This is my last post on my experiences at the London International Youth Science Forum. In my previous blog entry, I wrote about the various aspects of LIYSF - the lectures, visits to scientific institutions, debates, student bazaar evening, and the museum tours (see my post titled "London International Youth Science Forum 2013, Part One"). However, there is one more highly significant part of the forum that I have not yet written much about.
You see, it was the participants that made LIYSF 2013 what it was. What else do you expect when you bring together some of the brightest students from all over the planet? For two weeks, we became an international community, an international family, as we journeyed together, "crossing science boundaries". Scratch that - we still remain an international family, a group of enthusiastic, committed students across the globe.
The forum had an amazing social aspect to it too. The social and cultural programme included dances, a cabaret, a "Traditions of Home" evening in which participants showcased traditional performances typical to their countries, and optional sightseeing tours in London. More than the events themselves, it was the opportunity to connect with people from various countries, religions, and cultures that made it so fascinating.
It was my favourite part of LIYSF.
I loved how each one of us was so diverse, and yet we were connected, united by our love for science and technology. My fellow participants at LIYSF remain some of the most brilliant, dedicated, interesting people I have ever encountered. What was probably most heartening was that there were no prejudices, no biases that separated us. Making a new acquaintance was as straightforward as walking up to someone and saying, "Hi. I'm xxx from xxxx." No one was shunned, no one was ridiculed. Everyone was accepted as part of this huge community, because everyone had an interesting story to tell, everyone had new experiences and opinions to share.
Whether it was on the Imperial College lawns on a sunny afternoon, or in the Common Rooms at 1 am, I thoroughly enjoyed interacting and networking with my peers and making new acquaintances, new friends. And I think that was exactly what LIYSF was about. The world needs international collaboration, and not just in the sciences. LIYSF brought together students from various countries and gave them the opportunity to form long-lasting networks. And network we did!
I believe that the entire experience at the London International Youth Science Forum 2013 is very accurately summed up in this short paragraph written by one of the participants, who over the course of 2 weeks became my closest friend:
"When you try to describe what made an event special, you are often trying to explain what it meant to you. So, what did LIYSF mean to me? The answer is not just a word or a sentence. It is multifarious. It's a feeling. The feeling that I got the chance to experience something unique, with people around me who felt exactly the same. LIYSF was culture. What else could it have been when people from 60 countries came together? LIYSF was knowledge. It was impossible not to learn anything, listening to captivating lectures about interdisciplinary science. LIYSF was excitement. Every day was an adventure because no two days were the same. LIYSF was courage. I crossed a personal boundary when I presented my own scientific work in front of the whole forum. And LIYSF was friendship. Making friends with amazing people all around the globe broke down the frontiers in my head. Countries that were far away once are now the homelands of my friends. The forum gave nations a face and made me see the world in a whole new way. LIYSF was life-changing for me, I never felt so amazed about being linked to science."
You see, it was the participants that made LIYSF 2013 what it was. What else do you expect when you bring together some of the brightest students from all over the planet? For two weeks, we became an international community, an international family, as we journeyed together, "crossing science boundaries". Scratch that - we still remain an international family, a group of enthusiastic, committed students across the globe.
The forum had an amazing social aspect to it too. The social and cultural programme included dances, a cabaret, a "Traditions of Home" evening in which participants showcased traditional performances typical to their countries, and optional sightseeing tours in London. More than the events themselves, it was the opportunity to connect with people from various countries, religions, and cultures that made it so fascinating.
It was my favourite part of LIYSF.
I loved how each one of us was so diverse, and yet we were connected, united by our love for science and technology. My fellow participants at LIYSF remain some of the most brilliant, dedicated, interesting people I have ever encountered. What was probably most heartening was that there were no prejudices, no biases that separated us. Making a new acquaintance was as straightforward as walking up to someone and saying, "Hi. I'm xxx from xxxx." No one was shunned, no one was ridiculed. Everyone was accepted as part of this huge community, because everyone had an interesting story to tell, everyone had new experiences and opinions to share.
Whether it was on the Imperial College lawns on a sunny afternoon, or in the Common Rooms at 1 am, I thoroughly enjoyed interacting and networking with my peers and making new acquaintances, new friends. And I think that was exactly what LIYSF was about. The world needs international collaboration, and not just in the sciences. LIYSF brought together students from various countries and gave them the opportunity to form long-lasting networks. And network we did!
I believe that the entire experience at the London International Youth Science Forum 2013 is very accurately summed up in this short paragraph written by one of the participants, who over the course of 2 weeks became my closest friend:
"When you try to describe what made an event special, you are often trying to explain what it meant to you. So, what did LIYSF mean to me? The answer is not just a word or a sentence. It is multifarious. It's a feeling. The feeling that I got the chance to experience something unique, with people around me who felt exactly the same. LIYSF was culture. What else could it have been when people from 60 countries came together? LIYSF was knowledge. It was impossible not to learn anything, listening to captivating lectures about interdisciplinary science. LIYSF was excitement. Every day was an adventure because no two days were the same. LIYSF was courage. I crossed a personal boundary when I presented my own scientific work in front of the whole forum. And LIYSF was friendship. Making friends with amazing people all around the globe broke down the frontiers in my head. Countries that were far away once are now the homelands of my friends. The forum gave nations a face and made me see the world in a whole new way. LIYSF was life-changing for me, I never felt so amazed about being linked to science."
Before 24th July, I had no idea of the impact that the forum would have on me. I returned from London a completely transformed individual, with a whole new outlook on life. After 7th August, I knew I had undergone a wonderful experience and that my life would never be the same.
