Jonge wetenschappers winnen EU-prijs in Helsinki (en)
Helsinki, 27 September 2011 - Today in Finland, young scientists from Ireland, Switzerland and Lithuania were awarded the highest accolade at the 23rd European Union Contest for Young Scientists. Their prize winning science projects in computing, engineering and medicine were selected by an International jury as the best from among the 87 projects from 37 countries which were presented at this 5-day event. Teams from Germany, United Kingdom and Bulgaria were awarded second prizes. Third prizes went to teams from Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom. Finally a special International prize was won by a project from New Zealand. The prize winners - all under the age of 21 years - will share prize money totalling € 51.500.
"Young, talented researchers will help shape our future. We need to find answers to society's biggest challenges such as climate change, finding sustainable sources of energy, feeding the world or fighting disease. So I encourage young people to follow a career in science and keep Europe world-class in research and innovation" said European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn i .
The award ceremony was held in the Celebration Hall of the Helsinki University. The prizes were presented by Tapio Kosunen, State Secretary from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Government of Finland, Anneli Pauli, the European Commission’s Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation, and Professor Maria Ana Viana-Baptista, the President of the Jury.
Kattilahalli, an old power plant transformed for cultural projects, has over the last few days hosted more than 130 contestants from 37 countries across Europe and beyond and one of the European schools. From 23-27 September, the students presented 87 projects to an International Jury chaired by Prof. Maria Ana Viana-Baptista. These projects had already won first prize in their national contests. The topics covered a broad spectrum of scientific areas: biology, chemistry, computing, social sciences, environment, mathematics, materials, engineering and medicine. The standard of entries is consistently high, and several past participants have achieved major scientific breakthroughs, or set up businesses to market the ideas developed for the Contest.
Background:
The European Union Contest for Young Scientists was set up by the European Commission to facilitate co-operation and interchange between young scientists with similar abilities and interests and to give them an opportunity to be guided by some of the most prominent scientists in Europe.
The Contest aims to encourage young people who have an interest in science to embark on scientific careers.
It is part of the Science and Society programme under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7).
The contest started in 1989 with the participation of 15 countries. This year, 37 countries and one of the European Schools are taking part in the 23rd edition of the contest.
A total of 2208 participants (667 girls - 1541 boys) have competed since the start of this International event. More than 500 prizes have been distributed!
More information about the EU Contest for Young Scientists, including photos, success stories, and biographical details of the jury and descriptions of all projects can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/youngscientists/index_en.cfm?contest=2011&pg=press
You can also download material at:
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Contacts :
Michael Jennings: + 32 2 29 63 388 - michael.jennings@ec.europa.eu
Nathalie Perault: + 32 2 29 57 414 - nathalie.perault@ec.europa.eu
Annex 1
PRIZE-WINNERS
23nd European Union Contest for Young Scientists
FIRST PRIZES (€ 7.000 per Project)
Country |
Ireland |
Contestant |
Alexander Amini (16) |
Scientific Field |
Computing |
Project Title |
Tennis Sensor Data Analysis: An Automated System for Macro Motion Refinemen |
Short Summary |
Sensors capable of capturing audio, video, and inertial data (such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers) have become so inexpensive, they are often found in smart phones and even remote control toys. However, it is not easy to correlate the performance of an athlete to the huge volumes of raw data captured by such sensors. In this study, I collected and analyzed gigabytes of tennis sensor data. I discovered a technique for automatically distinguishing between 13 different tennis stroke types (e.g., distinguishing a forehand flat versus forehand topspin) using only inertial data with accuracy averaging over 96%, and implemented my technique as computer software. Previously published research was limited to classes of motion (such as forehand, backhand, serve). My findings are relevant to a wide variety of motion assessment scenarios in sports, physical therapy, and emergency responses. |
