The London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) 2015 was attended by two young science students from St Aloysius College sixth form – Edward Thake and Seren Cakar, who were among 487 other students from 64 countries.

They had placed first in the Malta Student Science Forum, organised by the National Student Travel Foundation, with their lecture entitled ‘Plasma physics: The fusion upstart’. Their award-winning prize was attending the two-week forum at the Imperial College, London.

LIYSF was founded in 1959 with the aim of giving a deeper insight into science and its applications for the benefit of all mankind. This year’s theme was ‘Science the universal endeavour’.

The forum included lectures delivered by eminent scientists and researchers and visits to some of the world’s leading universities and research organisations. Among the lectures given was that of Prof. Fiona Watt, director of the Centre of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at King’s College London.

She talked about ways in which stem cells are being used to treat diseases that are currently incurable. Prof. Mark McCaughrean from the European Space Agency talked about the Rosetta space mission, whose purpose is to deploy a lander, Philae on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Prof. Lord Robert Winston was also present and is internationally recognised for his gynaecological surgical techniques that improved fertility treatments in in-vitro fertilisation.

The Maltese winners had the opportunity to visit Cambridge and Oxford Universities, Rolls-Royce and the Haematology and Blood Transfusion Departments in London. LIYSF was an informative, learning and unforgettable experience and is recommended to those who share a deep passion for science.