Every July since 2017, CaféScientifique, Launceston has been holding a Young Scientist of the Year competition for Year 12 students at Launceston and Bideford Colleges.

The brainchild of Professors Colin Webb and Fenella Wojnarowska who mentor students studying science related subjects for university entrance, the competition was even held online in the summers of 2020 and 2021.

As well as the two competitions CaféSci, Launceston has run each year: a Young Scientist of the Year competition in which students present a scientific topic of their choice live at the July meeting of the group judged by a panel of scientists drawn from the membership and the Members’ Choice competition which allows members attending the meeting to choose their favourite, this year, because July is such a busy time for some students such that they cannot enter in person, it was decided to borrow from academia and hold a scientific poster competition the judging of which would not require the entrants’ presence at the meeting.

2022 Young Scientist of the Year talks ranged from “Dead Zone” via “Hydrogen Cars” and “The Potential of Gravitational Waves” to “The James Webb Space Telescope” and “Synthetic Life”. Posters illustrated “The Foetal Nervous System”, “How Smoking Affects Oral Hygiene”, “Ketamine” “Geographical Isolation and Language Varieties and how they are affected by Globalisation” and “Different Coloured Flames”.

The standard of the presentations was of a uniformly high standard and a really good summer evening was enjoyed by all who attended. Money prizes generously sponsored by Launceston Rotary to whom CaféSci, Lanson is very grateful, were awarded as well as certificates.

Results

2022 Café Scientifique Young Scientist of the Year: Winner: Theo Tambling - James Webb Space Telescope; Runner-up: Leah Tucker - Synthetic Life.

2022 Café Scientifique Young Scientist Poster Competition: Winner: Ellie Medland - Geographical Isolation, Language Variety & Globalisation; Runner-up: Dan Martin – Ketamine.

2022 Café Scientifique Young Scientist Members’ Choice (Talk): Winner: James Barriball - Dead Zones; Runner-up: Theo Tambling - James Webb Telescope

2022 Café Scientifique Young Scientist Members’ Choice (Poster) Winner: Dan Martin – Ketamine; Runner-up: Ellie Medland - Geographical Isolation, Language Variety & Globalisation