoble
- The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) – operator of the world’s most intense neutron source, offers the leader of a winning project a one week visit to their Grenoble site
- European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility GmbH (XFEL.EU) – offers one winner a one week placement at their site near Hamburg, Germany
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) Prizes
The JRC kindly offers a two day stay at its Ispra site in Italy for 3 projects (up to nine students).
EuChemS Prize
The European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences is pleased to offer a prize of €1000 to the best Chemistry project.
WOLFRAM Prizes
WOLFRAM are pleased to offer all contestants submitting projects in Mathematics a free one year licence to Wolfram Mathematica and WolframAlphaPro.
International Swiss Talent Forum (ISTF)
ISTF kindly awards the winning project the opportunity to take part at The International Swiss Talent Forum – February 5th – 8th 2020.
Expo-Sciences Luxembourg
The Expo-Sciences Luxembourg is an international, non-competitive science fair that welcomes young laureates from all over the world. Young scientists get the possibility to present their scientific projects alongside our national participants.
International Students of History Association (ISHA)
ISHA will invite one person with interests in the field of Historical sciences to parcipate in a relevant conference and present their results.
The EUCYS bioeconomy prizes
The European Food and Drink Industry prize, awarded by FoodDrinkEurope
FoodDrinkEurope, on behalf of Europe’s Food and Drink Industry, is very pleased to award the winner/each member of the winning team with a check for 2,000 euros, to help the young scientists in their research pursuits and provide support for their future academic or professional plans.
The EUCYS Bioeconomy Bio-based Industries Prize
The prize will be awarded by BBI JU who will provide a paid 5-day trip to Brussels for the winning project including travel to/from, accommodation and daily allowance in Brussels and participating in a tailor-made experience related to the science behind the BBI JU programme.
The PepsiCo Prize
PepsiCo is once again delighted to support EUCYS 2019, and to invite the winning team to spend a day at our Beaumont Park R&D centre in the UK, following a range of different activities with our R&D team.
The Unilever Prize
Unilever is pleased to welcome three students to its brand-new Global Foods Innovation Centre in Wageningen (Netherlands), also known as “the Silicon Valley of Foods”. During a two-day mini-internship, they get to experience how products from brands like Knorr, Hellmann’s and Lipton are being developed.
Host country prizes
National Workshop on Coding Theory “Proffessor Stefan Dodunekov” Prize
Two EUCYS contestants will be awarded to parcipate in the next edition of NWCT (November 2019, Chiflika, Bulgaria).
Bulgarian Summer Research School Award
The award offers one student, who will not have finished his secondary education by August 2019 the opportunity to participate in the Summer Research School of the Bulgarian High School Students Institute of Mathematics and Informatics.
LONDON INTERNATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE FORUM (LIYSF)
Up to three contestants receive an all-expenses-paid trip to London to attend the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF). The prize covers the travel costs from the country of origin, accommodation, meals, registration, and participation in a full programme of activities.
LIYSF brings together 300 science students from around 60 countries worldwide. The programme, which includes visits to industrial sites and world-class research laboratories and facilities, lectures, demonstrations and seminars from leading scientists, highlights the links between individual fields of study and introduces all participants to the latest thinking across a broad range of science.
Participants are able to interact with the eminent speakers, to debate on current issues and to explore the way in which their chosen subject relates to other studies and has an impact on the world at large.
Each year’s LIYSF becomes a multicultural community, and, with its busy social activities programme, provides a unique opportunity to meet and develop friendships and contacts across the world. The participants attending LIYSF are usually between the age of 17 and 21 years old.
For further information, please contact:
London International Youth Science Forum,
Royal Parade Mews, Chislehurst,
Kent, BR7 6TN, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8295 8395.
Fax: +44 (0)20 8295 8650.
Email: enquiries@liysf.org.uk
Web: www.liysf.org.uk
Conference Director: Richard Myhill
Richard.myhill@liysf.org.uk
BULGARIAN SUMMER RESEARCH SCHOOL AWARD
The award offers one student, who will not have finished his secondary education by August 2019 the opportunity to parcipate in the Summer Research School of the Bulgarian High School Students Instute of Mathematics and Informatics. The Summer Research School is a three -week program, held each August in Bulgaria, during which the parcipants have the opportunity to work on a research topic in Mathematics or Computer Science with a personal mentor.
