Monthly Archives: October 2013

“It’s Time!” PERL Media Competition

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Deadline: 13 December 2013
Open to: Students and professional filmmakers worldwide
Prize: First, second and third place will be awarded in each category, all winners will receive a certificate of merit/recognition

Description

The PERL Media Competition is organized by the Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living. PERL is a partnership of educators, researchers and practitioners from over 140 institutions in more than 50 countries who are aware of the urgent need for individuals and society to significantly rethink and reorient the choices they make and the manner in which they live their lives in order to reduce the negative impacts of climate change and financial instability, to ensure a more just distribution of resources and foster sustainable, dignified human development for all. PERL is working towards developing methods and materials to encourage people to contribute to constructive change through the way they choose to live.

The PERL Media Competition has three different categories that are all linked to sustainable/responsible living. The media categories are:

  1. SHOOT – Videos/ Short Films
  2. WRITE – Magazine/Press Articles
  3. SNAP – Photos

The main theme for the PERL Media Competition is TIME; how do we perceive it, how do we use it, how can lives be improved by using/conceiving it better. Affiliated topics linked to TIME and moving towards more responsible lifestyles might include: Time and Travel, Time and Food, Time and Choices, Time and Fashion, or Time and Technology. These are just examples of topics so get thinking and come up with themes of your own!

Eligibility

Students (Post Primary to University Students):

  • All three competition categories (SHOOT Videos, WRITE Magazine/Press Articles and SNAP Photographs) are open to full or part time students of all ages (Post Primary to University Students), who are attending Secondary (Post-Primary), Further Education, Higher or Post Graduate education at the time of submitting their entry.
  • There is no entry fee however only one entry is permitted in each category per person/group
  • The competition is open to students worldwide

Professionals (Independent Filmmakers):

  • The short film category is open to Independent filmmakers
  • There is no entry fee however only one entry is permitted per filmmaker
  • The competition is open to filmmakers worldwide

Prize

First, second and third place will be awarded in each category (subject to sufficient entries being received in each category that meet the competition criteria). All winners will receive a certificate of merit/recognition. Winning entries and their authors/creators will be publicly promoted using media appropriate to each category,

Application

Download the application forms for your category:

  1. SHOOT – Videos/ Short Films HERE
  2. WRITE – Magazine/Press Articles HERE
  3. SNAP – Photos HERE

Email your entries to perlmedia2013@gmail.com. The competition closes at midnight 13 December 2013 (Central European Time). Late entries will not be eligible for entry. Entries will be shortlisted and will be announced by March 2014. Winning entries will be notified by email and will be announced on the PERL website and at the PERL 2014 Conference in Ireland (2 – 4 April 2014) where they will be screened/exhibited/promoted using media selected by PERL as appropriate to the category/entry.

For any questions contact perlmedia2013@gmail.com.

Read the official call HERE.

XV International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development

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The Laboratory for Comparative Social Research of National Research University “Higher School of Economics” invites to participate in the Fourth LCSR International Workshop “Social and Cultural Changes in Cross-National Perspective: Values and Modernization” that will take place from March, 28 till April, 4, 2014 in Moscow within the framework of the XV International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development at HSE. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2014.

The workshop will cover a wide range of academic and social issues: value shift in Russia and in the world, subjective well-being and living standards, inter-religious and interethnic relations, migration and other topics. Suggested topics are:

• Social Well-Being and Its Measurement
• Social Solidarity and Welfare States
• Values, Trust and Happiness
• Nationalism, Ethnicity and Migration
• Gender, Work and Life Satisfaction

• Political Regimes, Elections and Elites
• Religiosity and Tolerance
• Social Change and Genetic Diversity
• Informal relations, Civic Engagement and Corruption
• Social Justice, Aging and Generations

International research network members will deliver their reports on ongoing projects or present the new ones. Many foreign scholars, experts in various fields of social sciences, plan to give lectures during the Workshop. Researchers from various universities of Russia, CIS countries, Europe and the USA will comment on projects. The key lecturers are Ronald Inglehart (University of Michigan, USA), Christian Welzel (Leuphana University, Germany), Eduard Ponarin (NRU HSE, St. Petersburg, Russia), Peter Hedström (Institute for Future Studies, Stockholm, Sweden), Jan Delhey (Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany), Christian Haerpfer (University of Aberdeen, Scotland; the President of the World Value Survey Association), and Robert Andersen (University of Toronto, Canada).

