Are children interested in science? Yes, if it is demonstrated through experiments, interactive projects, or fascinating stories about research.
On December 4, the team of the international OPTIMA project, partnered with Lutsk National Technical University and the National Antarctic Scientific Center, held a unique live broadcast for schoolchildren from the "Akademik Vernadsky" station in Antarctica.
Educational institutions in Lutsk (Lyceums No. 4, 14, 18, 25, 27, 31), Kivertsi Gymnasium No. 2, Horodyshche General Secondary Education Institution, and Volyn Regional Ecological and Naturalistic Center, invited by LNTU, became active participants in the event. The coordinators of the OPTIMA project began the meeting with an introduction and questions about academic integrity and open science.
Next, participants of the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, geophysicists Oleksandr Bohomaz and Anna Soina, shared their impressions of being in Antarctica, talked about their scientific research, the use of open science principles, and, most touchingly for the children, showed the inhabitants of the harsh Antarctic region—penguins—live.
Time flew by with the participants' questions and the scientists' answers.


Why is it essential to spread science among schoolchildren? To awaken curiosity about the world, inspire discoveries, and show that knowledge changes lives. Supporting open science allows our schoolchildren to become actual researchers and innovators!
For more details about the event, you can follow these links:
- https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AqLoCyaLX/?mibextid=K35XfP
- https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18NAk9Yubs/?mibextid=WC7FNe
- https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19pZmfhkgR/?mibextid=WC7FNe
- http://gorodysche.in.ua/uncategorized/zakhid-z-poliarnykamy-neymovirna-podorozh-do-akademika-vernadskoho.html
Coordinator of the OPTIMA project at LNTU
Halyna Herasymchuk