ISSC History

The ISSCs were first initiated by MILSET Europe (International Movement for Leisure Activities in Science and Technology) and since 2006 have already taken place in Sweden, Portugal, Germany and Lithuania.

2010 - Vilnius, Lithuania - Science for society

On this camp the focus was on how science is implemented into society. In the workshops, each group came up with a marketable product and presented the function of their product, which target group it was aimed at and which marketing strategies were chosen.

We visited great scientific institutions like Sicor Biotech and Arginta where we were shown around their laboratories and given introductory lectures on what they do. We also visited the museum of Ethnocosmology where we were treated to wonderful views of the Lithuanian countryside.

We brought back fond memories of cheap beer, wonderful people and the beautiful nature of the Curonian spit, all wrapped in an orange t-shirt.

2009 - Munich, Germany - Science Meets Industry 

While staying in tents with beds in the middle of the city and a huge evening campfire (this is how our hostel looked) we visited not only such great museums as Die Deutsche Museum, BMW or the residence of the Bavarian kings but also many science institutions.

During each excursion, talks just could not stop, whether about gas compression devices and the future of hydrogen-fuel cars or plasma physics, institutes of food-packaging, Leibniz computer centre and the European satellite navigation system Galileo.

We assembled small ships that can hold lots of waffles, saw living proof of a flying carpet without any magic, found out about career planning for scientists and employment in both public and private sectors.

We also brought back memories of a downpour before the Bavarian supper, the advance tasting of Oktoberfest beer, scientific discussions while eating and the wonderful people.

2008 - Lisbon, Portugal - Science in the Past and Future

During the slower-paced and sunny camp we constructed solar panels and rockets, visited a science museum with a bicycle on a metal string, a huge nose and many more fun bits; in an ancient observatory we watched the stars and discussed the history of science.

Everyone remembers the trip to the picturesque Castle of Sintra.

2007 - Darmstadt, Germany - Responsibility of Science

In discussion group we tried to answer who should be held responsible for the consequences of inventions: the researcher, the institute where the researcher is based, or, maybe, the society? Who should control it all? Should the creators of the internet have foreseen that it would boost globalisation?

We saw robots playing football, subtleties of creating virtual reality, the satellite control centre (European Space Operations Centre), the particle accelerator in which the chemical element Darmstadt was born, institutes surrounded by the beauty of Heidelberg and much more.

And we also brought back a wealth of ideas. Military strategies in supporting science, antimatter as a future fuel and a machine for counting raindrops are but a few among them.

2006 - Uppsala, Sweden - Energy and the Environment

The first science camp had twice as few participants than subsequent ones - only 26 and only from 5 countries.

We visited the Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant and the Vattenfall Hydroelectric Energy Research institute; learned not only how to build stable paper bridges and decorate a cake in a scientific manner but also sang Happy Birthday in 6 languages and did lots of other fun things.