Celebrating Young Researchers & Innovators at the First Youth STEM Matters Research Conference
On Saturday 19th June, youth globally joined us for a celebration of young researchers and innovators at the first Youth STEM Matters Research Conference! With 250 youth - based in 46 countries globally - registered to join us, we brought together a community of STEM changemakers for a day of inspiring talks and new opportunities.
The Research Conference - created by Youth STEM Matters, our global youth-led scientific journal, and made possible thanks to our sponsors: School of Biological Sciences at University of Aberdeen, The James Hutton Institute and RSK Group Limited - was packed with inspiring talks, and gave young people from around the world a platform to share their research, ideas and innovations.
Whether you joined us on the day, or weren’t able to make it, read on for a full recap of the event…
How attendees described the Research Conference using only 3 words! Larger words in the word cloud were mentioned more times.
Research Conference Organiser Anne-Rosa Bilal kicked off the conference for the 140 young people who attended live with an energising opening speech which set the scene perfectly for Editor-In-Chief Adam Khan-Qureshi and Life Sciences Editor Kerena Norris to tell the story so far of Youth STEM Matters. A variety of talks, workshops and panel discussions followed…
Youth Take Centre Stage
A real highlight of the Research Conference, according to our attendee feedback survey, were the talks by 8 amazing young people from around the world who were given the platform to share their STEM-based research projects. Victórya Leal (Brazil), Mujjona Eric & Joel Steven Ssekyewa (Uganda), Miriam Turk & Ruth Turk (Canada), Siva Sainath Reddy Bandi (India), Ayomide Oshinjo (Nigeria) and Rishika Podarala (USA) took to the stage throughout the day to present original research ranging from how waxworms can help tackle plastic pollution, to an early detection and warning system for liquefied petroleum gas leaks. Mujjona and Joel shared their reflections on being involved in the Research Conference:
“As a STEM enthusiast, I was inspired by numerous projects presented by youth during the conference”
“Attending the research conference was a fantastic opportunity to meet STEM enthusiasts from all over the world”
Miriam Turk and Ruth Turk were awarded the Best Speaker prize for their talk about their innovative project “3D Prototyping an Alternative Mask for Kids”, and received a £25 book voucher for Cambridge University Press and a free submission to submit a project to Youth STEM Matters. At just 8 years old when they completed their project, their take home message was summed up by Ruth:
“When I was 8 years old, I learnt how to CAD design, use a 3D printer and process a prototype. If you think you are too young to become involved with STEM or lead by example, you are not!”
Rishika Podarala was recognised as a Highly Commended Speaker for her talk on “Isolation and Identification of Polyethylene Degrading Bacterial Species Galleria mellonella”, which (in addition to presenting some exceptional research!) was packed full of advice for young people who want to create change through STEM research.
“I was very excited (and nervous) to be the youngest speaker at the Youth STEM Matters Research Conference. I met a lot of amazing youth through Youth STEM Matters, learned new skills and had an amazing experience through the research process. At the conference, I enjoyed learning about the research youth, from all around the world, are doing in STEM.”
Guest Speakers Inspire Attendees
It wasn’t just young people who shared their research though - we were thrilled to be joined by Prof. Salome Maswime (Head of Global Surgery, University of Cape Town), Dr Laura C. Loaiza (Battery Researcher and Post doc at Chalmers University of Technology) and Prof. Andrew B. Ward (Structural Biologist and Professor at Scripps Research) who each spoke about their areas of research, and shared their insights and advice for aspiring researchers and STEM changemakers.
“I hope that many platforms like Youth STEM Matters will continue to support young people, and to receive support from senior researchers, because often young people are underestimated and we can definitively achieve very good things by listening to them and giving them the opportunity to change the world. ”
“[My favourite thing was] hearing about the incredible work of young people and professionals across the globe with the collective goal of changing the world for the better.”
Panels and Workshops Mean the Future is Bright
After all that inspiration, the Research Conference shifted to action! Through our panel session - featuring Youth STEM Matters Authors - and workshops - led by Youth STEM Matters Volunteers - our community equipped attendees with the insights, platforms and skills they’ll need to tackle the world’s biggest challenges through STEM.
