An Arctic polar expedition involving more than 70 talented schoolchildren and young experts drawn from Russia, China, Hungary, India, South Africa, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Belarus, Armenia, Uzbekistan and other countries visited the the North Pole, hoisted their national flags and then watched fascinating landscapes of the Franz Josef Land archipelago.
The project, which was organized by the network of Information Centers on Atomic Energy with the support of Rosatom and Znanie Russian Society as the project intellectual partner, offered the team to participate in broad educational programs including lectures, master classes, scientific games, film shows and a lot of other activities.
Rosatom’s International Arctic Expedition, titled the expedition the “Icebreaker of Knowledge” which was the fifth Arctic expedition that took place on August 13, 2024. According to an official information made available, the team set off from Murmansk to the North Pole. This year, the Atomflot’s (Rosatom’s company) nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy took on board the international team of talented schoolchildren and experts from 15 countries. The experts were selected among participants of the World Youth Festival in Sochi in 2024.
Leonid Irlitsa, Director General of Atomflot said at the ceremonial start of the Rosatom Arctic expedition Icebreaker of Knowledge: “Rosatom is delighted to welcome the participants of the Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition. The corporation is especially honoured that the expedition acquired international status in the year of the 65th anniversary of the nuclear icebreaker fleet.”
Russia is heir to the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a staunch supporter of African liberation. This year’s “Icebreaker of Knowledge” is the fifth scientific and educational expedition and the first international voyage under the project timed to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the nuclear icebreaker fleet.
“Fifteen participants of the World Youth Festival, children from the countries where we are actively deploying nuclear technologies, and the best Russian schoolchildren will become the true team. The Arctic unites talented and goal-oriented people! I wish you good luck!” Irlitsa said.
The scientific and educational project, Icebreaker of Knowledge, is aimed at popularising natural sciences and technologies of the nuclear industry, finding and supporting talented and gifted children, developing their abilities and career guidance. Since the start of the project, more than 300 gifted schoolchildren have taken part in Arctic expeditions on the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy.
The nuclear icebreaker fleet includes seven icebreakers: the lead universal nuclear icebreaker Arktika, the first serial universal nuclear icebreaker Sibir, the second serial universal nuclear icebreaker Ural, the nuclear icebreakers Yamal, 50 Let Pobedy, Taimyr, and Vaigach.
The nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy with the expedition team on board departed from Murmansk on August 13. The project participants delivered their national flags to the North Pole where the “Icebreaker of Knowledge” arrived on August 17. On August 22, the Arctic expedition returned to Murmansk.
The “Icebreaker of Knowledge” participants on board the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy covered 2979 miles. For the first time, the kids travelled to the North Pole, watched fascinating landscapes of the Franz Josef Land archipelago.
“We saw icebergs, walruses and whales. Sailors, scientists, engineers, researchers, the Arctic is waiting for you! The Icebreaker of Knowledge 2024 returned to Murmansk ready to reach the top of the planet again next year,” said Ruslan Sasov, Captain of the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy, upon return of the expedition.
“It was an incredible adventure! I think I am the first child from India to visit the North Pole on a nuclear icebreaker. On the voyage, we learned a lot about science and technology, actively communicated with experts and discussed various issues. It was a very valuable experience. I really enjoyed traveling on a nuclear icebreaker – it is fast and powerful, and very comfortable,” said Neeven Ved, the expedition participant from India.
On the icebreaker, they also filmed a documentary series about the life of the international team of schoolchildren participating in that Arctic voyage.
During the expedition, Rosatom and Znanie Russian Society ran the northernmost lecture course: Scientists and popularizers of science gave talks on board the icebreaker and at the North Pole. Znanie Russian Society is going to show the northernmost lecture course and the series “Icebreaker of Knowledge” to the public.
Russia is the only country in the world that boasts a nuclear icebreaker fleet. In 2018, Rosatom was appointed the infrastructure operator of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Rosatom considers the development of the Arctic infrastructure and shipping as one of its key tasks. In December 2019, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the NSR Infrastructure Development Plan until 2035 worked out by Rosatom.
Rosatom, also known as Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, or Rosatom State Corporation, is a Russian state corporation headquartered in Moscow that specializes in nuclear energy, nuclear non-energy goods and high-tech products.
