The European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS) is organising a Young Scientist Contest. The Dutch Catalysis Society (DCS) can send two participants to the contest. When you have a candidate who is interested and meets the criteria mentioned in the call please submit a half page A4 nomination to the DCS (Harry.Bitter@wur.nl) before March 15, 2018. The nomination should make clear why the nominee is a suitable candidate for the contest. We hope we can send two good candidates to the contest with your help.
Call for nominations ‘The EFCATS Young Generation Catalysis Challenge’
Background
To strengthen the interactions and to more fully integrate the younger generation into the European catalysis community, EFCATS is organizing a catalysis challenge for young researchers open to all EFCATS member countries. The challenge will be held at Wageningen University and Research (WUR), The Netherlands from 9-11 July 2018 with two young researchers (young = PhD students and postdocs/researchers who obtained their PhD after 1 July 2016) from each EFCATS country being involved.
Selection of candidates
Each participant country/national society should now select 2 candidates and inform the local organizing committee of their names and contact details before March 30 2018. Dutch nominations must be sent to the DCS (harry.bitter@wur.nl) before March 15, 2018.
We would like to emphasise that the selection criteria should not (only) be based on number of papers published, etc., but should take account of other abilities such as personal motivation, a strong ability to communicate and proactively interact with other team members, the ability to act as a team leader and possession of the imagination necessary to develop a catalysis project, which is not only scientifically sound, but also challenging and “provocative”.
At the start of the challenge, the teams of competitors will be formed by a draw from the registered participants.
Outline of the challenge
The goal of the challenge will be for the teams of competitors (4-5 members per team, thereby representing an international mixture) to write a 10 page research proposal over one and a half days on a predefined topic. The topic will be announced on the first day by the organizers. On the last day of the challenge the participating teams will be required to present their proposal to the EFCATS board and the other participants. Based on the quality of the written proposal and the presentation, 3 prizes will be awarded to the best three teams. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
Awards
Each of the members of the winning team will receive a voucher of 500 €.
Each of the members of the first runner up team will receive a voucher of 200 €.
Each of the members of the second runner up team will receive a voucher of 100 €.
Location and accommodation
The challenge will be held at Wageningen University (Wageningen, the Netherlands.)
Further details can be found in the call text.