Besides, the winners of the regular call for LCSR research network will present their projects. Please note that one can present a report only after submitting an application. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2014.

Working language of the workshop is English.

The participation is free of charge. The registration is compulsory. Listeners should register before April, 20, 2014 by e-mail to hse.lcss@gmail.com titled “Registration for the LCSR workshop”. The application should contain your name, surname, affiliation and e-mail (and also your home address, if you would like get a certificate of attendance).

Further information on the workshop will be published at the LCSR website.

Win a Filmmaking Trip to New Orleans

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Deadline: 6 November 2013
Open to: any non-professionals, minimum age of 18
Prize: travel scholarship for a trip to New Orleans, enrolment in Travel Filmmaking Course

Description

This year, the 2013 Travel Film Scholarship is off to New Orleans to experience one of the most unique and rich cultures in the U.S.  This assignment is about really finding out what makes this melting pot of a city tick – from exploring Mardi Gras traditions to delving into the vibrant music and food scenes that the Big Easy can claim as their very own.

You’ll spend 10 days in New Orleans under the mentorship of filmmaker and director Brian Rapsey. In that time you will be producing 3-5 three-minute travel-themed videos that will be shared with the world!

Solo Application

You must have solid film making skills, but more importantly, you must shine in front of the camera. People need to be inspired to travel, and to travel with you. The winner will essentially be a one-man show, needing nothing more than a camera and a sense of adventure to unearth a great story.

Team Application

Some of you are excellent filmmakers, with zero desire to see your face on film.  And there are others of you out there that are talented in front of the lens, but are hopeless behind it. So, if you decide to apply as a pair, you can be a combination of one filmmaker and one presenter or two people who can use a camera and stand in front of it.

Eligibility

  • Any non-professionals can apply – this is open to film students, or anyone who’s trying to build a career in film making and/or presenting!
  • Minimum age 18 (by application deadline) with a current, valid passport and you must be available to be in New Orleans from February 26-March 8, 2014 (dates may vary by a few days) to participate in the project
  • You may be a resident of any country (subject to obtaining a U.S. visa).
  • You should be a mad-keen auteur with a lust for adventure and burning desire to be a filmmaker and/or presenter.
  • You must be fit and healthy as moderate levels of physical work are involved as well as a number of late nights!

Prize

The Winner will receive:

  • An 10-day bespoke trip to New Orleans
  • Round-trip airfare from your country of residence to New Orleans where you will meet your mentor
  • Enrollment in the MatadorU Travel Filmmaking course (with 3 months unlimited access to the course)
  • Rode Microphones gear: A Video Mic Pro with an XLR adaptor, Smart Lav, Lavalier Mic, plus accessories!
  • UltraPod GO – a light, compact, versatile tripod from Pedco (one per entrant, up to 2 per team)
  • Travel insurance for the duration of the trip from World Nomads.

The 4 Runner’s Up will receive:

  • Enrollment in the MatadorU Travel Filmmaking course (with 3 months unlimited access to the course)
  • UltraPod GO – a light, compact, versatile tripod from Pedco (one per entrant, up to 2 per team)

The top 50 entries will also receive enrollment in the MatadorU Travel Filmmaking mini-course.

Application

Applications are accepted till 6 November 2013, 2pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time UTC +11). To apply you need to:

1. Compile a maximum 3-minute travel video in English based around one of the following themes:

  • Learn New Skills
  • Your Backyard
  • Local Legend
  • Festival
  • Roadtrip
  • Seek Experiences

Want a bit of advice before you run off and create your film? Check out Brian’s tips HERE.

