From June 28 to June 30, Yangon (Myanmar) hosted the Science Festival, organized by Rosatom and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Myanmar. The event was held simultaneously at the Information Center for Nuclear Technologies and the Yangon Technological University.
The Science Festival is held in the countries of Rosatom presence and traditionally brings together active youth and the expert community, allowing them to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of science in an informal and friendly atmosphere. This year, such a festival was organized for the first time in Myanmar.
The solemn opening ceremony of the event was held at the Yangon Technological University. The Minister for Science and Technology of Myanmar, Myo Thein Kyaw, and the Deputy General Director of Rosatom Nikolay Spasskiy, addressed the guests of the festival with a welcoming speech.
Myo Thein Kyaw noted: “Our country faces an ambitious task of incorporating nuclear energy into our energy mix. We have already started this process and are already thinking about who will carry on this work and uphold the project in the coming years. We place our trust in the youth at the festival, as they hold the key to our aspirations. It is crucial to foster a deeper understanding of the nuclear industry among young people, providing them with opportunities to study and engage in nuclear science.”
The festival encompasses various activities, such as “Nuclear Quest” and “Science Battle,” along with informative lectures, engaging discussions, and various interactive science games and master classes. Throughout the event, students and schoolchildren from Myanmar had the chance to explore the applications of nuclear technologies in energy, medicine, and agriculture. They actively participated by posing questions to experts from the esteemed National Nuclear Research Institute “MEPhI,” one of the world’s leading atomic universities. They also got a rare opportunity to watch Oliver Stone’s film, “Nuclear Now.”
Students of the 9th grade Ma Khine Su Linn and Ma Moh Myat Wint Wah said: “During the festival, we attended lectures and took part in the “Science Battle”. Nuclear technology is very interesting.”
Dr. Moe Min Htwe, Deputy Director of the Department of Atomic Energy of the Ministry for Science and Technology of Myanmar said that “Nuclear energy can be applied in various peaceful areas, and it is good to help the young generation to acquire knowledge in this field”.
More than two thousand and two hundred students, experts, and teachers of Myanmar universities participated in the festival program.
African countries also popularize science. Rosatom conducts open lectures by leading scientists from the supporting universities for schoolchildren and students from South Africa. More than 300 South African students attended the event in the last year. The purpose of such lectures was to show students and future applicants the relevance of the challenges facing the nuclear industry, as well as the professional and career potential for talented young people in Africa in the field of nuclear energy.
Leading nuclear experts from Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Tomsk Polytechnic University, MEPhI, MISIS participated in the online lectures. Relying on scientific research and practical experience they shared their knowledge and opinion on the most important and urgent issues – prospects of nuclear industry development, use of nuclear technologies in medicine, industry and agriculture, the impact of nuclear industry on the environment and methods to reduce the negative impact on the environment in the world.
