Celebrating the 66th London International Youth Science Forum

We are excited to celebrate the 66^th London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF), embracing diversity, global connection, and a shared passion for science from July 23^rd to August 6^th, 2025. We will welcome young scientists aged 16-21 from across the globe to London, fostering cooperation and celebrating scientific achievements. Together, we aim to inspire innovative thinking and build lasting relationships that transcend borders!

Since 1959, LIYSF has created a robust scientific community, connecting 23,500 students worldwide and contributing to their development in science and culture.

Before discussing LIYSF’s achievements, let’s start from the beginning. We’ll explain what LIYSF is about and tell you about our fantastic history. Then, we’ll review its impact on the lives of young students.

Are you ready?

The London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) History

LIYSF is a not-for-profit social enterprise that welcomes 500 science students aged 16-21 to London annually. In our last edition, students from 85 countries attended. Our students come to LIYSF as leading and motivated science students for a two-week programme that offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research via an extensive programme of lectures, debates, and visits. The programme also includes an immersive social and cultural programme, allowing young people to interact with like-minded individuals worldwide.

LIYSF was founded in 1959, in the aftermath of the world wars, to give young people from all nations a deeper insight into science for the benefit of all humankind. Considering the variety of global realities, including the union of diverse people from different regions and contexts, it is essential to think of new ways of using science to benefit all. The only way to create a union and think about solutions for global problems is to be aware of different realities and the challenges that come with them. With this in mind, LIYSF is designed to create an environment that challenges and empowers young people to think globally, using science to tackle problems such as sustainable energy, food and water security, global health, climate change, and biodiversity.

LIYSF delivers a respected academic STEM programme with a proven track record; it is the longest-running student science forum, not a competition. LIYSF invests in diversity, as we understand it is vital to our goal of using science to benefit all. Over 50% of attending students are female, and 65% of attendees are from outside the EU; with our scholarship scheme, we also ensure that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds are represented; we also have a great diversity of speakers, including gender balance with 50% female speakers and diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In its eighth decade of existence, LIYSF’s structure and participation are constantly evolving. Former participants return as student counsellors and staff members, and several former participants now act as lecturers and provide programme input. This gives LIYSF a sense of community and allows the participants to stay engaged in the event and develop critical professional skills.

Over the years, LIYSF has attracted the interest and support of many leading figures in the world of science and politics, each year having a Nobel Prize winner giving the Keynote Opening Address, which in recent years has included Professor Ben Feringa, Professor James Rothman and Professor Sir Venki Ramakrishnan. LIYSF is honoured to have Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as our current Royal Patron and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as the Patron of the event from its first edition in 1959 to 1969. LIYSF has also enjoyed UNESCO patronage since 2016.

We are proud to have Richard Myhill as our director since 2008 and Professor Clare Elwell of University College London (UCL) as our president. Her predecessors include no less than four Nobel Laureates (Sir John Cockroft, Sir Lawrence Bragg, Sir Joseph Rotblat and Lord Porter). Our current Science Patron is Professor Richard O’Kennedy, who has been LIYSF president, staff member and participant.

The esteemed Nobel Prize winner Sir Gregory Winter delivered the opening keynote address for LIYSF 2024, captivated the audience with his insights, and emphasised that the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) is an incredible platform with vibrant energy. Returning speaker Professor Kelly Chibale from the University of Cape Town will give the closing keynote lecture in 2025. Professor Chibale described LIYSF as a genuinely inspiring and exhilarating forum that fosters creativity and collaboration among young scientists from around the globe.

This is a bit of our history, but hopefully enough to spark your curiosity about our scientific and cultural programme, which will be explained below.

The programme

LIYSF is a two-week residential event held annually at Imperial College London and the Royal Geographical Society. It comprises lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists worldwide, including Nobel Prize Winners, and visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions, and organisations, including world-class laboratories and universities. LIYSF covers many subjects across STEM fields, and students can tailor their programmes to suit their STEM interests.

During the programme, the participants live together as an international community. They can exchange their ideas and experiences of the world to fulfil the aim of the Science Forum: to give a greater insight into science and its application for the benefit of all mankind.

Besides emphasising interaction with science, LIYSF also strongly focuses on cultural interaction. Students partake in a strong social programme with cultural events designed to educate and familiarise them with different cultures and traditions. The International Cabaret and the Traditions of Home evenings are activities specially focused on cultural interaction. In these events, the participants teach fellow students how to perform or interact with their local customs/traditions/expressions, facilitating social inclusion and intercultural dialogue.

LIYSF has a debate session where students consider problems and solutions to social issues in the context of their home country, including social, political, environmental, and business considerations. This empowers participants to manage scientific and technological challenges’ ethical, legal, environmental, and societal implications. We also have a specialist study day, during which the students split into groups to learn about a subject of their interest. Then, they can present their ideas and solutions to the student body.

One of the students’ favourite moments during LIYSF is the Science Bazaar, where they take an exciting opportunity to present their work in a non-competitive environment with fellow students from all over the world and our science experts. Presenting their research in our poster board event is an excellent opportunity for development in science communication, which is a vital part of being a scientist in the modern world.

As you can see, LIYSF encourages students to be creative, critical and responsible citizens while offering a reach STEM programme. This is a unique opportunity for learning and development.

What do students and alumni say about LIYSF?

Our extensive alumni community consists of past participants who remain engaged in LIYSF, many of whom are staff, speakers, and supporters. We maintain this community to promote further the Science Forum’s aim of providing greater insight into science and its application for the benefit of all mankind. This network allows past participants to stay connected and develop new connections with students who participated in different years, exchanging ideas and collaborating on projects.

The ongoing contact that LIYSF maintains with its participants also allows us to track their career development and their view on the role of LIYSF in their development as professionals. Our recent alumni survey showed that;

• 47% of our alumni go on to get a PhD

Our alums also consider that LIYSF has positively contributed to their career, self-development, and networking skills.

• 80% consider that LIYSF contributed to their perception and knowledge of STEM careers;
• 76% Consider that LIYSF contributed to their motivation to follow a career in their field of interest;
• 96% Consider that LIYSF contributed to their ability to understand other cultures and perspectives;
• 81% Consider that LIYSF contributed to their ability to think in new ways and
• 87% Consider that LIYSF contributed to their networking skills.

These results are significant because they show that we have successfully achieved our aim and motivate us to continue improving our programme.

LIYSF 2025 is waiting for you

Are you passionate about STEM? LIYSF is your chance to learn, grow, and connect with like-minded individuals while making lifelong friends this summer.

Our 66th version promises to be a success. It will feature a Keynote address from a Nobel Prize Winner, an Opening Ceremony, and a closing Keynote from Professor Kelly Chibale. Professor Kevin Fenton CBE will give the First Principal Lecture.

We are pleased to announce that Professor Sir David MacMillan, the 2021 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, will be our keynote speaker. A distinguished chemist and the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University in the USA, Professor MacMillan was awarded the Nobel Prize alongside Benjamin List for their groundbreaking work on asymmetric organocatalysis.

Other big names joining LIYSF include Professor Freya Blekman, Dr Michael Londesborough, and Professor Sir Steven Cowley.

For more information, please visit- LIYSF 2025 page. We are waiting for you!