Prizes - Young Scientists Contest - Questions and Answers

Prizes

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S EU CONTEST FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS

The EU Contest is an annual Europe wide competition to select the best scientific projects devised and created by young scientists of school age and up to first year university. The EU contest is held each September. It comprises a three day Science Exhibition, followed by a Prize-giving day. Each contestant is a prize winner from their national competition for young scientists and all the entries to the EU Contest are put forward by national organizers. Taking into account all the national contests, over 30.000 young scientists have competed before about 60 selected projects are brought together at the EU Contest. In 2000 the EU Contest will be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

• to identify and encourage strong scientific talent,

• to provide a stimulus for the development of the most promising young scientist in Europe,

• to promote a spirit of innovation and interchange between young scientists, aged 15-20 years.

• 3 first prizes of EURO 5000 each;

• 3 second prizes of EURO 3000 each;

• 3 third prizes of EURO 1.500 each.

In addition, the following honorary awards can be granted to enable:

• to attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony in Stockholm (the "Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar")

• to attend the Science Festival in London ("The London International Youth Science Seminar")

• to engage in research at the Norwegian Research Station in Spitzbergen, at the European Southern observatories in the Canaries and at the European Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy. Additionally there will be the chance to join a Royal Geographical Society expedition to the Seychelles.

The EU Contest is funded by the European Commission and forms as part of its Improving Human Potential (IHP) programme. The host National Organizer provides the venue and additional sponsorship. IHP is part of the 5th Framework Programme (1998-2002) for Research and Technological Development. The aim of IHP is to promote the quantity and quality of human resources available for research and technological development.

No. Only National Organizers can put in entries, i.e. the winners of Contests organized at national level.

Each project consists of a technical written report and display materials, models, etc. Up to 6 contestants (aged between 15 and 20) may submit a project; each country may enter up to 3 projects. At the Contest, the contestants set up their project in a display stand (of given dimensions) in the Science Exhibition Hall and are required to answer questions from members of the scientific jury. The Science Exhibiton is open to the public and contestants are encouraged to explain their projects.

The project must have been carried out strictly personally by the author(s). If it is found that a scientifically-trained expert has given substantial assistance, the work may be disqualified. Whilst teachers may have given initial stimulus or guidance, it must be clear that the entry is the contestant's own achievement.

Each year around 60 projects are presented to the EU Contest Jury : projects emanating from the 15 EU Member States plus Bulgaria , the Czech Republic, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and the Ukraine. In addition, each year one project is submitted by the European Schools. "Guest scientists" are also present from the USA, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The Jury is composed of a number of leading scientists of international renown and experience. They represent a variety of disciplines and are chosen from both industry and higher education. They are drawn from a number of European countries. They are nominated by the Commission in a personal capacity - i.e. to represent their disciplines.

Following the deadline for receipt of applications, the EU Contest Office transmits to the Jury all eligible Written Projects. Jury Members assess each project against the criteria specified below. Members do not consult with each other during the preliminary assessment stage. Where a project lies outside the field of the Member's scientific expertise, they may consult and seek advice from appropriate experts of their choice.

The criteria used to assess projects shall be the following:

• originality and creativity in the identification of and the approach to the basic problem;

• skill, care and thoroughness in designing and carrying out the study;

• following through of the study from conception to conclusion;

• reasoning and clarity in the interpretation of the results;

• quality of written presentation and ability to discuss the project with the Jury Members.

In applying all these criteria allowance shall be make for the age, educational level of the contestants and possible problems resulting from liguistic barriers.

A varied and interesting cultural programme, including visits to sites of scientific interest near the location of the EU Contest, are arranged for the contestants. The highlight of the cultural programme is the annual EU Contest interactive scientific lecture. This was inaugurated at the 6th EU Contest. It has been presented by:

- Professor Etienne Gérard,
"Oscillations Everywhere",
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 1994.

- Professor Frank Close FRS. The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxford,
"The Cosmic Onion",
The United Kingdom, 1995.

- Professor Leena Palotie. The National Public Health Institute of Finland,
“Mapping Defective Genes-for a Better Understanding of Human Diseases”,
Finland, 1996.

- Dr. Walter Maria de Silva. Chief Design Engineer, Alpha Romeo,
“The Car: Synthesis of Design and Technology”,
Italy, 1997.

- Professor Athanassios Tsaftaris. School of Agriculture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. "Contemporary Biotechnology: Achievements and Prospects" Thessaloniki, 1999

The Award Ceremony is the culmination of the EU Contest for Young Scientists. In the tradition of the Contest, leading dignitaries and high profile personalities from the world of science attend the Ceremony. In the past the Award Ceremony has been honored by the presence of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, the President of the Republic of Finland, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Government Ministers, Ambassadors, European Commissioners.

The EU Contest is the successor to the Philips contest, which ran from 1968-88, which brought together the winners from National Contests. The then President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, was approached in 1987 about the European Commission taking on the running of the Contest. After consulting with the competent bodies and Committees, the Commission decided to support the Contest.

The 12th European Union Contest for Young Scientists will take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 18 - 23 September 2000

The Organizer responsible for hosting this event is:

Jenny COENEN
Dutch Foundation of Young Scientists
De Vries van Heystplantsoen 2
NL-2628 RZ Delft
THE NETHERLANDS
Tel : +31.15 278 21 84
Fax :+31.15.278 21 04
E-Mail: national.organizer@djo.nl

Requests to host the event have been received up to the year 2002. In 2001 the EU Contest will be in Norway.

Since the end of the 1st Contest in 1989 the Commission, through the network of national contest organizers, has kept in touch with a few of the past prize winners. As part of an ongoing review as to how the Commission may best develop its contacts with its past prize winners, in 1997 it created the Alumni Prize. Whereby two former prize winners are invited back to award a prize of 250 Euro to the project that in their view is best in terms of its overall presentation.

The countries of Central and Eastern Europe participate fully in the EU Contest. Currently Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Ukraine participate.

Since 1991, as part of a special exchange proposed in the Transatlantic Declaration, American prize winners from the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) attend the EU Contest. Since 1999, young scientists from Japan and the Republic of Korea have participated in the EU Contest in the same way as the Contest's guests from the United States of America. Consideration is being given to entering into a link with the South America Youth Science Fair.

Internally the EU Contest makes a point of ensuring optimum contact with the Commission's education and training services as well as the European Parliament. Thus each year in the EU Contest catalogue are detailed the various training opportunities that each institution offers. Externally the EU Contest has enjoyed a very close relationship with the European Patent Office in Munich for several years. Working with the EPO all EU Contest National Organizers have been given a ready to understand Patent advice sheet in their own language. Additionally the EPO attends the EU Contest each year to provide relevant advice to the contestants. Beyond this the Contest is striving through its awards to deliver stimulating practical research arrangements that never normally would be offered to students of their age (see question 3).

Please contact:
Graham Blythe
EU Contest for Young Scientists
DG Research F
SDME 3/52
European Commission
200 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 295 58 22
Fax: +32 2 296 32 70
E-mail: graham.blythe@ec.europa.eu