The fifth International Millennium Youth Camp opened yesterday at the Kumpula Science Campus. The camp brings teenagers from all over the world to Helsinki for a week of sicience, research, technology and international collaboration.<\/p>\n
International Millennium Youth Camp brings together 59 gifted young students for a week of science, research, technology and networking. The campers, aged 16-19, represent all of the inhabited continents.<\/p>\n
At the camp the participants work together on scientific challenges and tackle global sustainability issues with creative ideas. The themes of the camp include for example biosciences and biotechnology, energy, water and urban planning.<\/p>\n
Each of the theme groups are mentored by leading experts from Finnish universities and technology companies.<\/p>\n
This year over 1400 eligible applications were received.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe top candidates stood out with their motivation and interest in chemistry and science,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0says researcher\u00a0Sari Rautiainen<\/strong>\u00a0from the Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Helsinki.<\/p>\n Rautiainen coaches the Renewable Resources team \u2014\u00a0Ramon Goncalves da Silva<\/strong>\u00a0from Brazil among others.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to make a difference wherever I am. I intend to create technology that will push humanity forward and make our world a better place to live in,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ramon Goncalves da Silva says.<\/p>\n Rautiainen herself studies the conversion of carbohydrates into chemicals that could be used in pharmaceutical or food industries. Furthermore, monomers from materials like wood could be used to generate novel biopolymers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe molecules of biomass are an important source for the production of fuels and chemicals. The key is to develop selective methods which produce as little of waste as possible,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Rautiainen says.<\/p>\n The Renewable resources group is researching methods for producing chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass such as wood. During the Millennium Youth Camp they will also get the opportunity to do hands-on practical work in the laboratory.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year the group will be experimenting in the laboratory with some methods developed in the Laboratory of inorganic chemistry. These include for example oxidative pretreatment of lignocellulose to separate lignin from carbohydrates,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Rautiainen reveals about the project.<\/p>\nAs little of waste as possible<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cKeep up your sense of humor!\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n