TIAFT Young Scientists Committee

In 1996, during the TIAFT meeting in Interlaken, the Executive committee of TIAFT encouraged the creation of a committee devoted to the young scientists (less than 41 years of age).

This idea was accepted during the business meeting, and Pascal Kintz, from Strasbourg (France), was nominated to chair it. Alain Verstraete (Belgium) was appointed as secretary. Other members included Carmen Jurado (Spain), Fiona Couper (USA), Aldo Polettini (Italy) and Pierre Marquet (France).

After six years, most of the original committee members 'resigned' (i.e., they were getting OLD!) and in 2002-2003 a new enthusiastic group of young scientists were ready to take on the responsibilities of the TIAFT young scientists committee. Following the last meeting at Seoul we also had some minor changes to the Committee due to 'aging'.

The Current Committee consists of:

• President: Frank Peters (Germany)
• Secretary: Madeline Montgomery(USA)
• Committee Members: Jochen Beyer (Australia), Federica Bortolotti (Italy), Simon Elliott (UK), Sooyeun Lee (Korea), Helena Texeira (Portugal) and Sarah Wille (Belgium).

Summary of committee changes (the inevitable ageing process!):

Following the Seoul meeting in 2005 we say goodbye to Thomas Kraemer (Germany), Olivier Plaut (Switzerland) and Rebecca Jufer (USA) for their hard work over the last few years, especially Thomas who really has put this group on the TIAFT map. Following in the footsteps of Thomas will be a hard act to follow.

After the meeting in Seattle 2007 we also say goodbye to the not so young scientists anymore - Nele Samyn (Belgium) Marc Le Beau (USA), Robert Kronstrand (Sweden), and Serap Annette Akgur (Turkey).

After the meeting in Geneva 2009, we also had to let Dimitri Gerostamoulos (Australia) go to the hall-of-fame of former YS.

The Tiaft Board and current Young Scientists Committee thanks them for their invaluable contributions over many years

Aims of the TIAFT Young Scientists Committee

• To encourage international collaboration among TIAFT young scientists;
• To organize a half a days meeting during each annual congress; and
• To award 3 annual prizes at each meeting for:
  a) the best oral presentation by a Young Scientist during the TIAFT conference,
  b) the best poster presentation by a Young Scientist during the TIAFT conference, and
  c) the best scientific paper published during the previous year.

Eligibility for TIAFT YSC Awards

   To be eligible for any of the 3 prizes:

1. The candidate must be the first author of the oral/poster abstract or the scientific paper;
2. The candidate, or one of his/her co-authors, must be a TIAFT member;
3. The candidate need not be a member of the TIAFT YSC;
4. Candidates working in the same organization as a TIAFT YSC member are eligible;
5. For the oral/poster abstract, the candidate must not be older than 40 years on the last day of the TIAFT meeting;
6. For the best scientific paper, the candidate must not be older than 40 years on the 1st Jan of the corresponding year, and the article must have been published in the period of one month before the last TIAFT meeting until the deadline for the entries of the current TIAFT meeting, with the condition that the paper needs to be at least e-published and available to the scientific community;
7. Only one entry is allowed per applicant. The applicant must choose either a poster, oral, or published paper for consideration. Only one choice is allowed to allow for the awards to be shared amongst all qualified young scientists.
8. Oral, poster, or paper presentations that include a member of the TIAFT YSC as a co-author may still be submitted for consideration of an award; however, the co-author that is a TIAFT YSC member will be excluded from judging that entry.

The winners of the 3 prizes will be announced at the TIAFT business meeting, and the prizes will be awarded at the Farewell Banquet during each meeting. Please read more about TIAFT YSC Awards in the YSC Awards guidelines.