The first activity in the Programme for the selected students is the Caixa Catalunya Summer Science Workshops (E²C³) at the Centre Natura Caixa Catalunya in the peerless setting of les Planes de Son in el Pallars Sobirà. Here you will work on a project with the help of leading researchers.

Once the E²C³ have finished and until they go into higher education, the young people who have demonstrated their commitment, effort and ability to cope with the challenges of Caixa Catalunya’s Young People and Science Programme will be able to do further scientific education support activities. These involve going to lectures and taking part in workshops, during the summer holidays until they go to university, at national research centres and international programmes.

Not at all. Though it is true that most students on the Programme have excellent marks, especially in science subjects, their motivation is practically more important. Curiosity, creativity, involvement, interest, the ability to be amazed, a willingness to learn all the time and perseverance are things that a scientist needs in order to grow and develop their career.

Most students in previous years of the Programme were in the same boat: they didn’t know that much about the specific topics in the projects they were going to do at the E²C³ at the Centre Natura Caixa Catalunya and nor did they know exactly what they wanted to do in the future. However, they did know they wanted to be scientists or engineers. Regardless of the degree you read for at university, the knowledge you gain on the E²C³ will be really useful, and more importantly you’ll learn something about yourself, about how a scientist works, what research, teamwork, responsibility and time management involve, and much, much more. The only thing you need is a willingness to work hard and learn a lot with a group of young people who have the same interests as you.

Once the E²C³ at the Centre Natura Caixa Catalunya are over and until university, the young people who have demonstrated their commitment and effort and who submit a scientific article will continue with their scientific education support activities by attending lectures and going on summer holiday workshops at national research centres and international programmes.

The scientific article is a key factor in continuing. You will write it with the support of an E²C³ tutor and it will be the culmination of the research you have done at the workshops. Your future on the programme will depend on how good it is, especially in terms of the award of places at local research centres and on international programmes.

The bulk of the activities on the Young People and Science Programme take place in the summer. After the “E²C³-Centre Natura” at les Planes de Son, students who continue with the programme will take part in workshops at local or international centres. In the “E²C³–Research Centres”, students can choose between the opportunities the programme provides at partner centres. In the final summer students will gain greater independence and do the “E²C³– Quest” at centres and on programmes which have accepted them. The programme will examine the students’ proposed projects and fund them depending on this evaluation and their possibilities.

You learn and it’s hard work! But it’s worth it if you’re interested in science and ready to put some time and effort into it. Not only will you have an interesting scientific experience but you’ll also meet people from different countries and cultures.

Yes! Everything, including the workshops at the Centre Natura Caixa Catalunya, the lectures, and the workshops at national research centres and international programmes. All you have to pay for is the cost of transport and food at the local research centres. In the case of international programmes, the programme will meet all expenses, including enrolment fees, food and accommodation and transport.

Every year more than 700 students apply for places. Most of them have excellent academic records and are highly motivated for science, and we can only accept 50 of them… Unfortunately we do have to say no to students who would be great on the programme.

We look for young people with drive, interest, curiosity and commitment to science. To find them we use academic records of course, but also a covering letter which you will have to write and in which you have to show us your interest in science, your personal and school projects (hobbies, science competitions you’ve entered, prizes won, reading, musical instruments you play, etc.) and anything else you think would make you the worthy winner of a place. Also important are the comments and assessments of your Fourth Year ESO teachers. Finally, we’ll also interview you in person.

English is very important in science, as in any other walk of life, as it is the international language and means you can communicate with people from different cultures. Plus it’s also the language used on two of the E²C³ projects at the Centre Natura Caixa Catalunya and you’re bound to need it for programme activities once the workshop projects have finished.

On the internet, on this website. Go to the application section with one of your parents or legal guardian and choose the ‘register for selection process’ option. There you’ll find all the information you need and all the documents you have to fill in to apply. Once you’ve filled everything in, give them to your teacher so he or she can send us all the applications from your school in one go. Remember that applications which have not been processed by a school will not be accepted.