The award is offered jointly by the Ministry of Education and Science and the High School Students Instute of Mathematics and Informatics (HSSIMI). HSSIMI is founded in 2000 by a consorum of foundations and research institutions to assist high-achieving students in the first steps of their careers, to promote inquiry in secondary education and to support citizen science initiaives. The Summer Research School is its biggest initiative, organized annually since 2001 and open to international parcipants since 2015. It is an intensive program for students aged 14 to 19, offering each parcipant a separate research topic in Mathematics or Computer science, resources and mentorship support. Mentors and lecturers at the summer school are graduate students and researchers from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and leading international academic institutions, such as Cambridge, ETH Zurich, Yale, MIT and others.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (MES) is the main policy-maker and public authority responsible for the implementation of the state policy for science and research development. The ministry has the responsibility for creating a favourable environment and incentives for the development of science and research as well as implementing the commitments of the Republic of Bulgaria arising from its membership in the European Union. It is also the main organizer of the national contest “Young Talents” which selects the Bulgarian participants for EUCYS and other international forums, as part of its long-term commitment to supporng high-achieving students.
International Students of History Association (ISHA)
ISHA is an international network of students of history and related sciences. Its activities are open to all students with an interest in history from all academic backgrounds and levels of study – first-year through PhD. It has members in almost 30 European countries. The organization was born after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 with the idea of enabling students of history to come into contact, cooperate and exchange ideas, something that had not been possible before.
What is it about?
- Meeting students from other countries and universities
- Discussing history academically in an international perspective
- Learning about each other’s views and backgrounds
- Sharing and advancing one’s knowledge
- Having a good time together
ISHA and its members organize activities all over Europe. At the core are the international conferences and seminars, which are held year-round in different university cities under varying academic topics. These events usually last a week, during which the participants present their own interests and research, hear lectures, take part in cultural visits and excursions, and enjoy a social program. The sections from all over Europe organize meetings on their own initiative. They can host a seminar, a large Annual Conference or any other Europe-wide event. Many sections also organize smaller events on the local (at their university/country) or regional (with neighboring countries) levels. The International Board coordinates the activities of the sections and also opens up possibilities to participate in varying projects with ISHA’s international partner organizations. The organization produces various publications including, since 1999, an annual international journal Carnival.
National Workshop on Coding Theory “Proffessor Stefan Dodunekov” Prize
The annual National Workshop on Coding Theory (NWCT) named after Stefan Dodunekov (1945-2012) was established in 1980’s.
Prof. Dodunekov, the founder of the Bulgarian school of coding theory, was a world-renowned scholar in the area of algebraic and combinatorial theory of error-correcng codes and its applications for data protection and information security. The workshop brings together experienced researchers and young people – university and PhD students, assistant professors, specialists from coding theory and cryptography. Special sessions are devoted to annual reports of the researchers from the department “Mathemacal Foundations of Informatics” of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. New results are presented and PhD projects are shown in development.
Two EUCYS contestants will be awarded to participate in the next edition of NWCT (November 2019, Chiflika, Bulgaria).
The Unilever prize
Unilever is pleased to welcome three students to its brand-new Global Foods Innovation Centre in Wageningen (Netherlands), also known as “the Silicon Valley of Foods”. In this Innovation Centre, our scientists work together with the Wageningen University & Research, other companies and startups on exciting new food products for a better and healthier future.
During a two-day mini-internship, you get to experience how products from brands like Knorr, Hellmann’s and Lipton are being developed. You will see the pilot plant, a mini factory where we produce and test small-scale products, the kitchens where our chefs try out new recipes, and laboratories where formulations are developed. As we are located on the University campus, you will also get a tour of the Wageningen University & Research.
The PepsiCo prize
PepsiCo is once again delighted to support EUCYS 2019, and to invite the winning team to spend a day at our Beaumont Park R&D centre in the UK, following a range of different activities with our R&D team. PepsiCo would also propose to include a visit of our Leycroft factory nearby, to see first-hand how the R&D effort translates into delightful new product offerings to our consumers. We would also set up an opportunity for the winning EUCYS team to spend time with some of the students who intern with us for up to a year, to explain what they have been doing as well…
Research and innovation are key to the future of Europe, and key to the future of PepsiCo. We are delighted to be associated with this initiative again.
