EU to reward scientific achievements and imagination of young people

14th EU Contest for young scientists, Vienna, 22-28 September 2002,

On 27 September in Vienna, Commission's Director Rainer Gerold and two Austrian Ministers - Mr. M. Bartenstein for Economic Affaires and Labour and Ms. E. Gehrer for Education, Science, and Culture - will handout the prizes to the winners of the 14th EU Contest for Young Scientists, which is the annual showcase of the best of European student scientific achievement. During one week 85 young scientists (aged 15-20) from more than 30 European countries, the United States, China, Japan and Korea will compete. In Vienna the Commission will also celebrate the 1000th participant of the Contest's history.,This years international jury will assess 64 high quality projects covering a wide range of scientific fields, from magnetic liquid crystals to malaria parasite and life in the Universe (see list attached). 4 Nobel laureates will interact with the young scientists in Vienna during the Contest: Ivar Giaever (USA), Sir Harry Kroto (UK), Erwin Neher (DE) and Carlo Rubbia (IT).
A press conference is scheduled in Vienna on 27 September 2002 at 10:30.
During this well-known annual event, young scientists will exhibit their prize-winning entries from their national contests and compete to obtain an award of international level. Thus, the Contest represents the ultimate goal for more than 30 000 young science students, aged 15-20, who participate annually in the national contests.
An international Jury of twelve eminent scientists will interview the contestants and evaluate their projects. The three first prizes are worth EUR 5000, with the three second prizes worth EUR 3000 and three third prizes worth EUR 1500. Through this Contest the European Commission wants to encourage and highlight young peoples interest in science by inviting them to play an active part in the great research adventure of today.
Journalists wishing to attend should notify Michel Claessens so that practical arrangements can be made.,For additional information: ,http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/youngscientists/ ,http://www.2002youngscientists.org/
?Michel Claessens, Communication Unit, Research DG,Tel : [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail],?Manuel Carmona Yebra, Science and Society Directorate, Research DG,Tel:[phone], Fax:[phone], E-mail: [e-mail],

Countries

Austria, Belgium