Why would a world-renowned physicist and Nobel laureate choose to give his time to helping with a relatively unknown science award in a small country like Slovakia? Jonathan asks Professor Kip Thorne, in Bratislava last week to chair the 2021 Eset Science Award, just this question. Are science competitions for secondary school students more than just an amusing pastime for science & math geeks? We speak with Slovak scientists who credit these competitions with helping to shape their scientific ability and their careers.