The EUCYS Bioeconomy Bio-based Industries Prize
About the bioeconomy
The bioeconomy is made up of those parts of the economy that use renewable biological resources from land and sea like crops, forests, fish, animals and micro-organisms to produce food, materials and energy.
The bioeconomy is an essential alternative to our current fossil-based economy. It can replace our current fossil fuel-based economy which is dependent on the planet’s limited supply of non-renewable resources, such as petroleum and coal. It’s hailed as the next wave in our economic development and should provide major opportunities for innovation, jobs and growth to help re-industrialize Europe.
In fact, the bioeconomy is already a reality. Biomass like plant material, municipal and livestock waste is converted into electricity, fuels, plastics and the basic building blocks for chemical processes. Many materials made from petrochemicals can be replaced with materials made from biomass. Sometimes, small changes to naturally occurring substances can produce useful alternatives to commonly used products such as packing or trash bags.
Using biochemicals instead of chemicals derived from petroleum can reduce pollution, increase efficiency, and limit the use of hazardous materials and chemicals in the manufacture process. Enzymes from plants and microorganisms, as well as bacteria and other microbes, can be used in industrial chemical reactions to make a number of everyday products. Enzymes help bring about and speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes are in laundry detergent to improve stain removal. They convert cellulose to sugar, bleach paper and curdle milk for cheese and yogurt.
Cups, forks, spoons, knives, plates, food storage containers, T-shirts and pillows can be made from biomass including waste and residues. These products can be made so that they are biodegradable and compostable. It is hoped that the production and use of these bio-products and materials will reduce the amount of biodegradable waste and materials going to landfills.
About the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU)
The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is a partnership between the European Commission and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) set up in 2014 to fund research and innovation to help to develop the bio-based economy in Europe. BBI JU’s funding is meant to encourage further investment by the private sector through industry. It works by setting up multi-partner projects who work together to solve the scientific, logistic and infrastructural challenges facing the bio-based industry in Europe. Research can be in a lab or in a combination of lab, pilot plant or biorefinery.
The BBI JU programme offers enormous opportunities to tackle some major societal, environmental and economic challenges, including climate change, energy and food security and resource efficiency.
The bioeconomy EUCYS prize will be awarded by the judges to the project which they feel best uses biotechnology for the production and the conversion of biomass into non-food value-added products[1].
The winning project should reflect three key principals of the bio-based economy in using raw material of a biological origin, for example whole or parts of plants, trees, algae, marine organisms, micro-organisms, animal in a way which is:
- sustainable
- renewable
- innovative
The winning project will also meet a fourth criteria based on the effectiveness of its overall communicability to the scientific community and the general public. The winning project should promote scientific studies, while raising environmental awareness, and promote the bioeconomy.
The prize will be awarded by BBI JU who will provide a paid 5-day trip to Brussels for the winning project including travel to/from, accommodation and daily allowance in Brussels[2] and participating in a tailor-made experience related to the science behind the BBI JU programme.
The prize awarded will comprise:
- a visit and introduction to the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking programme office;
- a visit to some of the key public institutions shaping European bio-based policy, including the European Parliament’s visitor centre and a look behind the scenes at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation;
- Two one-day visits to bio-based biorefineries and laboratory facilities selected from the following based in:
- Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, DSM labs (tbc) and Biotech Campus (tbc) in Gent, Belgium (subject to confirmation)
- Biotech Pilot Plant in Delft, The Netherlands (subject to confirmation)
- the possibility to visit local tourist sites in the relevant locations, where the itinerary permits.
During each one-day excursion, a range of age-appropriate supervised activities will be organised, along with an opportunity to meet and talk to the scientists working there about their research and a career in science. There may also be an opportunity to visit a few tourist attractions during the stay.
