On September 7, the final gala of the ADAMED SmartUP Programme took place, during which the names of the 10 laureates of the main prize of the 6^th edition of the ADAMED SmartUP Programme as well as the names of the 3 scholars of the 5^th edition of the Programme had been announced.

“We conducted this year’s edition of the ADAMED SmartUP Programme in a completely remote way. It was possible thanks to new technologies, and creating such new technologies is often possible thanks to the talented youth, as the reality changes thanks to people like you,” said Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, MD, the President of the Adamed Foundation, in her opening speech.

The Adamed Foundation Board members, the ADAMED SmartUP Scientific Council members, lecturers, and friends of the programme were among the guests of this online event. Most of all, however, it was the evening of celebrating our recent graduates, who were impatiently waiting for the announcement of winners.

“It is always a very special moment for us as it culminates the work and engagement of all the campers and awards the best among them, which, believe me or not, is very difficult, because all students are exceptional and worth receiving the main prize,” assured Katarzyna Dubno, the Adamed Foundation Board Member.

Every year, however, only 10 students can be distinguished, so after long discussions and deliberations, the Scientific Council made the final decision of selecting the following laureates of the 6^th edition of the ADAMED SmartUP Programme:

• Oskar Dąbkowski from Mierzyn, Greater Poland, a student of High School no. 13 in Szczecin;
• Piotr Grynfelder from Warsaw, Mazovia, a student of Staszic High School no. 14 in Warsaw;
• Igor Jaszczyszyn from Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Mazovia, a student of Hoffmanowa High School no. 9 in Warsaw;
• Krzysztof Kwiatkowski from Michałowice, Mazovia, a student of Staszic High School no. 14 in Warsaw;
• Róża Okoń from Kielce, Świętokrzyskie voivodeship, an alumna of St. Hedwig High School in Kielce;
• Bartosz Poniewierka from Rybnik, Silesia, a student of Frycz Modrzewski High School no. 2 in Rybnik;
• Michał Rząsa from Nysa, Opole voivodeship, a student of Polish Diaspora of Belgium High School no. 14 in Wrocław;
• Greta Skorupska-Ruiz from Warsaw, Mazovia, a student of Poniatowski High School no. 5 in Warsaw;
• Wojciech Szumlański from Opoczno, Łódź voivodeship, a student of Żeromski High School no. 2 in Tomaszów Mazowiecki;
• Kamil Tkacz from Warsaw, Mazovia, an alumnus of Władysław IV Vasa High School no. 8 in Warsaw.

In the coming school year, the laureates will be paired with mentors who will guide them through a series of academic advising sessions, suited to the individual needs of the scholars.

“I would like to use this opportunity for my scientific development in medicine, focused on the study of immunology and immunotherapies, and to find research internship opportunities in Poland or abroad,” declares Kamil Tkacz, a member of the medicine & medical sciences camp group. Piotr Grynfelder, a laureate representing the physics & new technologies camp group, also counts on participating in interesting scientific projects.  “I would like to get the opportunity of working in the laboratory, as I have never had a chance to work in one, or to take part in a research internship,” he adds.

After a year of intensive work, this year’s winners will also have a chance to receive a scholarship. During our online ceremony, the 3 following last-year’s laureates were honoured with it:

• Julia Kalinowska from Słupsk, Pomerania;
• Kamil Petryczkiewicz from Konstancin-Jeziorna, Mazovia;
• Kinga Mastej from Rzeszów, Subcarpathia.

Each scholarship is worth 40,000 PLN, and scholars can use them to finance their further education and to pursue their future scientific endeavours.

The next edition of the ADAMED SmartUP Programme has already started!

Students passionate about natural sciences and aged between 14 and 19 can try their best in the ADAMED SmartUP Programme. The registration to its 7^th edition was launched in early September. Beginning October 1, a new online recruitment game will commence. Players with the highest scores will be invited to subsequent stages of the run for securing a place at the next year’s science camp and a chance to win the main prize.