Europe&Youth 2021
Student Contest
Student Contest open to both university students and school students
from all types and levels of schools.
11 DIFFERENT TOPICS
The Istituto Regionale di Studi Europei del Friuli Venezia Giulia (IRSE) is pleased to announce the “Europe&Youth2021” contest.
The contest is open to both University students and school students from all types and levels of schools of EU Member States.
Individual prizes for University and High School students. Group prizes for Middle and Primary school pupils. Book prizes and other materials for foreign language learning will also be presented. In the last contest 32 prizes were awarded to successful partecipants.
UNIVERSITIES
Contest is open to University students, recent graduates and anyone who has not reached the age of 27 on the 27th March 2021. Written essays must not exceed 20,000 characters, including spaces. A video presentation of the topic (maximum 2 minutes), will be considered important added value.
1. CRISIS as a CHANCE. The capability of a state to manage a large scale crisis depends on how much it has invested in its ability to govern and to shape markets that produce sustainable and inclusive growth. Starting from the essay Let’s not waste this crisis by the economist Mariana Mazzucato, analyse different strategies to restart after Covid-19 by comparing two or more European countries.
2. CITIZEN SCIENCE. More and better science dissemination and citizen involvement can help researchers to expand databases for important research projects. These are the aims of what is called “Citizen Science”. Research and write about projects and experiments in progress, and what are the repercussions in terms of raising awareness about environmental issues.
3. FINITUDE. Tell us your thoughts and considerations about the latest book by Telmo Pievani (philosopher and biology historian) entitled Finitude. A philosophical novel on fragility and freedom; based on an original dialogue between the writer Albert Camus and the geneticist Jacques Monod. Possible stimulus could be how to act in this pandemic affair, that can only appear to us as a dark confirmation of our finitude.
4. RACISM AND MINORITIES. President von der Leyen said that in the EU “The fight against racism will never be an optional option”. Analyse the 2020-2025 EU action plan against racism and identify the strategies it contains to combat discrimination against minorities.
5. LIVING WITH ALGORITHMS. AlgorithmWatch and Bertelsmann Stiftung have published the “Automation Society 2020” report which investigates the state of systems that automate decision-making processes in 16 European countries and at EU level. How can we understand the concept of privacy in this new social and technological context? How can we ensure that the development of these systems are compatible with respect for human rights and democratic rules?
6. DANTE, THE UNIVERSAL POET. Dante is the most universal poet who wrote in a modern language. Despite being Italian he is first of all European. Comment on this thought by T.S. Eliot, analysing Dantes Comedy.
HIGH SCHOOLS
Written essays can be submitted as individual work or in pairs and must not exceed 10,000 characters including spaces.
1. WE GO STEM. The strategic importance of teaching STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) for the social development of a country is consolidated. It is also well known how important it is to present STEM to a large and heterogeneous audience. Analyse what is being done in Europe and Italy to increase and update the implementation of STEM disciplines and the presence of women.
2. DANTE’S QUOTES. Vivid phrases about war, family sagas, hatred and love… Choose one of the series of Dante’s tercets proposed in the IRSE Project “Memory Awareness and Responsibility”, contextualising and updating the problems. (On this topic students from Friuli Venezia Giulia can also participate with a video production in the “Memory Awareness and Responsibility” Project, to be submitted before the 13th March 2021).
3. SHARING. True sustainability lies in sharing: not only in terms of transport, but also in living and working spaces, and resources. Learn about the culture of sharing in Europe between car and bike sharing, house sharing, co-working and other sustainable good practices. Illustrate some accomplishments in your area.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The projects can be done by either a whole class or a smaller group. It is possible to use different techniques (written, graphical, video, comics etc.) but always incorporating a descriptive summary.
1. TERRACES. During lockdown some videos went viral of boys and girls improvising songs, games and music from their terraces. Compose your own diary with episodes and images of an unusual period that you will not forget.
2. RIGHT TO WATER. Europe is moving towards trying to guarantee everyone the right to good quality and free drinking water. Create a TV advert or song that will encourage people like your family and friends, to trust in tap water, and to ask for it where it doesn’t exist.
Entries may be written in Italian or in English.
Each participant or group of participants may participate selecting only one topic.
It is mandatory to fill in the DATA SHEET in all the parts indicated.
How to send
Please send your entries via WeTransfer to irse@centroculturapordenone.it
BEFORE AND NOT MORE THAN THE 20th APRIL 2021
– Essays must be sent in both .doc and .pdf formats
– Videos must be sent at .mp4 horizontal files
– Any submissions in non-digital formats must first be approved by the IRSE secretary on +39 0434 365326
DATA SHEET
Please
fill in the DATA SHEET
