Hi everyone!
Today marks Day 10 at the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF)! The day kicked off bright and sunny followed by a specialist lecture delivered by LIYSF alumni – who once sat where we are now and have since built successful careers in science. It was quite a full circle moment, seeing them return as experts, now sharing their journey and knowledge with us.
I chose to attend the lecture on “How Stem Cells Shape the Future” and if you’ve been following my blogs so far, you already know how much I absolutely love learning about the human body and the endless possibilities science holds. So, this session had my full, undivided attention. The potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine, disease treatment and beyond is genuinely mind blowing and the speaker did a brilliant job breaking it down.
After that, we had a quick lunch break, before diving into our principal lecture of the day, titled “And Yet It Moves” by Nick Taylor. It was a blend of topics from motion to pain perception and beyond. While it was an interesting talk, I noticed the post lunch slump hit many of us, students around me were dozing off and I won’t lie, I was starting to feel it too. As much as I tried to stay engaged, the drowsy atmosphere was definitely contagious!
Next up was our scheduled museum visit. Some of the students were lucky enough to visit the Science Museum, but I was late to sign up and was assigned to visit the Natural History Museum. I honestly thought it wouldn’t be my thing and almost considered skipping it but shoutout to my friends who convinced me to go anyway because I ended up really enjoying it! The exhibits were stunning, from sparkling gemstones and the solar system models to dinosaurs and so much more. The museum was huge, beautifully designed and divided into fascinating zones that kept me exploring right till the end.
Just as we returned, London weather decided to play its part again! It started pouring the moment we were to walk back! Later in the evening, we had the highly anticipated merchandise sale. Everyone was excited and the venue was packed with students trying to grab as much LIYSF merch as they could. I mean, who doesn’t want a memory to take home?
Dinner tonight was a little different for me. I decided to eat out instead of having the usual meal. I just wanted to switch things up and enjoy something new. A small change, but much needed!
To wrap up the evening, we had the International Cabaret Night – one of the most anticipated events of the forum. And let me just say, it was in no way disappointing! The talent on display was incredible. Students from all around the world performed – from soulful songs and dances to high energy hip-hop. The entire room was alive with energy! A special mention to the student who sang “Riptide”, it completely transformed the vibe of the evening. Everyone was clapping, singing along and soaking up the magic. Lat but not the least, one of the highlights of the night was finally getting our Team Canada picture with our amazing director Richard Myhill.
And just like that, another incredible day at LIYSF came to a close around 11 PM!