2. Go to YouTube or Vimeo to upload your video.

3. Create a journal and fill in the entry form HERE, then follow the simple instructions to upload your video into the post. In under 1200 characters tell about your video;

  • What inspired your subject matter?
  • What has been your filmmaking experience to date?
  • What is your ambition as a filmmaker/presenter and what would winning this scholarship mean to you?

Both your written answers and video submission will be equally considered as part of the judging process.

Visit the official website HERE.

United Nations Academic Impact Student Essay Contest

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Deadline: February 21, 2014
Open to: students, 18 years and older, who are enrolled in a course of study at a college or university
Prize: Winners will be invited to New York for an International AcademicImpact Youth Forum, June 25-29, 2014. They will present theirwork in a Conference at the United Nations Headquarters on June 27, 2014. Airfare, room and board provided.

 

United Nations Academic Impact Student Essay Contest Rules

The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), in collaboration with ELS Educational Services, Inc., (ELS) invites students, 18 years and older, who are enrolled in a course of study at a college or university, to participate in an essay contest on the theme “Many Languages, One World.”

The essay should relate to ideas of global citizenship and understanding and to the role that linguistic abilities and felicity can play in fostering these. Entries, of up to 2000 words in length should be in an official language of the United Nations that is not the mother tongue of the entrant or the principal medium of instruction in his or her education. The official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Entries should be uploaded to the website ManyLanguagesOneWorld.ELS.edu by 21 February 2014. An institutional representative will have to attest that the entrant is a student of the institution, in good standing, and that the essay is written in a language that is not the institution’s primary language of instruction and is the original, unaided work of the entrant.

A panel of judges will decide upon a total of sixty student winners of the competition—ten in each of the six languages. The winners will be invited to New York in 2014 to participate in a series of events between June 25 and June 29, 2014. These events will include a youth forum on the 10 principles of the United Nations Academic Impact, multilingualism and global citizenship at United Nations Headquarters, preceded by a preparatory students’ conference at Adelphi University on Long Island, New York. Programmes of touristic sightseeing and recreation will also be arranged by ELS Educational Services.

ELS will pay for roundtrip economy class fares in carriers of its choosing between the entrants’ home city and New York, and be responsible for the entrants’ travel, room and meals from their arrival on June 25th until their departure on June 29th, 2014. No extensions of stay or early arrivals will be possible. Entrants are responsible for all documentation relating to their journey, including passports and visas and the costs related to these, as well as appropriate medical insurance for their journey and stay in the United States.

All winners will be given certificates of participation by ELS, signifying they have won the Student Essay Contest arranged in cooperation with the United Nations Academic Impact.

While the entrants shall retain the rights to their essays, by participating in the contest they grant ELS and the UN a worldwide, exclusive, royalty-free, and irrevocable license to use the content of the essays in whole or in part. In addition, the entrants grant ELS permission to photograph, record, and videotape all activities during the conference. These recordings and photographs will become the property of ELS for didactic use at their discretion, in all media, in perpetuity, to promote multilingualism and global understanding. The entrants also grant the United Nations permission to photograph, record, and videotape all activities during the conference. These recordings and photographs will become the property of the United Nations.

June 25-29, 2014
Winners participate in a 5 day International Youth Forum in New York and present at United Nations Headquarters on June 27th 

Submit an essay (2000 words or less) exploring how multilingual ability advances global citizenship and understanding. Your essay should reflect your academic, cultural, and national context.

Entries must be in one of the 6 official languages of the United Nations that is not the entrant’s mother tongue or language of instruction. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

Essay Submission Deadline: February 21, 2014

 

Submission Form

The Best Ways To Prepare for College Interviews

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You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

The college interview is typically not a make-or-break factor in the admissions process.

