Science competitions in secondary school can inspire students and teachers alike, as Eric Plum, now a lecturer, and his former teacher Walter Stein explain.

Contributor Alberto Moscatelli

A way to engage secondary school pupil’s interest in science is through science competitions. In our June issue, Eric Plum, now a lecturer at the University of Southampton, UK, teams up with his former school teacher Walter Stein and share his experience. For him this was the springboard for a career in science. But it is not just students who can gain valuable lessons from these competitions: Educators and established researchers have much to contribute and learn too. And as it was the case for the students and teachers of St. Michael-Gymnasium in Bad Münstereifel, Germany, a carefully though through and well-designed science project can get you to shake hands with a Nobel laureate.

Read Eric Plum and Walter Stein’s article, Inspired by competition, on the Nature Nano website for free.