Final Report Summary - EUCYS 2012 (European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2012) The European Union (EU) Contest for Young Scientists, within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), is a European competition for young students supported by the Directorate-General for Research of the European Commission (EC), under its 'Science in society' programme, aiming to promote the ideals of cooperation and interchange among some of the most promising European young scientists.The 24th edition of this annual event was held in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, in the Incheba Expo, from 21 to 26 September 2012.The contest welcomed 123 undergraduates, between 15 and 20 years old, coming from 23 EU Members States, 4 from Associated Countries (Israel, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey), 4 from guest countries (China, South Korea, New Zealand and United States (US)) and 5 from other (European schools, Belarus, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine). Total number of attendees around 7500: jury members, national organisers, escorts, participants, visitors, journalists, school visits, students, teachers, parents, participants of the parallel educational and scientific programmes. For the present edition, special efforts were deployed to:- develop and enhance a strong interest for natural and social sciences among young scientists;- stimulate innovative projects realised by young European students;- encourage young people to pursue their interest in science and embrace scientific careers;- through scientific prizes consisting in one-week visits of some of the leading scientific installations in Europe (European Patent Office (EPO), Institutions of EIROorum, Joint Research Centre (JRC), CERN and other) fostering the interest of young scientists for research in the leading European groups and institutes;- realisation of EUCYS 2012 has contributed to the extension and deepening of of cooperation with partner research institutions such as EIROforum, Joint Research Centre, EPO and many other partners on European and national level;- boost the audience of the Slovak national contest (Scientia Pro Futuro) to the level of the leading national contests;- unusual broad and intensive communication with the public in the Slovak Republic as well as pan-European, mainly through three major parallel activities supporting EUCYS 2012 (exhibition of the latest trends in science and innovation, international seminar Intel Educator Academy and InGenius / Scientix workshop).EUCYS2012 project was coordinated and organised by the Young Scientists of Slovakia and the EC.The 83 projects ranked first in their respective countries and covered a wide range of disciplines: biology, chemistry, engineering, technology, mathematics, physics, computer sciences, environment sciences, medical sciences and social sciences.On the basis of written and oral descriptions of their works and interviews with jury members during the exhibition, 30 prizes were attributed to 27 projects, presented by 44 contestants from 23 countries, for their high scientific content and originality. The high quality of the projects in competition convincingly witnessed of the European promising education and training strength in scientific and technical area.Project context and objectives:EUCYS 2012 project was coordinated by the Young Scientists of Slovakia in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and with several other institutions. Project's special efforts were deployed to:- develop and enhance a strong interest for natural and social sciences among young scientists;- stimulate innovative projects realised by young European students;- encouraging young people to pursue their interest in science and embrace scientific careers;- through scientific prizes consisting in one-week visits of some of the leading scientific installations in Europe (EPO, Institutions of EIROorum, JRC, CERN and other) fostering the interest of young scientists for research in the leading European groups and institutes;- realisation of EUCYS 2012 has contributed to the extension and deepening of cooperation with partner research institutions such as EIROforum, JRC, EPO and many other partners on European and national level;- boost the audience of the Slovak national contest (Scientia Pro Futuro) to the level of the leading national contests;- unusual broad and intensive communication with the public in the Slovak Republic as well as pan-European, mainly through three major parallel activities supporting EUCYS 2012 (exhibition of the latest trends in science and innovation - public exposition named 'The world of science and technology', international seminar - Intel Educator Academy EMEA and InGenius / Scientix workshop).The EUCYS 2012 project was focused mainly to support for young European talents in science, stimulate new innovative initiatives among young European scientists, enhance entrepreneurship and creativity among young European scientists and create strong and powerful network among young European scientists. To obtain these aims, several initiatives were developed (with the media strategy included) with special goal to raise the public interest in science and technology. Objectives and thematic priority of EUCYS 2012: - developing activities that are promoting young people's interest in science; - stimulating, with a view to building an open, effective and democratic European knowledge-based society, the harmonious integration of scientific and technological endeavour, and associated research policies in the European social web, by encouraging pan-European reflection and debate on science and technology and their relationship with the whole spectrum of society and culture;- pursuing broader public engagement in science and research, mobilising research organisations as well as citizens and other organisations; - more dynamic governance of the science and society relationship; - strengthening potential, broadening horizons. Specific communication plan was elaborated in accordance with the strategies of the EC to promote the impact of the EUCYS at national and international level, taking profit from the participation of several different countries. Visits to the exhibition was organised for different groups of national students, teachers and scientific associations. During EUCYS 2012, we organised specific programs (for students Caffe Scientifique Junior, for teachers, national organisers and escorts the