 A contributing factor to the success of the YSC's during the IPY was strong support from the IPY International Program Office (IPO), based in Cambridge, UK, who ensured that the goals of the YSC would be heard in the community of senior researchers.The roles of Dave Carlson and Rhian Salmon, in particular, were crucial.The YSC focus was the creation, fostering and promotion of activities geared towards youth by young researchers.