It is, however, a great opportunity for your child to put their best foot forward… in ways that might not show up in the application and transcript.

Of course, each school conducts their student interviews differently (many schools are now offering interviews via Skype), but one thing hasn’t changed:

Preparation is key.

To that end, we’ve put together some of the more common themes your student can expect in the interview process.

– Scott

The Best Ways To Prepare for College Interviews

For starters, know the school, and know it well.

In other words, gather all the information you can from the admissions department on what to expect from a typical interview.

The one question they can expect: “Why are you interested in enrolling at our school?”

That’s why it’s so important to have the college mapped out ahead of time, and to be prepared to speak to specifics.

Now for some basics: Be sure to present well, show up early, dress appropriately, and be sure the cell phone is turned off the entire time.

Most of all, keep focused. That means making eye contact, and answering questions directly and respectfully.

An interviewer may want to know about your child’s future plans or aspirations, and if their college is the right fit for those.

The point is: be honest. Interviewers understand not all candidates have the direction of their next 10 years figured out.

Another great interview tactic is to “turn the interview around.”

When the interviewer asks your student if they have questions for them, it’s always a great idea to have a list of thoughtful, meaningful questions specific to the school.

Now let’s get into some more college interview questions to be expected.

These are the ones that demand preparation, including a few practice rounds with parents. (This will go a long way in helping maintain composure and demeanor during the interview).

  • If you could do one thing differently in high school, what would that thing be? Is there a second thing you would do differently?
  • Can you explain, in detail, a specific challenge that you’ve overcome.
  • Is there something you’ve read within the past year or two that has special meaning or significance to you?
  • Who has been the most important person in your own self-development?
  • What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? 20 years from now?

Another Way To Prepare Well In Advance of the College Interview

This cannot be stressed enough: extracurriculars matter. Involvement in sports, clubs, groups, and other school activities are definitely factored into the college admissions process.

One reason for that is because college interviewers are usually trying to get a feel for who a student is, above and beyond a GPA and SAT/ACT scores.

Extracurricular activities are one of the best windows, and you can expect an interview to include a good amount of time on the topic. Remember, which extracurriculars you address isn’t what’s important. What does matter is addressing them with passion and sincerity.

Finally, interviewers want to get a sense of your child’s study habits. That is, they’ll want to know if your student will be able to responsibly manage their studies, once away at school.

By following these tips, your child stands to make a very good impression at every interview.

To your successful college pursuits,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

The International Youth Forum, Ukraine

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Deadline: 19 November 2013
Open to: all NGOs around the world
Venue: 30 November- 1 December  in Lutsk (Ukraine)

Description

The International Youth Forum in Lutsk (Ukraine) will take place on 30 November- 1 December . The Forum organizers aim to create the conditions necessary for the exchange of experience and cooperation between youth organizations around the world. Within two days of the Forum various presentations, discussions, trainings and tours around the ancient city of Lutsk will be held. The organizers will provide participants of the Youth Forum with meals and accommodation, as well as interpreters and a guide for each delegation.
The Forum agenda is quite rich, consisting of the Forum events and  competitions among the participants. The program will determine the winners in the following categories : “Best presentation of the NGO” , “Best Video Clip of the NGO” , ” Best Poster of the Event “and others. The winners will receive gifts or financial rewards .

The program of the Forum is a series of round tables with the guests of honor of the event. Together with the participants of the forum they will  discuss current issues that apply to young people and common European future.
Special attention will be paid to the discussion of the  European integration processes and Association Agreement with the EU. These topics are to increase the competence of the youth in relations between the EU and Ukraine. We understand the importance of them and fully support initiatives that contribute to the convergence of Ukraine with the EU.

Official languages are Ukrainian and English. The International Youth Forum in Lutsk is an opportunity to gain new experience and learn about new solutions for the development of your organization and establish necessary contacts for the future cooperation with other organizations. In addition, it is a good opportunity to visit the ancient Ukrainian city with nearly a thousand years of history.

