From tumor detection to satellite tracking: Showcase of young talent at the AMAVET Science Festival
Author: Matyáš Strnad
In the regional round of the 5th annual Festival of Science and Technology for Children and Youth, organized by the Association for Youth, Science, and Technology (AMAVET), 42 projects by young researchers were presented.
From the High School category, where 11 students with 8 diverse projects were selected for the national finals of EXPO SCIENCE AMAVET in Prague, to the Junior category, where one winner among 13 contestants was awarded participation in an international study trip to France, the 52 young scientists showcased a wide spectrum of scientific interests. The expert committee, which evaluated the projects, consisted of representatives from AMAVET, all faculties of the University of Hradec Králové, the Pharmaceutical Faculty of Charles University in Hradec Králové, and the DELTA Secondary School of Informatics and Economics in Pardubice.
Among the most intriguing projects was the Detection of Brain Tumors Using Raman Spectroscopy, a great innovation presented by Nikolas Pippal from the Secondary Grammar School Olomouc – Hejčín. Nikolas's inventive approach involved creating a model for reliable intraoperative identification of tumor tissue in the brain through mathematical-statistical data processing and machine learning in the Python programming language.
"In brief, I analyzed spectra from healthy and tumor tissue. Each spectrum was supplemented with information from a pathologist, indicating whether it was from a healthy brain or a tumor. The first step was to transform the data for optimal classification adjustment. I used methods like the Savitzky-Golay filter, baseline correction, and others. After successfully adjusting the data, I created a classifier with an accuracy of 89 %," says the promising young scientist about his project.
Representatives of the UHK faculties appreciated other equally innovative projects. The first three special prizes were awarded to First Private Language Secondary Grammar School Hradec Králové students. The faculty of education rewarded Judita Maisnerová. Her research on Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Electronic Cigarettes found that although electronic cigarettes are perceived as harmful or very harmful, adolescents prefer them over traditional cigarettes primarily because they do not smell.
The faculty of informatics and management awarded Vojtěch Vít. Thanks to tested algorithms, his Light-Seeking Robot was able to orient itself in a designated area based on light intensity. Although Vojtěch states that improvements in spatial orientation would require additional sensors, such as ultrasonic ones, his work certainly deserves recognition.
Ema Borkowska completes the trio of awarded students from the First Private Language Secondary Grammar School Hradec Králové. She took home a prize from the philosophical faculty for her project, Czech-Polish Touristic Intersections. Her work resulted in a tourist guide to the Czech-Polish borderlands, which artfully maps the territorial and historical relations of the two nations.
Last but not least, the faculty of science recognized as the best project by students from the Secondary School and College of Applied Cybernetics in Hradec Králové, Jan Pavlovič, and Tomáš Moravec. Thanks to their project, Satellite Tracking, they managed to create a cheap and simple device that can track satellites in Earth's orbit using public data, enabling us to download their data, for instance, about the weather.
Once again, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants. We eagerly anticipate the next edition of this remarkable competition that continues to bridge the gap between young scientists and the academic sphere.
From the High School category, where 11 students with 8 diverse projects were selected for the national finals of EXPO SCIENCE AMAVET in Prague, to the Junior category, where one winner among 13 contestants was awarded participation in an international study trip to France, the 52 young scientists showcased a wide spectrum of scientific interests. The expert committee, which evaluated the projects, consisted of representatives from AMAVET, all faculties of the University of Hradec Králové, the Pharmaceutical Faculty of Charles University in Hradec Králové, and the DELTA Secondary School of Informatics and Economics in Pardubice. 
Ema Borkowska completes the trio of awarded students from the First Private Language Secondary Grammar School Hradec Králové. She took home a prize from the philosophical faculty for her project, Czech-Polish Touristic Intersections. Her work resulted in a tourist guide to the Czech-Polish borderlands, which artfully maps the territorial and historical relations of the two nations. 
