On May 5, 2023, an extraordinary gathering of talented students and leading scientific experts took place at the HiLASE and ELI Beamlines laser centres. Talentovka Meet UP, a networking event for the finalists of Talent Academy from all five previous years, brought both experiences and inspiration to young science enthusiasts.
The 24 participants of the Talentovka Meet UP were welcomed by sunny weather and a team of scientists from both centres, who were ready to share their experiences from various specializations during the informal gathering. Scientists Jan Brajer (HiLASE) and Jaroslav Nejdl (ELI Beamlines) introduced students to the latest updates from both centres and explained where the current direction of research. In turn, students shared with the organizers the scientific fields they had focused on during their studies. During a panel discussion, participants had the opportunity to debate with their scientific colleagues Dominika Jochcová and Michal Vyvlečka about their journey into cutting-edge research. Interesting tips were shared on where to gain experience, and scientists also discussed the challenges they had to face at the beginning of their careers. During the following teambuilding activities, students were fully engaged and applied their soft skills. A networking lunch offered the opportunity for individual conversations with scientific experts from various fields, engineers, HR managers, and PR specialists, allowing students to explore possible future collaboration possibilities. The highlight of the day was the parallel VIP tours and workshops, providing students with a rare opportunity to explore specific tasks that our scientists are dedicated to.
And what were the topics offered by the HiLASE Centre?
- CGH (Computer Generated Holograms) for efficient micromachining – Dominika Jochcová
- LIDT Laboratory Tour – Laser Induced Damage Threshold – Jan Vanda and Martin Mydlář
- Practical workshop in the LSP laboratory – Jan Kaufman
- Perla laser system – Matěj Žáček
At the end of the meeting, the students participated in an informal “Lasers, sausages, ice cream” session, which was a space for further sharing and entertainment.
What is the Talent Academy about?
The Talent Academy offers high school students the chance to develop their skills in the fields of physics, chemistry, IT, electrical engineering, and design. Each year, the top twelve students spend three intensive days in the high-tech laboratories of the HiLASE and ELI Beamlines scientific centres to experience a challenging simulation of a scientific experiment. However, the collaboration with the Talent Academy finalists doesn’t end there. The HiLASE Centre aims to foster the long-term development of students’ competencies throughout their university studies, be it through specialized internships, collaboration on bachelor’s, diploma and dissertation thesis, or participation in science popularization activities.
Cooperation opportunities for students
Are you a high school student interested in participating in the sixth year of the Talent Academy? You can apply until June 23, 2023, at www.talentovka.cz. Another example of an educational event for high school students is the Science Challenge, the project designed for three-member student teams and their teachers, that takes place mainly online. The team’s task is to develop a program that controls the laser system located at the HiLASE Centre and remotely test it. The top three teams participate in a 24-hour challenge at the HiLASE and ELI Beamlines laser centres. The next edition will take place at the beginning of 2024. For more information about other opportunities offered to students by the HiLASE Centre, visit this website. If you have any specific topic or long-term internship interests, feel free to contact us at joinus@hilase.cz.
The Talent Academy project No. 0059/7/NAD/2023 is supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports within the framework of the „Support of Gifted Primary and Secondary School Students in 2023“ programme.
