Junior Ambassadors of Science and Technology

Six Czech students were recognized as Junior Ambassadors for their achievements in science and technology at the Academy of Sciences on December 12, 2011. Five boys and one girl were chosen under the Junior Ambassadors of Science and Technology pilot program launched in July 2011 by the Academy, the U.S. Embassy in Prague and American companies operating in the Czech Republic. The program encourages Czech youths to study science, mathematics and engineering, its purpose being to expand the pool of talented budding scientists and engineers from which future innovations will come. The students, with their parents and teachers, toured the Institute of Experimental Botany and the Academy of Sciences in Prague where they met with the U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Joseph Pennington, and member of the Academic Council Jiří Beneš. Astronaut Andrew Feustel then talked with the Junior Ambassadors via a digital video conference, answering their questions and explaining the important role science and technology plays in today’s society.