From time to time, albeit not very often, some information fails to reach us. Don’t assume that your application is complete until you receive an email from us saying it is.

The successful applicants will be chosen in the second half of April. The list of those accepted and those excluded will be published on this website towards the end of April. Keep your application number as that is the information that will be posted on the website.

The deadline for submitting all the information required is 26 February 2010.

They are Summer Workshops for 50 young people finishing Fourth Year ESO who have a talent for and interest in science and who want to make the most of a fabulous first experience of research absolutely free of charge. You will have to choose from one of the five research projects and carry it out with the members of your group. Ten young people will take part in each project, with the support of scientists who are experienced in research and in the project itself. You’ll also take part in seminars, go to lectures and, on the last day, each group will prepare a presentation to which the scientists, families and the other students on the programme will be invited.

They last 13 days, from 28 June to 10 July 2010.

The academic programme is demanding and takes up 7 hours per day, so if you like learning and working, you’ll have a great time! But that doesn’t mean there’s no time for fun, as there are also scheduled periods for playing, doing sport, going on outings, watching movies, and even for doing nothing at all! Music usually plays an important role in free time. Every year a music evening is held for which students prepare original pieces, ranging from the combination of an electric guitar and violin to a big band with summer songs and including classical duets, trios and quartets.

The Centre Natura Caixa Catalunya is a facility specialising in environmental education and raising awareness in society about sustainable development and the conservation of nature and landscapes. It stands in pastureland near the village of Son, 7 km from Esterri d'Àneu, in one of the best preserved regions of the Pyrenees, the Valls d'Àneu. Right in the heart of the Pyrenees, the valleys cover 407 km2 in the northern part of the county of el Pallars Sobirà.

Generally speaking the weather in the area during the summer is hot and dry during the day and cool at night, with little rainfall but frequent summer thunder.

The only visits allowed at the E²C³ are by your parents on the final day to see the presentation of the research project you’ve done.

No. They can lead to people becoming isolated and we believe that the workshops are a way of fostering community living between young people and scientists with similar interests. In any case, your mobile wouldn’t be much use as there’s no service coverage.

Well, things like this:
• “We’ve met people we wouldn’t have done otherwise; hardworking people who are committed to achieving excellence.”
• “The access to incredible telescopes and equipment and the staff there meant that I had a very educational and fun time making for an unforgettable experience.”
• “I’ve learnt a lot, not only about biology but I’ve also seen at first hand how a researcher works.”
• “The quality of the staff was impressive, and all the theory and practical explanations they gave were fantastic. Plus the measuring appliances I used were excellent and I enjoyed learning how to use them.”
• “The work group was really nice and friendly to me and always gave me a hand when I needed it. Plus the project is very interesting and you get a good understanding of what the researchers at the centre are trying to achieve and of the project as a whole.”
• “They gave us great insight into how real scientists take astronomy observations and how they work.”
• “Apart from learning a lot, I’ve also got lots of ideas for my future as a scientist.”
• “It’s been a rewarding experience because apart from the theory, experiments, presentations and work, we also shared cultures, languages, traditions, ambitions, fun and games and so on.”
• “It’s helped me to see research from a different perspective, especially on the human side.”
• “I’ve been able to get hands-on experience of scientific research and live with young people from around the world who have similar interests to me. It’s helped me to see what I want to do at university and it’ll also help me with research work. Highly recommended.”
• “In short, 13 days that have changed the way I understand science, but not in terms of knowledge (even though I have learnt a lot) but rather at the personal level, as I’ve seen that being part of a team with people who at first sight are very different to you is extremely rewarding and efficient.”
• “I think this programme is unbeatable and amazing, because of the atmosphere, your classmates, the teachers, the project and the place.”
• “I liked everything so much that the fortnight the project lasted just flew by and I would willingly have stayed longer.”
• “It’s been the most incredible two weeks in my life. I’ve never enjoyed science so much and I’ve met very diverse and fascinating people.”