Information Officer Emilia Erkinheimo, Technology Academy Foundation
 
Dept of CS's Head of Studies Jaakko Kurhila, MY Camp steering committee

The Millennium Youth Camp (MY Camp) is an international science camp for 16-19-year-olds who are interested in natural sciences and technology. MY Camp is organised for the first time in Helsinki on 6-13 June of this year. Out of nearly one thousand applications, 30 gifted young people from 14 countries were invited to the camp. There were applications from 62 countries on all continents, and there are 10 Finns at the camp. There will be about an equal number of girls and boys at the camp.

The campers will spend their week familiarising themselves with the Finnish research community in natural sciences, as well as being introduced to the corporate world and studying opportunities in Finland. The purpose of the varied and inspiring programme is to further advance the campers' interest in natural science and technology, tell them about studying and job opportunities in Finland, and help them build networks among themselves and with experts in their fields.

During the camp week, the campers will learn about research and studying at the universities in the greater Helsinki region, as well as visit several Finnish companies. The first day of camp, Monday 7 June, will be spent at the Kumpula campus, where the campers will be welcomed by the Rector of the University of Helsinki and the Dean of the Faculty of Science. The programme of the day includes visits to the various departments on campus. At the Department of Computer Science, the campers will visit the Software Factory etc.

The campers have already been cooperating over distance on their projects in international teams, under the guidance of top researchers, ever since April. The themes of the projects are applied mathematics, climate change, ICT, water, renewable energy sources, and renewable natural resources. The campers work together in Moodle workspace provided by the University of Helsinki. On 11 June, the attendees' camp week culminates in their presentations of their projects, which they will finalise during the camp, at the MY Camp gala at the Museum of Technology in Helsinki.

'With its new implementation method, MY Camp offers young people an overview of top research and know-how in natural sciences, mathematics and technology in Finland. It is our goal to teach the campers about cooperation, give them useful contacts, and hopefully they will have some summer fun in Finland at the same time,' says Professor Maija Aksela of the LUMA centre and the University of Helsinki. You can learn to know the campers beforehand through MyScience,  LUMA's webzine in English for young people.

MY Camp will take place the same week that the Millennium technology award is presented. One of the highlights of the camp week is the attendance at the awards ceremony for the Millennium Technology Prize on Wednesday 9 June and meeting the Millennium Technology Prize laureates in person on Thursday 10 June. The meeting between the campers and the award winners will be arranged after the Studia Generalia lecture given by the principal winner of the Millennium Teachnology Prize at Aalto University TKK in Otaniemi.

 
The main organisers of the Millennium Youth Camp (MY Camp) include the Technology Academy, the national LUMA centre, the Centre for School Clubs, and the Ministry of Education. In addition, following partners are closely involved with the project: the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Finnish National Board of Education, the Academy of Finland, the University of Helsinki, the Helsinki University of Technology, Taloudellinen tiedotustoimisto, the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, the Union of Teachers of Biology and Mathematics, the Finnish Association of Teachers of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Informatics (MAOL), the Finnish Science Centre (Heureka) and the Museum of Technology. Corporate partners include Kemira, Nokia, PaloDEx Group, UPM-Kymmene and Vaisala.

Millennium Technology Prize is Finland's tribute to life-enhancing technological innovation. The prize is awarded by the Technology Academy Finland every second year for a technological innovation that significantly improves the quality of human life, today and in the future. The Winner of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize will be awarded 800 000 euros, and the two other Laureates will each be awarded 150 000 euros.