The prize will be awarded to the winning project (up to a maximum of three participants) and one teacher/lecturer[3] (who has made a significant & demonstrable contribution to the wining project), to be nominated by winners to accompany them. Where no teacher/lecturer is nominated, an accompanying responsible adult must be nominated by the winning project. The winning person or persons will remain under the responsibility & supervision of this person during their travel, activities and visits.
Special conditions: Minimum age of all project participants is 16 years at date of judges’ final decision.
Eligible countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries
Insurance cover: The winner(s) must ensure they have suitable travel, medical and accident insurances and will be asked to provide evidence prior to the visit.
Prize to be taken by: BBI JU will offer a maximum of three possible dates for the winning project to participate in the award. These will be provided according to availability of the winning project in conjunction with the availability of the organisations concerned in making the award.
[1] The bio-based product must be wholly or partly derived from biomass and can be an intermediate, material, semi-finished or final product. Bio-based products include bio-chemicals, bio-plastics, pharmaceuticals, paper and paper products, textiles, 2nd generation biofuels and bioenergy and bio-based ingredients used in everyday products.
[2] Travel and accommodation will be provided on the same basis as for attending competition exhibition.
[3] Subject to the approval of their educational institution
The European Food and Drink Industry prize
FoodDrinkEurope, on behalf of Europe’s Food and Drink Industry, is very pleased to award the winner/each member of the winning team with a check for 2,000 euros, to help the young scientists in their research pursuits and provide support for their future academic or professional plans.
The EuChemS Prize
The European Chemical Society (EuChemS) brings together over 40 chemical societies which together represent more than 160,000 chemists in academia, industry, government and professional organisations in over 30 countries across Europe.
Founded in 1970, EuChemS aims to provide a single voice on key science and policy issues, based on expert scientific knowledge and to promote chemistry as a provider of solutions in a changing world. EuChemS Professional Networks cover all areas of chemistry, enable networks between European scientists to thrive, and provide expert advice to EuChemS’ policy positions. EuChemS organises the biennial EuChemS Chemistry Congress open to all, and has an event recognition scheme in place to promote chemistry-related events across Europe.
EuChemS is pleased to present a prize of €1000 for the best chemistry entry in the EU Young Scientists Contest. For more information on EuChemS please see: www.euchems.eu
The WOLFRAM Prizes
WOLFRAM Research is donating a one-year Wolfram Mathematica Student Edition license plus a free one-year subscription to WolframAlpha Pro for all contestants submitting projects in the field of mathematics, physics and computer science.
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) Prizes
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It performs direct scientific research and provides evidence-based and independent scientific advice to European policy makers helping them to make informed decisions.
EU policies that address global and societal challenges – such as financial stability, climate change, food security, water availability or the ageing society – need to be based more and more on a solid scientific understanding. In close cooperation with international partners, the JRC elaborates models and scenarios to assess policy options while stimulating innovation through developing new methods, tools and standards.
The work of the JRC has a direct impact on the lives of European citizens. It promotes a healthy and safe environment; secure energy supplies, sustainable mobility and consumer safety, and helps improve preparedness and response to natural and man-made disasters.
Serving society, stimulating innovation, supporting legislation
The JRC’s headquarters are in Brussels and its seven scientific directorates, which host specialist and unique laboratories, are located on sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
The JRC award will allow the participants from three successful projects to spend two days at its facilities in Ispra, Italy shadowing scientists from all over Europe according to the interests of the prize winners.
The Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS)
The Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS) is an annual weeklong event for international young scientists, arranged in connection with the Nobel festivities by the SIYSS Committee of the Swedish Federation of Young Scientist in collaboration with the Nobel Foundation.
The history of SIYSS dates back to 1976 when the first seminar was organized by the Swedish Federation of Young Scientists together with the Nobel Foundation, with inspiration from Society for Science & the Public in USA. Turning into a great success, the SIYSS program has continued to combine Swedish science with the Nobel Prize Awarding Ceremonies with an intense social program.
The programme aims to promote international understanding and friendship, bringing together young people from all over the world with similar interests. The participants are selected in different ways; some are winners of national science fairs, others represent organizations for young scientists or are selected by merit at their home universities. Whatever their background, they all have two things in common: a great interest in natural sciences and a curiosity for other cultures and people.