Country |
Switzerland |
Contestant |
Pius Markus Theiler (19) |
Scientific Field |
Engineering |
Project Title |
pi Cam - The Development of a Camming Device for Climbing |
Short Summary |
The project pi Cam describes the development of a revolutionary device for climbing. Camming devices are part of the safety gear used in rock and industrial climbing. They help to create an anchoring point where no preattached bolts exist. The current camming devices are secured in a crack or between two parallel surfaces. The newly invented pi Cam however uses rock protrusions like e.g. flakes, limestone traces or tufa to create anchoring points. Thus, the device enlarges the range of protectable rock formations and increases the safety of the climber. In industrial climbing, too, safety is of the highest priority. On pillars for example pi Cam can provide an anchoring point to workers high above the ground. Obviously pi Cam opens new horizons for climbers in many different situations. It is therefore not surprising that specialists have shown interest in the development and commercial production of this new device and that it has already been applied for patent.*pi=greek small letter. |
Country |
Lithuania |
Contestant |
Povilas Kavaliauskas (18) |
Scientific Field |
Medicine |
Project Title |
The Role of Houseflies (Musca domestica) in Spreading Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria |
Short Summary |
Antibiotic resistant bacteria are one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century. At this time resistance mechanisms are already understood, however, how bacteria can spread around is still known little. The aim of my study is to investigate how domestic flies can transmit the most common antibiotic resistant bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae from infected areas to residential premises. I discovered that houseflies cannot transmit bacteria distantly; therefore, the highest risk is for people living nearby to contaminated areas such as hospitals. My study shows, that the most contaminated houseflies reside in hospital premises, and when such fly lands on human skin, there is a high probability that the person will be colonized by antibiotic resistant bacteria, which can cause complicated and sometimes fatal infections. |
SECOND PRIZES (€ 5.000 per project)
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
Germany |
Benjamin Walter |
17 |
Physics |
Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy of Coronene Molecules on Germanium (111) |
United Kingdom |
Natalie Mitchell |
19 |
Physics |
Auto Focusing Methods for Digital Microscopy |
Bulgaria |
Georgi Atanasov Georgi Georgiev Kalina Petrova |
19 19 16 |
Computing |
DriveFreeZ - Driving Simulator |
THIRD PRIZES (€ 3.500 per Project)
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
Norway |
Alex Bergsåker |
17 |
Social Sciences |
Guanxi - the Significance of Relations and Social Networks in Chinese Business |
Poland |
Michal Miskiewicz |
20 |
Mathematics |
The Charm of the 'mi' Set |
United Kingdom |
Holly Rees |
18 |
Biology |
Investigation into Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation |
INTERNATIONAL PRIZE (€ 5.000 per project)
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
New Zealand |
Bailey Lovett |
18 |
Environment |
Bacterial Bivalves |
HONORARY AWARDS
Stockholm International Youth Science 2011
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
Switzerland |
Pius Markus Theiler |
19 |
Engineering |
pi Cam - The Development of a Camming Device for Climbing |
Lithuania |
Povilas Kavaliauskas |
18 |
Medicine |
The Role of Houseflies (Musca domestica) in Spreading Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria |
London International Youth Science Forum 2011
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
Switzerland |
Pius Markus Theiler |
19 |
Engineering |
pi Cam - The Development of a Camming Device for Climbing |
Lithuania |
Povilas Kavaliauskas |
18 |
Medicine |
The Role of Houseflies (Musca domestica) in Spreading Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria |
Ireland |
Alexander Amini |
16 |
Computing |
