The role of Academia and Industry to inspire the next STEM generation: IUPAP satellite event at BSBF 2024

A satellite event of BSBF, Tuesday 1st of October 9h15-14h, addressed “The role of Academia and Industry to inspire the next STEM generation”, with the aim to explore and valorise the potential of the impact of research-industry collaboration to the development of a sustainable society. These subjects have been proven to work as a motivation not only for future employees in STEM related careers, but also for future company leaders and other society stakeholders. Raising the interest of youth for sciences is a concern not only for IUPAP, one of the leading bodies in the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, but also for the whole scientific and high-tech industrial community.

The satellite event included a round table panel discussion with representatives of Big Science research infrastructures and tech industries, who showcased their contribution to society (thanks to their collaboration with academia / research) and their engagement to inspire next STEM generation, starting at high school level.

The event ended with the award ceremony of the best high school students, who participated at the flagship activity of IUPAP in connecting physics, industry and education: the BSBF pre-event for high schools, organized in Trieste on 18th of March, following the successful project “Youth at STEM for Sustainable Future” (Youth@STEM4SF), an official initiative of main movement of UNESCO International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, Earth-Humanity Coalition, for the transversal education (A new joint programme for EHC – S4SF).

Read more on the events and the strategic relevance of integration of innovation ecosystem actors in shaping the education in the article published by Swiss Physical Society and another in the European Physics News.

Event has been also covered in local media: in the national Italian TV RAI 1st of October 2024 (as we were first event of BSBF!); and in the Slovenian radio Trieste on 30th of September at 18h (as an interview with Barbora Bruant Gulejova)).

You may also find information on the website of CAEN, corporate associate member of IUPAP, who actively participated at the event (IUPAP satellite event at BSBF 2024 – CAEN Educational).

For the full program and more details you can find the indico page of the event here.

Science, industry, and the sustainable development: “Big Science Business Forum inspirational pre-event for secondary schools”

It has broaden my perspective, obviously I knew, that science had practical uses, but it made me think more in future sense, how I can contribute in such things, like even health, that I did not know.  Example when we can use the particle accelerator to cure a cancer, that’s pretty cool to see applications from physics in life…”

Participating Student

“Youth@STEM4SF programme is very useful for our students, for our future at all. We can really implement this knowledge together to teach our students how think sustainably. Students were very inspired about the programme, they actually liked it, they were really into it, participating in the competition Youth@STEM4SF.”

Participating Teacher

“The presentation was very interesting. I’ve much enjoyed the way CERN’s particle accelerator helps the world. At school we do not really use physics for real-life examples, or for sustainability, so this concept is very good. What we’ve learn at school, is much more theoretical.”

Participating Student

“To teach this interdisciplinary projects, I think, teachers need more guidance, materials, so they can be more educated to teach that broad spectrum of science.”

Participating Teacher

“I think there are a lot of stereotypes about scientific studies, like you don’t have a good job, you’ll spend the rest of your life stuck in the laboratory, doing research, and just to see and to hear stories from people who are scientists and who are actually successful, enjoy what they are doing, gives you a kick to pursue it!”

Participating Student

This event was the first international (Italian and Slovenian) edition of the international project Youth@STEM4SF (Youth at STEM for Sustainable Future), successfully piloted in Switzerland during last year’s UNESCO International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. The aim was to inspire young leaders about the value of science for sustainable development and promote the vast job opportunities in the physics-related fields.

Almost 100 participating high school students from Slovenia and Italy accompanied by 5 science teachers, had an opportunity to be inspired about the value of science for society, through concrete examples of presence of science in our everyday lives, applications for sustainable development, that were showcased, and through the dialogue with role models:  scientists and engineers from research and industry.

They also took part in the Youth@STEM4SF competition on the themes of the BSBF and the ongoing UN International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, with attractive prices and an award ceremony during BSBF2024 satellite event organised by IUPAP on 1st of October, “The role of academia and industry to inspire the next STEM generation”.

The innovations and technologies coming from the research and industry collaboration and knowledge transfer have large positive impact on the society, and are key for the solutions of global societal challenges, like climate change, energy crises, pollution etc. Therefore, the job opportunities for boys and girls with basic sciences background are growing fast. It is of strategic importance at local and global level to increase the awareness the future generation about these subjects.

A pre-event has been organised by BSBF and other international (IUPAP, S4SF) and local partners (FIT), and in collaboration with regional authorities. For the full program and more details you can find the indico page of the event here.