Michael Kaiser and Johannes Kienl from Austria, Alexander Joos and Johannes Burkart from Germany, and Thomas Wdowik from Poland receive their prizes

Stephen Parker from the European Commission describes a contest that demonstrates the truly astonishing achievements of some aspiring young scientists.

They came from all over Europe and beyond; some had already spent hours on aeroplanes before arriving in Stockholm. They came carrying boxes and cases; some brought intricate electronic gadgetry, others just paper rolled up in tubes that they guarded as they would priceless manuscripts. Just what were these young people doing in Stockholm on that sunny Saturday in September? Clandestine participants in some secret ritual, perhaps? The astute observer, however, would not have been so misled. After all, the signs were there: it was the 18th European Union Contest for Young Scientists^w1.

Buses and coaches took the 120 contestants – all winners of national pre-university science competitions from the 33 participating countries – to their hotel; and, on Sunday, from there to the Swedish National Museum of Science and Technologyw2 where the contest was about to begin. The air was pulsating with expectation and unspoken questions: Will my project win? Can I fix this in time? Why won’t my PC boot up? Where is that adhesive tape?

Elsewhere in the museum, 15 professional scientists were finalising their preparations, but here the atmosphere was much calmer: they would be the jury, not the judged. They had already read and discussed the descriptions of the 78 projects in the contest, and were almost ready to interview the young scientists who did the work.

Soon it was the opening ceremony. Speeches from the organisers, the Swedish Federation of Young Scientists, the Swedish Research Council^w3 and the Royal Swedish Academy of Science^w4, and music from some very talented young musicians.

Aisling Judge, age 15, receives third prize for her project to develop and evaluate a biological food spoilage indicator

Then the judging began: What made you choose this project? Did you consider any other explanation for what you saw? How did you record those data? Were these measurements repeatable? Had you expected that when you started? Have you thought about protecting your work through patents? How did you split the work up between the members of your team? Two intense hours later and the first round of interviews was over. The jury retired to exchange first impressions: When I spoke to her I realised that she really did understand the science! That project is outstanding, but who did the work? He was shy at first, but when he started to explain how he got around that technical difficulty, his enthusiasm was unstoppable! And so on.

Monday came and the judging continued. Gradually the jury began to discuss possible winners: it was difficult of course, but it always is. How can you compare a project in computational science with one in the social sciences? Professor Jane Grimson, the president of the jury, reminded her colleagues that up to three joint first, second and third prizes could be awarded. Furthermore, there were those special prizes donated by EIROforum, the European Patent Office and the Swedish Plant Science Centre. The final decisions would be taken on Tuesday after the last judging sessions.

It’s now Wednesday and the Awards Ceremony is about to begin. Everyone is seated in the Vinterträdgården of the Grand Hotel. This is where the Nobel laureates stay during the Nobel week, whispers a young contestant to her neighbour. Neither can speak each other’s first language and so they share one that they are learning at school.

There is something special in the air: an excitement that is almost tangible. More speeches, an outstanding a cappella performance by a group of young singers, and then the winners are finally announced.

Later at the press conference, Michael Kaiser from Austria, joint winner of one of the first prizes, explains: “We did not expect it! We are so satisfied and surprised that we won!” Johannes Kienl, his partner on the project, which developed an innovative electrothermal mechanical de-icing system for aircraft (see box), adds: “It was brilliant to come here and meet people from all over the world – we have made a really good network!”

For most, of course, the climax of the four-day event was the farewell party: a chance to say goodbye to new friends, or rather “au revoir”!

Web reference

w1 – Official Website of the European Union Contest for Young Scientists The 18th European Union Contest for Young Scientists took place in Stockholm, from 23-27 September 2006. A complete list of the winning projects can be found on the official website. In 2007, the contest will take place in Valencia.
The European Union Contest for Young Scientists is an initiative of the European Commission to promote co-operation and interchange between young scientists, and demonstrate the best in European student scientific achievement. By giving young scientists the chance to meet others with similar abilities and interests and to be guided by some of the most prominent scientists in Europe, the European Commission seeks to strengthen the efforts made in each participating country to attract young people to careers in science and technology.

w2 – Tekniska Museet

w3 – The Swedish Research Council

w4 – The Royal Swedish Academy of Science