Supporting Zaporizhzhia’s “Night of Science” 🇺🇦
We were privileged to give a presentation in the virtual “Night of Science” event, held for children and students across Ukraine.
The even was organised by staff at Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University (ZPNU), the official partner of Cardiff University in Ukraine, and took place on 30 September 2022.
Under the worst possible conditions imaginable — on the very day that the Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree to annex four Ukrainian regions, including Zaporizhzhia, and only hours after yet another violent attack on civilians in Zaporizhzhia — it was a unique honour and a humbling experience to be supporting ZPNU’s efforts to celebrate science, education and international collaboration, and for a few hours try to forget the horrors of the ongoing war.
Participants were divided into two different age groups (9-14 years, and 15 years and older) and were able to enjoy the presentations in either Ukrainian or English, thanks to simultaneous translations being made available. Topics ranged from computer coding, bionics, space exploration and the odds of winning a game show, all the way to flying viruses, brilliant brains, chillies, pies and Superbugs!
Despite the enormous challenges of periodic air raid signals and interruptions of the local internet connection, The Night of Science event saw some 200 Ukrainian children and youngsters take part.
Many thanks go to Alina Kazurova, Susan Diment and their teams in Zaporizhzhia and Cardiff for organising this fantastic event and making it a success, and to all participants for their interest and their stimulating feedback. We are looking forward to contributing again to similar events in the future, and to working closely together with our new friends in Ukraine.
