Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The fifth annual “Festival of Science and Atom-2023” was held recently at the Tashkent branch of NRNU MEPhI (TF NRNU MEPhI).

 According to future power engineers and nuclear engineers, this event has become one of the most anticipated events of the year, where schoolchildren and students have a unique opportunity to learn more about the application of nuclear technologies in both energy and non-energy industries, as well as test their interest in engineering and technical specialties soon. As a result of the event, more than 200 schoolchildren and teachers became closer to the world of atomic science and nuclear technology.

Over the five years since its launch, the festival in Uzbekistan has significantly expanded its geography. If last year schoolchildren from the village of Uchkulach, Farish district, Jizzakh region, took part in it for the first time, then this year, among the honored guests were the children from the city of Pap, Namangan region, the best team in the country that participated in the international championship “Formula of Intelligence”.

Shavkat Abdukamilov, executive director of the Tashkent branch of NRNU MEPhI, noted in his welcoming speech: “For the third year in a row, the festival has been held within the walls of our branch.

As part of today’s program, the participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with new technologies, dispel various myths, including in nuclear energy, and learn where nuclear technologies are used in everyday life. And this could be energy, industry, agriculture, medicine and many other areas. If you have a passion for engineering, science, if in the future you want to work in the high-tech industry of the country and you have the ability, I encourage you to join our branch.”

This year, the festival organizers have prepared for event guests an online tour of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant, the first industrial nuclear power plant in Russia with pressurized water power reactors. VVER-1200 generation III+ power units were built here, which have now been commissioned in Belarus, and at the construction stage - in Turkey, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Hungary. 

Young guests had a unique opportunity to visit the reactor hall, turbine compartment, block control room, see various cooling systems, and also communicate with representatives of the nuclear power plant. This part of the program was also held on the second day of the festival, which was held at the Atomic Technology Information Center under the Uzatom Agency.

The online lecture on the topic “Application of Nuclear Technologies in Space Technology” by Andrey Akatov, Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists of the St. Petersburg State Technological Institute, aroused keen interest among the guests. A special highlight of the festival program was the screening of the documentary film “Atom” by the famous film director, screenwriter and producer Oliver Stone. The film was first presented to the audience a year ago at the Venice International Festival and was first shown to viewers from Uzbekistan at the site of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

A traditional part of the festival was a tour of the educational block of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, where young guests could get acquainted with laboratory equipment, including virtual reality technologies, and also take part in a scientific show from a teacher at NRNU MEPhI.

Anna Korobeynikova, a student of grade 10 “B” at school No. 103 in Tashkent, shared her impressions of the festival: “I am interested in many things, but lately I want to decide on my future specialty. I really enjoyed today’s event. What I liked most was the communication with the students, specifically their experience of studying at this university. I would like to see more practice. It was very interesting in the laboratories, watching the experiments.”

Kamila Khakimova, a student at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, a volunteer at the festival, said: “I have been participating in the festival as a volunteer for the third year now, and during this time I noticed that this festival helps participants learn something new about the world of nuclear science and technology. Thanks to interactive formats, absolutely every participant can freely ask questions to experts and lecturers. It’s nice to see how the guys’ eyes light up, an understanding arises that nuclear energy is an important industry, it is a great opportunity and it is the key to the advancement of our state. This is an invaluable experience. In other words, this festival helps people get closer to the nuclear industry.”

Science and atom festivals are held in many countries around the world where the nuclear industry and nuclear technology are developing. Events are held in many countries developing nuclear energy and non-energy applications of nuclear technologies: Bangladesh, India, Belarus, Armenia, Egypt, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries. In Uzbekistan, the festival has been held since 2019 with the support of the Rosatom State Corporation and the Uzatom Agency.