The programme of the week comprises scientific activities and lectures as well as unique occasions to meet the Nobel Laureates. Furthermore, the students are introduced to Swedish science and research as well as Swedish culture and customs. However, the main event of the week is a big seminar where the participants present their research to each other and to Swedish students.
The week culminates with the Nobel festivities where the SIYSS participants attend both the Nobel Reception at Nordiska Museet and the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall, followed by the Nobel Banquet at the Stockholm City Hall as well as the Nobel Night Cap, the final festivity after the banquet.
With its connection to the Nobel Prizes, SIYSS is widely considered the most prestigious youth science event in the world. Former participants often witness how the programme has inspired them to continue doing research and that the week in Stockholm was a truly unique experience.
For further information, please contact:
The SIYSS Organizing Committee
Förbundet Unga Forskare
Lilla Frescativägen 4C
S-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 (0) 700 176 309
Email: siyss.international@ungaforskare.org
Web: www.siyss.org
International coodinator: Josefine Wahlström
The EIROforum Prizes
EIROforum is a partnership of Europe’s eight largest intergovernmental research organisations. As world leaders within their respective fields of science, the member organisations of EIROforum constitute the vanguard of European science. Operating some of the largest research infrastructures in Europe devoted to the exploration of key questions on the origin and the evolution of matter and biological life in our Universe, they enable European scientists to engage in truly cutting-edge research, and be competitive on a global scale.
In support of the EUCYS initiative, EIROforum members are pleased to offer one-week visits/placements to their organisations.
To ensure optimum value of the experience to the prize winner, these will be offered on the basis of the relevance of the activities of the organisation to the field of interest of the nominated student. (For safety and sometimes security reasons, age restrictions may apply.)
EIROforum also send experienced scientists to give a key note address to the contestants. As a curtesy to EIROforum, those students who would like to be considered for the EIROforum prizes, and their National Organiser, should endeavour to attend the EIROforum lecture during the contest.
The EIROforum organisations constitute a success story for Europe. They:
- were created by their member states as part of a long-term strategy for the future of European research;
- attract some of the best scientists and researchers from across the world, thanks to their scientific excellence and cutting-edge facilities;
- have implemented the European Research Area (ERA) concept and contribute significantly to structuring European research in their specific scientific fields;
- link European scientific communities with the rest of the world;
- develop new technologies, instrumentation and electronic infrastructures and support innovation and technology transfer for the benefit of society at large.
The EIROforum organisations have world-class research infrastructures. They:
- operate major research infrastructures – unique in Europe and in some cases in the world;
- are funded by their member states, with a combined annual budget for science of around 1500 million Euros;
- are crucial to the competitiveness of European research, providing up-to-date and continually improved facilities for European scientists;
- serve more than 25 000 scientists every year (in astronomy, particle physics, fusion, space sciences, condensed matter physics, chemistry and the life sciences);
- are active in international, often global, research for the benefit of Europe;
- possess unique experience in building and operating research infrastructures of great value for the further development of the European Research Area.
EIROforum is also committed to promoting and supporting innovative science education in Europe, as demonstrated by two major science education projects.
Science on Stage (formerly Physics on Stage)
Science on Stage has built strong national networks throughout Europe – many of which are still active today. The international science teaching festival has:
- Been organised five times since 2000;
- Brought together over 400 science teachers at each event;
- Involved 30 000 teachers in 29 countries in the preceding national events;
- Helped teachers from throughout Europe to exchange ideas and experience via a vibrant teaching fair, workshops and presentations;
- Inspired teachers to start national and international collaborations to share ideas and materials after the festivals;
- Encouraged national initiatives.
Science in School
A quarterly journal to inspire and inform European science teachers, Science in School is:
- Free in print and online (www.scienceinschool.org);
- Written mostly by teachers and scientists;
- Printed in English, with articles online in over 25 European languages;
- Distributed throughout Europe (20 000 copies per issue).
Articles, many of which can be used directly in the classroom, include:
- Cutting-edge science articles;
- Experiments to use in the classroom;
- Innovative science teaching projects;
- Reviews of teaching resources.
Topics include biology, physics and chemistry and also maths, earth sciences, engineering and medicine.
