Encouraging Europe's future scientists
Getting young people excited about science can be a challenge, yet it is important for future research and innovation. EUCYS aims to increase youth interest in science both as a subject and as a prospective future career. Set up in 1989, EUCYS is an annual contest showcasing the best of European students’ scientific projects. Besides competing with their top contemporaries, participating students have the opportunity to network with others who share their interests, including prominent European scientists. Held in Prague for the first time, the EU-funded 'European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2013' (EUCYS 2013) project hosted 124 contestants from 37 countries. Eighty-three projects competed to win the EUCYS prizes. The range of topics included biology, chemistry, engineering and environmental science, to name a few. In addition to celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Contest, the organisers aimed to encourage young scientists to pursue their interests and foster future interest in research in leading European institutes. Communication with the general public was a key feature of the event and was exhibited through various means such as social media, a contest catalogue and outdoor advertising, as well as a hands-on science exhibition attended by over 3 000 members of the public.
Keywords
Youth, science, contest
