the-BA : From Russia with CREST

Uk delegation in front of the Cathedral of Christ our Saviour

On 16 September five British teenagers flew to Moscow to take part in the EU Contest for Young Scientists. Teams from Hutcheson’s Grammar School in Glasgow and King Edward VI School in Morpeth represented the UK at this international competition.

The EU Contest for Young Scientists took place from 17 – 22 September at Bauman Moscow State Technical University and was host to 126 young people from 35 countries. The students, aged between 15 and 20, displayed innovative science projects in disciplines ranging from medical research to mathematics. The contestants competed for prizes totalling €28,500, with the top prize being €5000.

The Hutcheson’s team displayed their project ‘How Fishy are Prawn Crackers?’ and the King Edward VI’s team took their project ‘Advance Warning of a Lubricated Bearing Failure System’. These students won the chance to go to Moscow by impressing judges at the BA CREST Science Fair held in London earlier this year.

After judging of the 78 projects had commenced, the winners were announced at a glamorous award ceremony held in the Hall of Church Councils in Moscow's beautiful Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. First prizes went to teams from Germany, Spain and Switzerland for original projects in the areas of fluid dynamics, a possible new species in Gran Canaria and preventing urinary tract infections from catheters.

The prizes were awarded by Achilleas Mitsos, the European Commission’s Director-General for Research. Dr Mitsos noted that the Contest is not just about winning prizes, but it was also an occasion for the participants to add to their evident enthusiasm for science. He also underlined its role in bringing young people from different cultural backgrounds together to exchange experiences and friendship.