Barcelona International Youth Science Challenge (BIYSC) is organised by Science Academy, the training project of Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, which is committed to promoting scientific vocations among young students, encouraging new ideas and skills through programs of excellence that we have been developing for more than 10 years.

Science Academy works in collaboration with leading Research Centers and scientists to offer hands on programs and bring young people closer to real science and technology to inspire them and boost their motivation.

BIYSC was created in 2016 based on the knowledge and experience of successful programs that our Foundation has been running for several years in Catalonia and gathering experiences of our students that have attended similar international programs around the world. We were prepared and determined to expand our actions by offering scientific opportunities with an international scope, inspiring young students from around the world to meet in Barcelona and encouraging them to work on projects of their choice with other peers, in a high-level scientific and technological context and giving them the opportunity to learn a lot and bring new ideas into the scientific world.

OUR YOUTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS

The first program that was launched in 2008 was Youth & Science. Its aim is to promote scientific careers amongst 10th-grade students in a three-year program, offering them the opportunity to experience an international stay of similar characteristics such as BIYSC in the last year of the program. Approximately 1,000 students apply every yearly call, only being selected a total of 50 Catalan students per year.

Crazy about Science was launched in 2013 offering 11th and 12th-grade students the opportunity to develop their curiosity in science but in a different format. 200 students work every year on science projects during approximately 18 Saturdays of their school year, getting to know a large variety of research subjects to better orientate their career choice for university.

International programs with whom we cooperate:

  • MIT Global Teaching Lab: We welcome students from MIT Global Teaching Labs that are invited to teach in high schools throughout the country. At each location, the students prepare tailored courses on science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), that are complementary to the school’s curriculum and highlight MIT’s hands-on approach to learning.
  • Physics Tournament in cooperation with the Davidson Institute and with the support of the Weizmann Institute- Is a Safe: Cracking competition that was held in Barcelona in 2015 by Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation.

If you want to know more information about Science Academy and our programs click here.