European Organization for NuclearResearch (CERN)
European Organization for NuclearResearch (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland, was founded in 1954. CERN’s main research area is particle physics.
Complex machines such as particle accelerators and detectors are developed and used to study the basic constituents of matter. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 27-kilometre underground circular machine, began colliding particles at very high energy in 2010 giving new insights into the origin of the Universe. CERN is also famous for the invention of the World Wide Web, which was originally developed to give scientists access to data irrespective of their location. In 2012, LHC experiments discovered a new particle consistent with long-sought Higgs boson.
CERN offers a prize of a week’s visit for up to three students involved in the selected project. Topics should to be related to a scientific or engineering field of relevance to CERN to include a large spectrum of projects, especially on the engineering side. Minimum age: 18 years.
EUROfusion (JET), Culham Laboratory, Oxfordshire, UK.
EUROfusion (JET), Culham Laboratory, Oxfordshire, UK. EUROfusion is a framework between EURATOM and various fusion research programmes in many EU countries. Its aim is to provide an infrastructure for fusion research. JET, the largest tokamak fusion reactor in the world, investigates the potential of fusion power as a safe, clean and virtually limitless energy source for future generations. It is paving the way for ITER, an engineering project currently being constructed in southern France, which is designed to be the first fusion reactor to release more energy than is needed to power it.
EUROfusion will award a one week stay at the JET facilities for up to three persons. Topics include: plasma wall interaction, real time control of plasmas, computer modelling of plasmas, magneto hydrodynamics, engineering related topics to build tailored diagnostics. Minimum age: 16 years.
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s flagship laboratory for the life sciences. Established in 1974 as an intergovernmental organisation, EMBL is supported by over 20 member states. EMBL performs fundamental research in molecular biology, studying the story of life. The institute offers services to the scientific community; trains the next generation of scientists and strives to integrate the life sciences across Europe.
EMBL is international, innovative and interdisciplinary. Its more than 1600 staff, from over 80 countries, operate across six sites in Barcelona (Spain), Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Heidelberg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Rome (Italy). EMBL scientists work in independent groups and conduct research and offer services in all areas of molecular biology.
EMBL research drives the development of new technology and methods in the life sciences. The institute works to transfer this knowledge for the benefit of society.
EMBL will award a one week placement at their Heidelberg laboratories for one person. Eligible topics should be in the field of molecular biology. Minimum age: 18 years.
The European Space Agency (ESA)
The European Space Agency (ESA) Paris, France. ESA’s mission is to provide cooperation in space science and to ensure that this science benefits citizens in Europe and world wide. Research programmes concern, among others, Earth Observation, Human Spaceflight, Launchers, Navigation, Space Science and Engineering as well as Telecommunications. Their focus is the Solar System and the Universe in general. The development of satellite technologies serves to achieve high-level research goals and to promote European industries at the same time.
ESA offers a single prize winner the opportunity to attend a major space science conference in Europe (usually either the European Geosciences Union General Assembly or the European Week of Astronomy & Space Sciences) or to spend a week at ESA’s main technical centre, ESTEC, in The Netherlands.
Students must be at least 18 and have started a related discipline at university.
The European Southern Observatory (ESO)
The European Southern Observatory (ESO), Garching, near Munich, Germany, and Chile. ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 15 countries, and carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile – La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor – and is planning a 40-metre-class European Extremely Large optical/near-infrared Telescopethe E-ELT, which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”.
Only single-student projects are eligible for ESO’s prize. The Laureate is offered a trip to ESO’s facilities in Chile with visits planned to the Paranal Observatory and ESO’s Scientific Centre in Santiago. Minimum age: 18 years.
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Grenoble, France, is supported and shared by 22 countries. The ESRF is the most powerful synchrotron radiation source in Europe; it is a stadium-sized machine producing many beams of bright X-ray light. These are guided through a set of lenses and instruments called beamlines where the X-rays illuminate and interact with samples of material being studied. Here, at more than 40 specialized experimental stations, physicists work side by side with chemists and materials scientists. Biologists, medical doctors, geophysicists and archaeologists have become regular users. Companies also send researchers, notably in the fields of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, petrochemicals and microelectronics. Each year approximately 7,000 researchers travel to Grenoble where they work in a first-class scientific environment to conduct exciting experiments at the cutting edge of modern science.
