Two weeks of ideas, science and meeting the kind of people who make you believe in the future, as told by Blake Gower.
In July 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the 66th annual London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF), where students from around the world gathered to share ideas and explore the frontiers of science. I was one of 500 attendees from 92 countries worldwide, including a dozen New Zealanders.
The opening ceremony felt surreal. Flags from 92 countries waved proudly, music and dance filled the hall. Speeches came from LIYSF Director Richard Myhill, LIYSF President Claire Elwell, and HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, who gave a great speech on the opportunities that lay before us, not only of scientific pursuit, but the powers of international collaboration.
“There is immeasurable value in assembling here in person, not merely to absorb knowledge, but to form lasting bonds with fellow young students from every corner of the globe.”
We had 11 principal lectures, 4 specialist lectures, 3 tourist opportunities as well as 9 events for all students to participate in. Of the principal lectures, the ones I enjoyed most were by Professor Sir David Macmillan, Professor Sir Steven Cowley and Professor Michele Dougherty, who two days after her lecture, was nominated Astronomer Royal by the King, which is the highest space related honour in the Commonwealth.
Professor MacMillan, a Nobel Laureate, in his speech covered his development of Asymmetric Organocatalysis and how it influenced synthetic chemistry, which is a lot more interesting that it sounds! He shared his journey from a high school student to one of the most respected scientists in chemistry, delivered with some fantastic Scottish humour. One highlight was how he initially thought the call informing him he’d won the Nobel Prize was a scam and hung up!
Professor Sir Steven Cowley spoke about nuclear fusion, where hydrogen isotopes fuse to form helium, releasing clean energy. It is the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly method of energy generation. The reactors they’re developing are incredible – reaching 150 million degrees Celsius, over ten times hotter than the sun. I even visited one at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, speaking with engineers and seeing the technology firsthand.
My personal favourite lecture was from Professor Michele Dougherty, speaking about her experiences working on the missions Cassini and JUICE. She shared how Cassini revealed an ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, geysers shooting into space, and organic molecules that could hint at the building blocks of life. What struck me most was the scale of the work, these missions take decades of planning, and she described the careful, patient process behind every discovery. She also talked about JUICE, launched in 2023, which won’t reach Jupiter until 2031!
I had so many fantastic opportunities attending LIYSF, if I was to write about them all, it could fill a book. Beyond the academics, what really stayed with me were the people. I met students from all over the world, each with their own projects, passions, and perspectives. Some had started charities, others were developing technologies to solve real-world problems, and all were driven by curiosity and the desire to make a difference. Spending time with them, sharing ideas, debating, laughing, and exploring London together, made me realise just how inspiring young people can be when they come together. These friendships and connections, from conversations over meals to late-night walks through Hyde Park, were as valuable as any lecture, and they left me not only motivated to pursue science, but excited about the future.
I cannot thank The Jenkins Foundation enough for helping me get to London, this experience has forever changed my outlook on life and I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who has an interest in the sciences to consider this forum. It reinforced my desire to pursue aerospace and space science, and showed me how international collaboration can shape the future of research.