Researchers met with high school students in Abisko National Park

Young Academy of Sweden’s summer research school Research Encounters started in 2013 and has taken place every year except for the pandemic year 2021. High school students who have just completed year 2 or 3 can apply to participate; there is space for around 25 participants, and it is free of charge. The purpose of Forskarmöten is for young people to have informal meetings with researchers, experience the breadth of research, and get answers to questions about higher education, career paths, and the research itself. Approximately one-third of the participants came from northern Sweden, from Örnsköldsvik to Piteå, which was more than ever before and was a positive development.

Many participants also appreciated the social interaction and shared interests. The eight leaders are top researchers in their respective fields and members of the Young Academy of Sweden.

Unique to this year’s edition of Research Encounters was that Swedish astronaut Markus Wandt sent a video greeting to the participants. Another special feature was an embedded journalist from the popular science magazine Forskning & Framsteg, social media reporter Cathy Fulgencio, who interviewed leaders and participants.

Workshops, games, films and study visits

The content at Research Encounters offers a delightful variety. In the beginning, ample time is devoted to icebreaker exercises so that participants can recognise each other. The core of Research Encounters consists of small group meetings where 4–5 participants converse with one leader at a time and have the chance to ask questions about what a path to a research career may look like, whether one can change one’s mind if feeling that a wrong choice was made, or specific questions about the researcher’s field.

Guest lecturers connected to the region

Further highlights included interactive guest lectures related to the region. Petter Stoor, a psychologist and researcher at Umeå University, lectured on his research concerning indigenous peoples and men’s health, with a particular focus on mental health in Sápmi and the Arctic. Keith Larson also gave an engaging lecture on climate research and the Arctic. Keith is the director at Arcum and a researcher at CIRC, Umeå University’s research centre for climate impact. Both Petter’s and Keith’s lectures were followed by enthusiastic discussions with the participants.

One day was spent at the Abisko Scientific Research Station, where PhD students guided and demonstrated ongoing experiments.

Embedded TikTok journalist

Swedish popular science magazine Forskning & Framsteg‘s social media reporter, Cathy Fulgencio, spent a day attending Research Encounters at the research station. Some participants, involved with the scientific youth magazine Partikular, recognised Cathy from TikTok and Instagram. She covered the activities and conducted video interviews with participants and leaders, which later became a social media post.

Before the final day, new groups were created, each assigned a question to present: Science and Politics, Science Communication, Method and Philosophy, and The Dark Side – are there questions we should not seek answers to? The participants greatly impressed the leaders with their perspectives and their coherent, entirely verbal, engaging presentations.

Leaders at Research Encounters

This year’s leaders at Research Encounters were Christian Ohm (particle physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology), Ellen Bushell (malaria research, Umeå University), Fredrik Moberg (coral reef ecology and research communication, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, seconded, not a YAS member), Karolina Kauppi (brain research, Umeå University and Karolinska Institutet), Cecilia Engdahl (immunology, University of Gothenburg), Lisa Hellman (history, Lund University), Sara Liin (neurobiology, Linköping University) and Yaffa Epstein (environmental law, Uppsala University). All leaders gave brief presentations that provided insights into various research areas and the breadth of possible disciplines.

Social activities, games and movie night with greetings from astronaut Marcus Wandt

To strengthen the community and create a relaxed atmosphere, time was also given to spontaneous social activities, which resulted in swimming, mountain hikes and card games.

The science game Expedition Mundus combines learning with play, and one evening the participants had the chance to explore the fictional world of Mundus using scientific methods in an interactive way.

On the second evening, the award-winning short film Tracks was shown, made by snowboarders Viktor Björnström and Kajsa Määttä. Afterwards, leaders Ellen Bushell, Fredrik Moberg and Yaffa Epstein led a discussion on science communication, climate and environmental research. The participants shared that climate change had been a part of their lives for as long as they could remember and that they wished for more visions for the future beyond just the basic understanding of the climate system and its challenges.

Visions are important. The quote “I have a dream” by civil rights activist Martin Luther King illustrates this. He did not say: “I have a nightmare”.

Leader Fredrik Moberg, coral reef ecologist and communication advisor at Stockholm University

The greeting was a joyful surprise. Wandt’s background in technology and his open, humble “team before self” approach to his mission and to colleagues inspired participants and leaders.

With really good cinnamon buns, the Research Encounters concluded at the top of Nuolja, with a stunning view of the beautiful Torneträsk, which is Sweden’s third largest lake by volume, and the legendary mountain formation Lapporten.

The Research Encounters in Abisko offered a unique and inspiring environment for young people to explore the possibilities of science. The leaders were deeply impressed to meet such wonderful, ambitious, knowledgeable, wise, and funny participants!

Young Academy of Sweden extends a warm thank you to Kempestiftelserna whose support made Research Encounters possible!