So, we invite youth organizations of various orientations to join the International Youth Forum in Lutsk and present your organization internationally.

The Lutsk Forum will be a kind of XXI-century congress of young monarchs like back in 1429 when Lutsk hosted a congress of European monarchs.

The International Youth Forum organizer is the “Youth Platform ” NGO .

Costs

Participation in the Forum is free and voluntary. The organizers will provide meals and accommodation.

Eligibility

Participation in the Forum is open to non-governmental organizations around the world, initiative groups, some public figures. Documentary papers of the organization are not required to participate. Further information is here (The Forum Regulations)

Application

The International Youth Forum in Lutsk (Ukraine)  is open until 19 November 2013.  Participation in the Forum is open to non-governmental organizations around the world, initiative groups, public figures. You don’t necessarily have to be a registered institution, but you can be a group of social activists etc.

Please complete the application form AVAILABLE HERE and attach essay ( “Your event within the Forum” , ” Link to the video ” and ” Presentation of the NGO ” ).

1. “Your event within the Forum” should contain the following information:

– Description of the event that will be held as part of the competition. Please indicate the requirements from the organizing committee for its implementation.

“Link to the video” should contain the following information:

– Link to the video that represents your organization or to the project video of your  organisation (preferably include a link to the Youtube service)

3. “Presentation of the NGO” should contain the following information:

– Description of your presentation (up to 5 min ) or presenting it in an electronic format for viewing by the organizing committee.

 

Further information  can be found on the application form AVAILABLE HERE

For any additional questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Oleksandr Shvets e-mail: olek-shvets@ukr.net , tel:  +380953805092  

Thiel Fellowship Program Invites Applications From Young Entrepreneurs – “20 under 20”

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Thiel Fellowship Program Invites Applications From Young Entrepreneurs

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Peter Thiel has announced that his Thiel Foundation is accepting applications for a new class of “20 Under 20” Thiel Fellows.

Thiel Fellowships provide two-year grants of $100,000 to twenty people under 20 years of age so that they can leave the classroom and pursue innovation.

Since the Thiel Fellowship began in 2011, more than sixty young people have been awarded fellowships for project ideas in fields ranging from nuclear and alternative energy, to robotics and biotechnology, to finance, 3-D printing, gaming, and software.

During the two-year fellowship, the Thiel Foundation and its network of mentors provide guidance and support to help fellows build their scientific, technical, and entrepreneurial ideas. While fellows are expected to work on their innovative ideas full-time, they determine their own specific paths; this might mean starting a company but could also mean doing freelance work, developing a social movement, interning at another company, or pursuing research and development independently.

Although applicants may already have an idea for a scientific, technical, or nonprofit innovation, Thiel Fellowships are not limited to those with established companies or developed innovations. Teams of up to four may also apply.

To be eligible, candidates must be 19 years old or younger as of December 31. Candidates from around the world are encouraged to apply.

Fellows are encouraged to move to the San Francisco Bay Area for the opportunities and resources that the area provides. However, fellows are welcome to work on their projects from any location. Fellows are asked to take two years off from college so that they can fully focus on their projects without the time and expense of college.

Complete program guidelines, application procedures, and information on previous fellows’ projects are available at the Thiel Fellowship Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program for high school seniors

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Apply Now
DEADLINE: Midnight CST, January 9, 2014		 Facebook

Honoring the legacy and character of our nation’s 40th President, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education.

Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study only, and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program.
To be eligible for this award, applicants must:
• demonstrate at school, at the workplace, and within the community the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship;

• demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent);

• demonstrate financial need;

• be citizens of the United States of America;

• be high school seniors attending high school in the United States, or any of the U.S. territories and commonwealths and graduating in winter 2013 or spring 2014. Applicants living on a U.S. Armed Forces base and attending high school outside the U.S. are eligible. Home-schooled students who are graduating in winter 2013 or spring 2014 are also eligible.

• plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2014-2015 academic year.
In addition, semifinalists must be nominated by an eligible community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or executive director of a nonprofit organization, and must provide documentation to certify academic performance and financial need. Finalists will be interviewed via Skype or telephone by a member of the selection committee. Learn more about the qualifications of a GE-Reagan Foundation Scholar or download a GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program flyer here. 

Qualified candidates may apply online starting October 15, 2013 through January 9, 2014 or until 25,000 applications are submitted, whichever comes first. To be considered for this award, candidates must complete the secure online application and all of its components prior to the deadline. Deadline extensions will not be granted, and incomplete applications will be disqualified. Materials submitted in hard copy prior to the semifinalist stage will not be considered and will be discarded. Only the first 25,000 completed applications will be considered.
Applicants who have questions about the application process may contact the program’s administrator, Scholarship Management Services, at 1-507-931-1682 and ask for the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program or email
ge-reagan@scholarshipamerica.org . Applicants should anticipate a response to inquiries within one business day. Personnel at GE and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation cannot address applicant questions.

IPRA Foundation Peace Research Grants

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Deadline: on a rolling basis
Open to: peace research projects worldwide
Grant: up to $5,000

Description

Founded in 1990 the IPRA Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, furthers the purposes and activities of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) which, since 1965, has sought to enhance the processes of peace.

Peace research is distinguished by its attention to systematic observation or study of conflict phenomena and peace strategies. It explains how the conditions of peace can be advanced and/or the causes of war and other forms of violence be removed. The IPRA Foundation began as a depository of funds brought in by people with specific projects. The main task was to invest those funds safely in socially acceptable enterprises and pay them out as needed.

The IPRA Foundation provides Peace Research Grants to support systematic observation or study of conflict phenomena and peace strategies. As of January 1, 2013, the Small Peace Research Grants Program has been replaced by the IPRA Foundation Peace Research Grants Program. The program is the same, but the amount of the award has increased.

Eligibility

IPRA Foundation has awarded grants to help fund peace research projects in places as diverse as Argentina, Bosnia, United States, the Middle East or Uganda. Special consideration will be given to applicants from developing countries.

Grant

The grant opportunity in this call is up to $5,000.

Application

To apply for a Peace Research Grant, please fill out the application form and email it to smallgrants@iprafoundation.org. Candidates will need the following documents to apply for a grant:

  • a curriculum vitae for the director of the project
  • a project proposal, including the goals of the project, a detailed research strategy, a timeline for completion of the project, a budget, and a brief, relevant bibliography.
  • the project proposal should include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references
  • a short essay describing how the project furthers the goals and mission of the International Peace Research Association, which are to advance interdisciplinary research into the conditions of peace and the causes of war and other forms of violence. Peace research is distinguished by its attention to systematic observation or study of conflict phenomena and peace strategies. We will give special attention to any project that explains how the conditions of peace can be advanced and/or the causes of war and other forms of violence be removed
  • a dissemination plan that explains how you will share your research and how your research could lead to action that will promote peace

Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. A maximum of three grants will be awarded per year as follows: March  (deadline for applications February 28 or 29), July (deadline for applications: June 30), and November (deadline for applications: October 31).

For further information, please visit the official website HERE.

 

Would you like to become a next generation security expert?

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Would you like to become a next generation security expert?

Gain valuable insights into today’s IT security issues? How would you also like to win cash and lay the foundation for a successful career in IT?

Well, with Kaspersky Academy’s ‘Cyber Security for the Next Generation’ student conference, you can.

Open to : Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. students from the following countries can participate in the Russia & CIS round of the conference: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine

Participation is free. Kaspersky Lab will cover all participants’ travel and accommodation expenses.

The best projects will be given awards and valuable prizes (1st place $1500, 2nd place $1000 and 3rd place $750) from Kaspersky Lab and the authors will be invited to attend the international ‘CyberSecurity for the Next Generation’ conference.