Thirty talented teenagers from 22 countries selected for the 2011 Millennium Youth Camp

The 30 young people who will participate in the 2011 Millennium Youth Camp (MY Camp) to be held in Helsinki in June have now been selected. One hundred 16-19-year-olds were selected for the second round from a total of 1443 applications, and the final participants were chosen using a challenging selection process.

"Just like last year, all the applicants were of a high standard,” said Professor Maija Aksela, Chair of the Millennium Youth Camp Steering Group. “The selection process was by no means easy, but the best proposals - innovative ideas which would be feasible to implement - did stand out."

In the second round, applicants were asked to produce a project plan associated with the theme defined for their respective groups. Producing project plans gave the young applicants an opportunity to demonstrate their skills.

 "The project plans submitted in the second round featured many creative elements including videos, sound samples and a wide variety of images,” said Professor Aksela. “They clearly demonstrated that young people truly want to be involved in creating solutions such as alternative energy sources and innovative mobility solutions."

Girls will be in the majority this year

Contrary to popular belief, interest in science and technology is not restricted to boys. Almost half the applicants who made it through to the second round were girls, and 16 were selected as final MY Camp participants. Young people who share similar interests come from all the world’s continents. In addition to four young Finns, this year’s MY Campers come from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine and United States.

MY Camp’s purpose is to stimulate interest in science and technology among young people and raise awareness of the study and working opportunities available in Finland. A highlight of the 2011 MY Camp will be the chance to meet Stephen Furber, one of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize Laureates. Mr Furber will be offering MY Campers advice on how to pursue a scientific career.

”I’m happy that a scientist of such high repute is willing to give his time to encourage young people to take up science studies,” said Ainomaija Haarla, President and CEO, Technology Academy Finland andChair of the Millennium Youth Camp project. ”Our aim is to motivate young people to seek a career in technological or scientific sectors. One day, perhaps, a MY Camper will be awarded the Millennium Technology Prize.”

The second MY Camp will start on 11 June and run until 17 June. The event’s main organisers are Technology Academy Finland and Finland’s national LUMA centre.

Further Information:

• www.millenniumyouthcamp.fi(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
• Ainomaija Haarla, President and CEO, Chair of the Millennium Youth Camp
  Technology Academy Finland
  Tel. +358 40 716 0703, ainomaija.haarla (at) technologyacademy.fi
  
  
• Maija Aksela, Professor, Chair of the Millennium Youth Camp Steering Group
  The Finnish LUMA Centre, University of Helsinki
  maija.aksela (at) helsinki.fi, tel. +358 50 514 1450
  
  
• Media contacts:
  Riina Vänttinen, Communications Officer, Technology Academy Finland
  riina.vanttinen (at) technologyacademy.fi, tel. +358 400 420 922
  
  
• Webzine MyScience: http://www.myscience.fi(Link to another website.)
• Millennium Technology Prize on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/millenniumprize(Link to another website.)