Recently, the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute hosted the final of the Fifth All-Ukrainian competition of scientific works with international participation, “Youth Intelligence. Rational Nature Management and Modern Energy Efficient Technologies.” This event unites young talents in exploring issues about energy efficiency, environmental safety, societal biosecurity, and the efficient use of energy of the future, sustainable development technologies in general.
The competition took place under the patronage of the Professional Association of Environmentalists of the World and the Council of Young Scientists at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
“Students are the primary driving force of societal and economic development,” said Sergii Boichenko, Head of the Department of Automation of Electrical and Mechantronic Complexes at the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Institute of Energy Saving and Energy Management (IEE), and the competition’s founder and chief organiser. “They solve multifunctional problems, helping to fulfil the tasks of energy transition, decarbonisation and climate neutrality both for our country and for the whole world in the context of the doctrine of sustainable development.”
Since its inception in 2015, initiated by the Ukraine’s Scientific and Technical Union of Chemical Engineers, this event has become a tradition. However, year after year, the competition reaches a qualitatively new level, expands its geography, and increases the number of participants and research projects.
This year, 40 talented participants – students, postgraduates and young scientists – came from not only Ukraine but also Canada, China, Slovakia, and Poland. Among the authors of the best works and winners were Kyiv Polytechnic students, including Nataliia Bolotiuk, an IEE student, who presented her project on modular shelters. These dual-use structures are capable of saving lives during drone-and-missile barrages. The shelters are economical, easy to assemble, and can be manufactured quickly for installation on a turnkey basis. Most of the creative works captured attention of the competition’s partners – leading Ukrainian entrepreneurs and businesses, including the Kovalska Industrial Group, Schneider Electric Ukraine, the Autostrada construction company, and Aleksprom. The partners are eager to involve young talent in internships at their enterprises under dual education programmes. In addition, they are ready to give students the opportunity to have a good job and carve out a career for themselves.
“In our current situation, we need to make every endeavour to raise the national economy and strengthen Ukrainian industry with the help of young people,” said Kateryna Banshchykova, Head of the Kovalska Health and Safety Division. “We need to employ students in our production facilities and enterprises, harnessing their keen minds and interest in science to resolve many major problems today, particularly those about energy efficiency.”