ESRF will award the prize of a one week visit to the EPN Science Campus in Grenoble, for the leader of a project in a topic related to the structural and dynamical study of condensed matter, materials and living matter using synchrotron radiation X-rays to achieve sub-nanometric resolution in both fundamental and applied research. This could be in the fields of biology, chemistry, cultural heritage, engineering, environmental sciences, materials research, medicine or physics. The visit will be undertaken in parallel with that of the winner of the ILL prize. Minimum age: 18 years.
The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL)
The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, France, operates the most intense neutron source in the world. It is used to examine conventional and newly created materials. The applications include the analysis of the structure of new materials for future electronic tools, the measurement of stresses in mechanical materials, and examination of the behaviour of complex molecular assemblies, particularly in a biological environment. The ILL also tackles questions relating to the fundamental properties of matter. Recent research includes the world’s first magnetic soap, great developments on gamma-ray optics and potential Alzheimer treatments.
ILL will award a prize of a one week visit to the epn Science Campus in Grenoble, for the leader of a project in a topic related to a scientific or engineering field of relevance to ILL. The visit could include witnessing technical developments being made in connection with the neutron beams, such as detectors and optical devices, or taking part in an experimental session. Areas covered include: neutron research and technology in the disciplines of chemistry, nuclear physics, chemistry, biology, crystallography and magnetics.
The visit will be undertaken in parallel with that of the winner of the ESRF prize. Minimum age: 18 years.
European XFEL (XFEL.EU)
European XFEL (XFEL.EU), Hamburg, Germany. European XFEL is a linear X-ray laser with unique characteristics. Currently under construction, it is due to start operation in 2016. The facility will open up new research opportunities for a whole range of scientific fields, such as medicine, pharmacy, biology, chemistry, physics, materials science and nanotechnology.
European XFEL will award a one week placement at their site in Hamburg for one person presenting a physics project. The visit will provide insights into the process of building a new, cutting edge international research facility.
International Swiss Talent Forum
The International Swiss Talent Forum (ISTF) is an independent think-tank for young adults who are interested in the universal and long-term challenges of our time. It was launched by the foundation Swiss Youth in Science in 2009 and brings talented young people to Switzerland from all over Europe and beyond. By placing students amongst experts, decision-makers and lateral-thinkers, we create a space for innovation, interaction and debate to develop new solutions to current global issues. Working closely in such a setting, participants will learn how to tackle interdisciplinary problems with solution-oriented approaches. They also have the chance to build a network of national and international contacts, which will launch their aspirations in business, science or politics.
ISTF Topic 2019: World Food
With our new topic “World Food” we once more stand at the beginning of a unique and exciting journey. Food is essential to life. Yet, we cannot take our food for granted – many of Earth’s occupants have long struggled to feed themselves. As the human population continues to grow, we alter the environment to suit our needs, complicating our ability to produce food to meet three key goals: ensuring human health, maintaining environmental sustainability, and preserving or creating social wellbeing. Sustainable and healthy food for all is no doubt one of the greatest challenges of the 21st Century. By working together to find solutions for an evolved food system, we all have the power to bring food to the top of the agenda and make the world food system work for the people and for our planet!
At ISTF 2020 we want to delve deeply into these highly topical and exciting discussions. ISTF 2020 will combine the natural intelligence of 70 top-talented young people from Switzerland and 20 other countries around the world to deliberate over various aspects of World Food and to develop a blueprint for a positive future that tackles the challenging issues connected to the nutrition of our world.
Terms and Conditions
- motivated and talented person aged 18 – 23
- in final years of high school (grammar school or professional school), or enrolled in bachelor studies at college or university
- strong interest in the topic World Food and committed to achieving change in our world
- fluent in spoken and written English
The event takes place from February 5th – 8th 2020 in Switzerland.
The Expo-Sciences Luxembourg
The Expo-Sciences Luxembourg is an international, non-competitive science fair that welcomes young laureates from all over the world. Young scientists get the possibility to present their scientific projects alongside our national participants.