Our Making a Difference Through STEM Research panel members Aditi Kona, Olayemi Bakare, Shalini Sellam and Zuzana Hudáčová had an excellent discussion, chaired by Anne-Rosa Bilal, which covered a range of topics, from starting out as a young person in STEM, to finding an issue that matters to you. On being part of the panel, Shalini said:
“The Youth STEM Matters Research Conference was a brilliant experience, and it was so incredible seeing young people getting involved from all across the world. It proved to us all that young people are the key to revolutionising the future of STEM - I was honoured to be able to speak about my journey in research, especially with all the support and inspiration I got from everyone at the conference”
Later in the day, Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team members Connie (Man Hei) Siu and Lucy Mbochi led attendees in a workshop session about submitting a project to Youth STEM Matters. Our attendees had lots of great questions for them in our interactive Q+A, and we’re looking forward to working with you to share your research and innovations with the world!
Pratyusha Mandal and Zainab Khan then spoke about writing an article for Youth STEM Matters, which is a great way of speaking up on the issues YOUth care about. Attendees left the session thinking about what global challenges they wanted to write about, and our team are excited to work with you to make your article the best it can be!
In our post-event feedback survey, 85% of Research Conference attendees intend to get involved in Youth STEM Matters in some way, whether through submitting a project, writing an article, reading articles we publish, or applying to join our Volunteer Team, so with more young people taking action for a better world it looks like the future is a little brighter!
A Platform for Youth Tackling the World’s Biggest Challenges
Meanwhile, in the event Expo area, 16 projects by 18 young people were selected to be part of our Research Showcase, which attendees could visit throughout the day. Projects tackled a wide range of global challenges, and included how aerospace medicine research is benefitting human health, and how building design can reduce the damage caused by natural disasters.
“This conference allowed me to share my research experience with the rest of the world and potentially inspire the youth to take up research as well. Youth STEM Matters proves that young people from around the world can do research and push STEM forward.”
Jacqueline Prawira was awarded the Best Research Showcase Exhibit prize for their project “Cyclo.Plas 2 - A Dual Focus Development as Alternative Materials to Plastic by Upcycling Fish Scale Waste Components”, and received a £25 book voucher for Cambridge University Press and a free submission to submit a project to Youth STEM Matters.
Miraya Vyas’s project on “Climate Change, the Green Wall” was recognised as a Highly Commended Research Showcase Exhibit. On being part of the Research Conference, Miraya said:
“I feel immensely proud to have been part of such an amazing conference. A big thank you to Youth STEM Matters team for providing outstanding platform to young scientists!”
Attendees Embark on a Quest
Over the course of the day, attendees were given cryptic clues (devised by Research Conference Organisers Josh Heng & Anne-Rosa Bilal) which led them on a quest to find 6 articles published in Youth STEM Matters. Each article contained a short phrase, and when all 6 were combined together, a longer sentence was formed. Congratulations to our winner Hannah Alderdice, who was randomly selected form all of the valid entries and won a £15 voucher for the bookshop Blackwell’s.
Recognising Youth STEM Matters Authors & Volunteers
The Youth STEM Matters Research Conference concluded with our much anticipated Awards Ceremony. Hosted by Youth STEM 2030 Founder Mhairi McCann and Youth STEM Matters Editor-In-Chief Adam Khan-Qureshi, we recognised a wide range of achievements over the past year in each of our Author Awards and Volunteer Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners, but also to everyone who was shortlisted, or who has been part of Youth STEM Matters over the past year!
A Big Thank You!
Research Conference Organiser Abbie Fitzsimmons had the pleasure of closing the Research Conference by sharing our immense gratitude to everyone who helped make the Youth STEM Matters Research Conference the success it was. We would like to once again say a big thank you to...
Our amazing event sponsors: School of Biological Sciences at University of Aberdeen, The James Hutton Institute and RSK Group Limited.
Our 24 fantastic speakers - our audience learned so much from your talks, workshops and panel discussions!
Our Research Showcase participants, who shared their research, ideas and innovations at the conference.
Youth STEM Matters Volunteers Lizzie Bourn & Maddy Perry who did excellent social media coverage of the conference, and Dimple Amitha Garuadapuri who introduced speakers on the day.
Cambridge University Press and Blackwell’s who kindly donated prizes for our Research Showcase and Research Conference Quest.
You - our amazing attendees! Thank you for your engagement throughout the conference - we hope you had an awesome day!
Our Research Conference Organisers - Abbie Fitzsimmons, Adam Khan-Qureshi, Anne-Rosa Bilal, Josh Heng, Mhairi McCann & Ruvarashe Nyabando - the amazing group of young people who brought the Youth STEM Matters Research Conference to life!
