The London International Youth Science Forum is a two week residential forum held at Imperial College London and

The Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

Overview

Each year almost 500 students aged 16-21 years attend the forum from both the United Kingdom and overseas. The event hosts lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, as well as visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world class laboratories and universities, including Cambridge and Oxford universities. Students interact with "experts at the top of their fields". The conference also emphasises inter-cultural communication through various social events In 2016 LIYSF was granted UNESCO patronage.

History

The idea of a science forum was considered after World War II, and was realized in the form of student exchanges between different schools and communities in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Czechoslovakia. In 1959, writing that "out of like interests the strongest interests grow", Philip Green initiated a coordinated programme housing all participants at the University of London. In the next decades, the conference expanded across the globe, starting from the United States of America to Eastern Asian countries. The initial goal was to "put science into perspective and to encourage those attending to be aware of the needs of the world and what was happening in disciplines other than the one they were studying". Speakers at LIYSF include well-known scientists and policymakers.

Reception

The Forum has received acknowledgement from world leaders.

David Cameron David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He previously served as Leader o ...

, former Prime Minister, described LIYSF as "a fantastic opportunity for young scientists from all over the world to come together... and engage in a program designed to educate, stimulate and inspire". The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,

Irina Bokova Irina Georgieva Bokova ( bg, Ирина Георгиева Бокова; born 12 July 1952) is a Bulgarian politician and the former Director-General of UNESCO (2009–2017). During her political and diplomatic career in Bulgaria, she served, a ...

, notes that LIYSF exhibits "a commendable understanding of how science and culture go hand in hand, while sharing knowledge and experiences".

Support

Support is primarily provided by, amongst other organizations and groups, the British Council, Education UK and the GREAT Campaign.

External links

References