Tennis Sensor Data Analysis: An Automated System for Macro Motion Refinemen |
SPECIAL DONATED PRIZES
There are 25 special donated prizes: a five-day visit of a technical and cultural nature to the
European Patent Office in Munich and a one-week stay at each of the seven members of
EIROforum[1] :
-
•CERN: The European Laboratory for Particle Physics
-
•EFDA: The European Fusion Development Agreement
-
•EMBL: The European Molecular Biology Laboratory
-
•ESA: The European Space Agency
-
•ESO: The European Southern Observatory
-
•ESRF: The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
-
•ILL: The Institut Laue-Langevin
The European Patent Office, Munich, Germany
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
CH |
Pius Markus Theiler |
19 |
Engineering |
Pi Cam - The Development Of A Camming Device For Climbing |
TK |
Emir Aycan Bedel |
16 |
Biology |
Using Enzymatic Biofuel Cells In Photosynthesis To Produce Electrical Energy |
Cern Öztürk |
16 |
|||
LT |
Dalia Bartkeviciute |
18 |
Chemistry |
Mushroom Dyes For Tapestry Restoration |
Gaile Tumenaite |
15 |
EIROForum Prizes
CERN: The European Laboratory for Particle Physics
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
FR |
Florentin Delaine |
18 |
Engineering |
Artificial Intelligence And Rubik's Cube |
Joseph Gennetay |
18 |
|||
Jason Loyau |
19 |
EFDA-JET
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
EG |
Azza Abdel Hamid Faiad |
16 |
Environment |
Production Of Hydrocarbon Fuel By Catalytic Cracking Of High Density Polyethylene Wastes |
ESA
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
IT |
Andrea Emilio Amedeo Bracesco |
19 |
Physics |
Following Kepler's Path |
Jacopo Prinetto |
20 |
|||
Federica Villa |
19 |
EMBL
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
USA |
Erica Portnoy |
18 |
Biology |
A Novel Approach To Mapping Protein Interactions During Pilus Biogenesis By Using In Vivo Photocrosslinking |
ESO
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
USA |
Jane Cox |
17 |
Physics |
Using Amino Acid Analysis To Distinguish Chondritic Meteorites |
ILL
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
LV |
Andris Alfreds Avots |
17 |
Chemistry |
The Usage And Properties Of Rigid Foam Polyurethane Material Derived From Tall Oil By Using Cyclopenthane As A Blowing Agent |
Raivis Eglitis |
18 |
ESRF
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
SK |
Michal Habera |
18 |
Physics |
Influence Of Magnetic Field On Free-surface Ferrofluid Flow |
Michal Fabian |
18 |
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) Prizes
Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP)
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
TK |
Melisa Tokmak |
17 |
Physics |
Analysis Of Optical Activities Of Different Honey Samples With Empirical Methods |
Aliye Bihter Günal |
17 |
Institute for Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC)
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
CZ |
Bedrich Said |
18 |
Computing |
Swarm Robotics Simulator |
Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES)
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
UK |
Martin Richard Thompson |
17 |
Engineering |
Optical Characterisation & Mechanical Design For Accurate Imaging |
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
DE |
Gabriel Salg |
16 |
Chemistry |
The New Magic Formula For Eliminating Bad Breath: C42h70o35 |
Nicolas Scheidig |
17 |
The Intel ISEF 2012 Prizes
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
IL |
Gal Oren |
20 |
Engineering |
Antileaks - A Device For Detection And Discontinuation Of Leakages In Water Supply Systems |
Nerya Yair Stroh |
20 |
|||
MT |
Melvin Zammit |
17 |
Engineering |
3 Dimensional Display |
DE |
Danial Sanusi |
18 |
Mathematics |
(almost) Unit-distance Points In The Polychromatic Plane - Colourings Of The N-dimensional Space |
Xianghui Zhong |
18 |
|||
Fabian Henneke |
18 |
Year of Chemistry Prize
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
FI |
Jarkko Etula |
20 |
Chemistry |
Comparison of 3 Finnish Berries as Sensitizers in a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell |
Host Organisation Special Donated Prizes
Orion Special Prize
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
CZ |
Pavel Svec |
20 |
Chemistry |
Synthesis And Testing Of Tetramethyl[5]helquat |
The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries Prize
Country |
Contestants |
Age |
Scientific Field |
Project Title |
EUSCH |
Stijn Hofstee |
17 |
Physics |
Kite Based Wind Generator |
Danylo Matselyukh |
17 |