What does glue have to do with shaping the next generation of innovators? For Danil, Zen, and Kristian, three bright alumni of JA Malta’s Company Programme, the answer doesn’t lie just in chemistry, but in curiosity, teamwork, and the courage to step onto the European stage.
Earlier this year, the trio won the Maltese National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF) Contest for Young Scientists in May, earning the chance to represent Malta at the European Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS), an event often described by its organisers as ‘the Eurovision of science.’ Their project? A deceptively simple yet practical study of adhesives: testing how different glues perform depending on their chemical composition, the surfaces they bond to, and the environments they face.
At EUCYS, surrounded by over a hundred young minds from across the continent, the Maltese team found themselves immersed in what can only be described as a festival of innovation. From new ways to diagnose dementia to bacteriophage research tackling antibiotic resistance, the projects were as bold as they were inspiring. And in the middle of it all, three students from St Edward’s College proudly representing Malta with a project born from genuine curiosity.
“Every day was memorable and exciting” recalls Zen, describing the atmosphere in Riga. “From visiting the Baltic Sea to traditional Latvian dancing, we were immersed in a culture completely different from Malta’s. It opened our eyes in so many ways.”
But this wasn’t their first stage. Through JA Malta’s Company Programme, they had already learned how to pitch, present, manage time, adapt under pressure, and speak with confidence… skills that surely proved invaluable in Riga as they stood before juries, peers, and new friends.
“JA pushed us to cooperate with students of different ethnicities, from different schools and backgrounds,” says Danil. “That not only broadened our perspectives but also helped us develop stronger work ethics.”
Their highlights went beyond science: Meeting like minded people, building friendships, and experiencing Latvian culture left a deep impression. But perhaps the most powerful moment was the sense pride that came with representing Malta on a European stage.
“I felt honoured to represent Malta on an international stage” reflects Kristian. “To be among so many brilliant minds, with projects ranging from new dementia diagnostics to tools that could help find missing people, was humbling and inspiring.”
The takeaway from this experience for us stakeholders is one; these opportunities matter. Competitions like EUCYS supported by NSTF, and programmes like JA Malta’s Company Programme, aren’t just about science or business. They’re about giving young people the chance to test their limits, broaden their perspectives, and build the confidence to imagine themselves as part of a bigger world. They’re about showing students that their ideas, no matter how niche or unexpected (even glues!), can have real value.
And that’s the lesson to take, when we invest in opportunities like these, we’re not just preparing students for competitions or fairs, we’re preparing them for life… Because sometimes, the smallest ideas (and the stickiest ones) are what opens the biggest doors!
A heartfelt congratulations to Danil Golomovzy, Zen Caruana, and Kristian Casingena for their achievements. May you keep growing and exploring new horizons!
A special thanks goes to NSTF and Daniil Petrov for accompanying the trio to Latvia, and to NSTF for making this experience possible.
