Global contact lens manufacturer CooperVision has today launched the eighth cycle of the FORCE Student of the Year competition. This year promises to be the largest event yet with students from across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) invited to join the competition and ultimately compete in the final of the CooperVision FORCE Student of the Year.
The Future Ocular Research Creativity Event (FORCE) is an annual competition in the field of contact lenses, pitching the very best students from colleges and universities against each other to become the CooperVision FORCE Student of the Year.
FORCE aims to inspire students to strive for excellence in their studies, and to encourage them to develop their professional knowledge base and contacts to benefit their future careers.
Students conduct a six- to eight-week research project – a clinical trial or case report – on a contact lens and anterior eye related topic of their choice. Those chosen to represent their college or university meet at national finals for the chance to compete against winners from each country in the EMEA FORCE final. The 2020 final will be held at the CooperVision Centre of Innovation in Budapest, Hungary on 15th and 16th May.
The judging panel led by chair Professor James Wolffsohn of Aston University, Birmingham, UK will award the title of CooperVision EMEA FORCE Student of the Year 2020 to the overall winner, who will receive a full delegate package, including travel and accommodation, to attend an international contact lens meeting.
‘Evidence-based practice is the core of the optometric profession and FORCE is unique in giving an opportunity to students from every contact lens teaching university to further their career as key opinion leaders and profession shapers of the future,’ said Professor Wolffsohn.
Joining the judging panel are: Stefan Bandlitz, Cologne School of Optometry Senior Lecturer, Elena Garcia Rubio, Director of INOP and Pascale Dauthuile, President of AFELC.