Scientix in / Genius workshop and for general public special exposure of the current state of Science and Education in Slovakia, exposition stands of the EPO, CERN, JRC's institutions (IHPC, IPSC, IES, IRMM), EuCheMS, EIROForum, EC, Intel Corporation and EUCYS 2012 partners (National Centre for Popularisation of Science in Public, Volkswagen Slovakia).One of the main targets of EUCYS 2012 was efficient and effective communication with public. The main target is to increase the interest in scientific and technical education. The main objective considering competitors was to show them as positive examples for their peers.Potential impact:The EU Contest for Young Scientists was launched in 1989 with one clear objective: to attract more young people to careers in science. This aim is as vital today as it was then. It is also one of the objectives of the European Research Area (ERA). The contest has proven to be a spring-board for future careers in science for the contestants, in all EUCYS 2012 special attention was paid to publish several examples of success stories from previous contests. For the 24th EU Contest 2012, special effort was devoted to: - enhance strong interest for natural and social sciences among young students Europe-wide; - stimulate innovative projects elaborated by young European students; - encourage young people's interest in scientific careers; - promote the ideals of cooperation and exchange of ideas among some of the most promising young European scientists;- show to the Slovak students the best projects elaborated by the best young European students. Potential impact of the project was mostly to increasing young people's interest in science and at the same time it will help to identify talented youngsters. The main interest of EUCYS 2012 was directed to communication with public. The large exhibition hall in Incheba Expo allowed us to conduct several parallel events, which was aimed to allow the finalists to meet their peers from Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. We communicate with teachers and schools to inspire them to observe the work with gifted youngsters. The parallel programme of EUCYS 2012 was aimed at it:- The competition was open to public on 23 September 2012, 09:30 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 17:00. There were several special exhibitions: expositions of Slovak Academy of Sciences, the National Centre for the Promotion of Science and Technology in the Society, and the exhibition aimed at new, modern and environment-friendly ways to produce energy.- The competition was open for schools on 24 September 2012, 09:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 17:00 and 25 September 2012, 09:00 - 12:00.- Apart from the exhibition, the specialised parallel exhibitions and the exhibition stands, there is Caffe Scientifique Junior with a special programme based on EUCYS 2012.To support scientific education, there were two parallel scientific events:- Intel Educator Academy 23 - 26 September 2012, organised together with Intel Corporation. There is over 150 participants, including the national organisers of EUCYS.- Scientix Workshop - 24 - 26 September 2012, organised together with European Schoolnet. It was a specialised workshop for 75 science, technique and mathematics teachers from Slovakia and other countries of the EU and possibly for the national organisers of EUCYS.Dissemination activities involved a great deal of manpower and efforts with the purpose of deliver information about the contest on the website, communication with journalists, use all good possibilities to publish documents through a central information portal for research, development and innovation of Slovak republic, through Public Relations Department of Ministry and Slovak Academy of Sciences and to produce PR materials to disseminate. All PR documents were prepared by host organiser's team in cooperation with the EC, Slovak Academy of Sciences, and Ministry of Education, Research, Science and Sports of the Slovak Republic. Apart from the work done though website, media and institutional contacts, the Young Scientists of Slovakia organised several occasions involving students and professionals to disseminate the EUCYS 2012, at national level. Summarises the work carried out with PR materials:2500 posters: - For promotion / information of the contest both abroad and local; - Form of invitation to attend as visitor; - Printed version for distribution and digital version for download in official EUCYS website.1000 units of contest book: - For all participants of the EUCYS 2012; - Relevant information regarding all aspects of the contest (venue, city, Jury members, staff, student helpers, projects, lectures, information about all partners and more); - Printed version for distribution in the welcome package; - Digital version for online distribution and available to download.1000 units of practical guide:- For all participants and registered visitors and Schools visits; - Printed version for distribution in the welcome package; - Digital version for online distribution and available to download.20 units of banners (500 x 100 cm; 8000 x 150 cm; 500 x 500 cm):- Used for promotion of the event. 350 units of metal medals with logo of EUCYS 2012 and EC:- Silvered medals distributed to all participants during award ceremony and golfed medals to EUCYS 2012 winners.15 units of outdoor big boards (510 x 240 cm): - Fixed in property of Incheba Expo and in city centre 14 days before, during and 14 days after the event.Outdoor city lights (15 units; 120 x 180 cm):- Fix location in city centre 14 days before, during and 14 days after the event. Banners on city public busses and trams operate in the city centre (20 units; 80 x 200 cm):- Banners attached on public busses and trams.The most of the PR work was developed by host organiser's team - staff of the Young Scientists of Slovakia in cooperation with media department of the National Centre of Popularisation of Science in Society directly, with all press publications and media coverage of the EUCYS 2012. These staffs were responsible for the delivery of all major ideas of the contest. Of course, this task was complemented by the EC own media coverage team.The overall media work involved resulted in more than 220 new published in different types of media, between January and December 2012. Project website: http://www.eucys2012.eu Related documents Final Report - EUCYS 2012 (European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2012)
