NOVOSIBIRSK STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY
The organizers have made everything possible to ensure that each day is filled with useful and engaging activities. The participants attend training sessions on emotional intelligence development, which help them improve their teamwork skills and manage their emotions in stressful situations. Masterclasses on virtual reality and robotics have been a real revelation for many of the participants. The schoolchildren are keenly exploring the possibilities of VR technologies, immersing themselves in virtual worlds, and learning to apply this knowledge in their projects. The robotics sessions give the students practical experience in constructing and programming robots, which is an integral part of modern engineering education.
In order to maintain the competitive spirit and motivation of the participants, an internal currency for the project has been introduced — "Engineering". For every achievement, which can be successfully completing a task, or actively participating in masterclasses, or even taking a photo with the project’s mascot — a scholarly cat — the students earn "Engineerings". The participants can exchange their “money” for extra points or nice prizes, which adds excitement to the event and encourages the schoolchildren to be more active.
On 7th November, the acting rector of NSPU, Sergey Alexandrovich Nelyubov, visited the events of the final stage. He interacted with the participants, familiarized himself with their projects, and shared his impressions.
- The "ENGINEERING" project represents a significant step in developing the engineering potential of our youth. Having seen the participants' work and their approach to solving complex technical problems, I am convinced that we are nurturing a generation of highly qualified specialists. NSPU strives to create conditions that foster talent and support initiatives aimed at innovative development. These young people not only demonstrate deep knowledge and skills but also show creativity and the ability to think outside the box. It’s extremely rewarding being able to contribute to their professional growth and believe that they will make a substantial contribution to the future of our country, - noted Sergey Alexandrovich.
The themes of the projects are focused on the creation of unmanned autonomous systems (UAS). The participants are developing quadcopters, ground autonomous robots, and various devices to solve practical problems.
The director of the educational Technopark "Quantorium" named after Yu.B. Rumer, head of the UAS project site "ENGINEERING," Sergey Vladimirovich Starkov, spoke about the aims and objectives of the event:
— The main aim of the project is to engage school students in technical creativity work and early career orientation. We encourage young people to feel brave to propose bold ideas and bring them to life. It is their fresh perspective and unconventional thinking that can lead to innovative solutions.
One of the interesting tasks for the participants was to solve the cases of Engineer Cat. According to the legend, Engineer Cat came to visit his grandmother in the village, and he needed to develop special devices: for example, to deliver medicines from the city to the village or to automate potato planting. Such practical tasks offer the students ways to think about the real-life applications of their projects.
- Our team didn’t plan to participate in the project. But our teachers suggested taking part in the event, and we decided to try something new. We are currently working on solving the cases, using 3D printers, laptops, and internet resources. It’s exciting and challenging! The most important thing is to believe in the best and hope for success, — said Milena Shcherbak, a student from the Retchikovskaya Secondary School in the Kochenevsky District.
- The qualifying stage was the most difficult for me, filled with anxiety and stress. However, once I progressed, things became more manageable. Robotics plays a crucial role in daily life, particularly in automating industries such as enterprises, agriculture, and manufacturing. Being part of the project allows for a better understanding of its functioning and the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations, - remarked Vadim Petrenko, a student at MAOU Gymnasium No. 11 "Harmony."
The projects that school students are working on have the potential for practical application in the future. As technology advances, unmanned systems and robotics are becoming more integrated into our daily lives. It is possible that the concepts developed in the "ENGINEERING" project could serve as the basis for genuine innovations in the coming years.
The project is being implemented with the support of the grant competition "Movements of the First."
