Junior Researchers Project 2016 has been launched. Last weekend, 240 upper secondary school students came together for the first of two meetings. The project is an interdisciplinary talent development programme which is being offered to all upper secondary schools by Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen.

2016.04.18 | Signe Opstrup

This year's 240 aspiring researchers are now in the process of contacting researchers at all universities in Denmark.

The Junior Researchers Project is a nationwide offer for students on the four upper secondary education programmes: the higher preparatory examination (HF), the higher commercial examination (HHX), the higher technical examination (HTX) and the traditional upper secondary school (STX). The participants are given the chance to study a subject in depth within the following categories: the humanities, the natural sciences, social science and the life/health sciences and to draw up a proposal for a research project. In Denmark, 90 upper secondary schools are represented, and this year’s junior researchers have already submitted ideas for the projects they will be working on in the coming months.

Researcher contacts at AU

 As part of the research process, the junior researchers must find a research contact themselves who can help them develop their research project and basic idea. In the period up until 20 June, the students will be seeking to establish contacts with researchers at all the universities in Denmark, including researchers at Aarhus University.

Pro-rector at Aarhus University Berit Eika explains:

“As a project partner, we are delighted that our researchers are willing to take time out to support these fledgling researchers.”

Talent development for students passionate about a particular topic

 Over a ten-month period, the junior researchers will learn what it is like to work as a researcher, they will meet like-minded people, and they will be able to inspire each other on many fronts. In addition, the students will be able to immerse themselves in a field which they are particularly interested in.

“I think the whole process is a real chance for the junior researchers to develop their talent, while at the same time arousing their interest in going to university,” says Pro-rector Berit Eika.

Broad network

During the Junior Researchers Project, all the young researchers will come together for two joint events to enable them to establish networks between the various upper secondary schools. The first of these meetings has just been held in Copenhagen, and in September everyone meets again – this time in Aarhus. At the meetings, the junior researchers learn more about the universities, about research and about the academic world. Aarhus University will also be hosting a special event for junior researchers from Jutland and Funen in May.

Finale in November

The Junior Researchers Project will run for ten months, ending with a finale in November. Here, the best projects will be named, with the winners receiving a prize of DKK 20,000 as well as being given the opportunity to realise their own research projects.

The project is being financed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the Ministry for Children, Education and Gender Equality, and is based at the University of Copenhagen. Aarhus University is a partner.

Further information

• If you have any questions, please contact Julie Østergaard, who is coordinating the Junior Researchers Project at Aarhus University (jmwo@au.dk), or Marianne Bjerregaard at the University of Copenhagen (mabj@adm.ku.dk). 
• Read more about the Junior Researchers Project.