On Sunday 18 September, some 126 young people from 35 countries – the cream of Europe’s young scientists plus guests from the USA, Japan and China – will meet in Moscow at the Bauman University to compete in the 17th European Union Young Scientist Contest. The contest will be opened by the Vice-Premier of the Russian Government, Alexander Zhukov. Over the next two days the 79 innovative projects exhibited there will be judged by a distinguished jury headed by Dr Ulf Merbold, the first European Space Agency astronaut to go into space. On 21 September the prizes, worth €28,500, will be awarded in the Council Hall of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour complex. This annual event is to encourage young people to pursue their interest in science and embark on scientific careers.

European Commissioner for Research, Janez Potocnik says about the event “In today's world it is more important than ever to foster an environment in which truly excellent science is not only put to use through technology but is also recognised for its contribution to society and culture in general. Events like the EU Young Scientist Contest help to stimulate the natural curiosity and innovation of our young people.”

The 79 projects competing in the contest cover a wide range of scientific disciplines – from engineering and the environment to medicine, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, mathematics and the social sciences. The standard of entrants is always high and several past projects have led to scientific breakthroughs or the setting up of new businesses. Only projects that have won a top prize at a national young scientist competition can participate in the EU Contest. Thus the Contest represents a real scientific challenge for more than 30 000 young scientists who compete annually in their national contests.

Because of the diversity of disciplines represented at the contest, it is impossible to determine one overall winner. So there is not just one first prize but three, along with three second prizes and three third prizes. In addition there are several special prizes: for example, expenses-paid visits to the London International Youth Science Forum in 2006 and Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (2005).

The award ceremony will be held on 21 September at 11am Moscow time in the Council Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour complex. Prizes will be presented by Achilleas Mitsos, the European Commission’s Director-General for Research, together with Ulf Merbold, the President of the Jury, Alexander Fursenko, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and Igor Fedorov, Rector of the Bauman University.

The EU Young Scientist Contest has been held annually since 1989. It is supported by the Science and Society Programme of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research.

Details of the winners will be announced on 21 September. A 13 minute documentary of the event, with free broadcasting rights will be available on application

For further details of the 79 participating projects and members of the Jury, see Memo/05/322.

For further details on the jury members (PDF 83 KB)