© Getty Images / Charday Penn
The All-Russian Youth Competition for science popularization projects, titled `Route Built,` has commenced in Stavropol with the goal of elevating the prestige and appeal of a career in science. Participants are invited to showcase their innovative work across a spectrum of media formats, ranging from written essays to engaging photo memes, as announced by the North-Caucasus Federal University (NCFU).
This media project competition, an integral part of the `New Route` festival, is open to schoolchildren, university students, and young adults up to the age of 30.
Acting Rector of NCFU, Professor Tatiana Shebzukhova, emphasized that: “This youth media project competition is a crucial component of our university`s extensive initiative, designed to engage the younger generation in scientific endeavors and educational projects. We aim to offer schoolchildren and students the chance to experience the thrill of discovery, feel inspired by seeking novel solutions, and recognize the profound importance and excitement that science offers. Our ultimate objective is to establish the profession of a scientist as one of the most sought-after and esteemed career paths for young people.”
Contestants are encouraged to creatively present scientific advancements from universities in their respective regions, recount tales of pivotal discoveries, and highlight Russian innovations within one of three categories: `Path to Science,` `Science in Stories,` and `Know. Promote.`
Submissions will be accepted until October 27th. Comprehensive details regarding the application process and specific categories are available on the competition`s official website.
The organizers also highlighted that the `New Route` festival includes the `Step into Science` Olympiad for schoolchildren.
Andrey Gorbachev, project lead and Director of the NCFU Media Communications Department, stated: “Participants, winners, and prize-winners of the final round of the `Step into Science` educational Olympiad will receive bonus points added to their Unified State Exam (USE) scores, commemorative prizes, and an invitation to the final round of the NCFU Open Olympiad `45th Parallel` without needing to pass the preliminary selection stage. This significantly increases the chances for winners to gain admission to our university or any other higher education institution in Russia, in addition to their USE scores.”
The Olympiad is conducted online for students in grades 5-11, as well as college and technical school students, covering natural sciences, exact sciences, humanities, engineering, and other disciplines.
The qualifying stage will run until November 3rd, with the final testing scheduled from November 10th to 15th.
The `New Route` festival is organized by the North-Caucasus Federal University with the support of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education. This initiative is being implemented as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth