We make junior scientific dreams come true
Science begins with curiosity. With the first “why”, the first experiment in the kitchen, the first look through a microscope. At Nadace Neuron we believe that future Nobel laureates are sitting in school classrooms right now. That is why we decided not only to reward top scientists but also to light and keep alight the spark of enthusiasm in the youngest.
We support a passion for knowledge from an early age
Through the Junior Scientific Conference we grant the wishes of talented children who live for science, and show them that their dreams have no limits.
How and where do we choose the laureates?
We look for children with an extraordinary passion for their field — whether it is physics, biology, chemistry, computing or astronomy. We are not interested in school marks alone, but in deep interest, initiative of their own and the desire to discover.
The selection takes place in close cooperation with our partner, the Faculty of Science of Charles University, which has been running the Junior Scientific Conference for more than ten years.
What is the reward?
It is not a financial gift but an experience of a lifetime. We grant dreams in the form of exclusive placements at Czech and international research institutes or universities. We want to show children big science up close and motivate them to study further.
“We want to show that science is an adventure. If we support a child's dream today, we can change the world of tomorrow.”Monika Vondráková, co-founder and director of Nadace Neuron
Hall of fame: whose dream have we granted?
Meet a selection of the young talents for whom Nadace Neuron has opened the door to the world of big science.
- Adéla Podholová – a placement at the University of Chemistry and Technology: Adéla is interested in the antibacterial potential of natural substances such as garlic and honey, and we arranged a long-term placement for her at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Professor Štěpánek's research group, where she focuses on things like the interaction of mucins with substances in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Terezie Štěpánková – a placement at Biocev: Terezie is interested in nanofibres, and we arranged a specialist placement for her at the BIOCEV research centre in the group of Kateřina Rohlenová, a Neuron Award laureate and an expert in tumour biology.
- David Dvorský – a visit to CERN: David proved to be a very talented particle physicist whose greatest dream in life was a study trip to CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics in Geneva. He was able to see the place where answers to the fundamental questions about the origin of the universe are sought.
- Daniel Svoboda – the Hamburg planetarium and a placement at Jablotron: At Neuron we granted several of Daniel's small scientific dreams at once. As he enjoys astronomy and engineering, he received a 3D printer from us, a placement at Jablotron, specialists in security and low-voltage systems, and a visit to the planetarium in Hamburg.
Do you know a young scientist?
Follow our social networks and news, where we regularly announce new calls and nomination opportunities together with our partners.
Be informed
Discoveries lie waiting all around, do not let them slip by! Every month we will send you a fresh batch of information about the world of science and Neuron.