Results of 9th International Youth Technical-Research Projects Exhibition — EXPO-Nauka 2003

The 9th International Youth Technical-Research Projects Exhibition EXPO-Science 2003 organized by the International Movement for Leisure in Science and Technology (MILSET), Moscow government and All-Russia Exhibition Center (AREC) took place on 12-18 July, 2003. EXPO-Science 2003 was conducted under the auspices of UNESCO.

It was participated by over 2 015 thousand young people aged between 7 and 23 from 88 world countries and 87 regions of Russia (863 foreign participants, 412 representatives of RF regions, 560 Muscovites and 180 volunteers). The area taken by EXPO-Science 2003 was 13 000 sq m.

It widely represented Russian participants.

The exposition EXPO-Science 2003 had 4 basic subject sections.

The largest section was "Youth research projects".

Over one thousand participants from 87 Russian regions presented 500 projects that were acknowledged as winners at the republican, territorial, regional or district contests.

The section was participated by representatives of 67 high schools, 33 secondary schools, 37 centers, houses, supplementary education clubs.

The age of participants — 10-23 years.

Research projects, engineering ideas were formed on nine research orientations: engineering and technologies; chemistry; physics; mathematics and informatics; ecology and earth science; astronomy and space; architecture and construction; medicine and biology; social sciences.

It is necessary to emphasize the economic importance of presented projects, for example: "Innovation technology of car tires utilization" (Moscow State-owned agro-Engineering University named after Goryachkin), Automated system of of identification of railroad rolling-stock objects (Cherepovtsy Institute of Management and Information Technologies), "New energy-saving equipment for ventilation systems of modern mass-construction houses" (Students lab Ltd.), "Geoecological maintenance of secured storage of communal wastes" (Moscow State-owned Mining University), etc.

Of special interest were various purpose works presented at the exhibition: fire extinguishing (robot Tajga, Technical Creativity Center, Yoshkar-Ola), cleaning of ship bottoms (Kursk Technical University), lifting of sunken ships (Poseidon platform, Lyceum No. 87, Nizhny Novgorod), teacher and guide (robot WELLS, Stavropol territory), new robot type — Girokoleso (Gyro-wheel) (Moscow State Univesity of M.V. Lomonosov) and a modular robot of the Moscow Institute of Radiotechnics, Radioelectronics and Automatics.

The practical significance of presented projects of the Bauman MGTU students is extremely vital for security services. The have created two unique devices: optical-electronic device for remote discovery of concealed video-monitoring systems and Anti-sniper device.

The section presents a considerable number of aviation projects. Among the developers were students of the Moscow Aviation Institute, Rybinsk Aviation-Technology Academy, Zhukovsky Technical Aviation College, Vladimir Mechanical Aviation College. The MAI students had presented flying machines of the future developed with a use of computer modeling that was based on "live nature" study — projection of eagle, fly-bird and swallow wings. Together with the student works, who had chosen airplane designing as their profession, the Exhibition presented works of the students of centers, stations and technical creativity clubs.

For example, the Istok Center of Youth Technical Creativity (Moscow) had demonstrated a superlight airplane with a flight duration 1.5 hours, and students of the Novgorod Youth Technical (Professional) Creativity Center (Staraya Russa) presented a model of PE-2 airplane.

The technical research exhibitions have always saved a special place for the space topic. EXPO-Science was no exception. The space projects were presented by the Russian Space-Exploration Academy of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Association of Korolyov scientists, RKK Energy, Council of young Korolyov specialists, Moscow Physical-Engineering Institute, Military Academy of Strategic Missile Arm of Peter the Great, etc. It was possible to see there models of the Lunar touchdown modules, artificial Earth satellites, proposals for creation of space lifts, space exercisers, Moon and Mars robots, electric-nuclear tugs.

Space projects of students of the Space Machine-Building and Technologies College, Sosnovy Bor Center of Children and Youth Development (Leningrad region), All-Russia Aerospace Community VAKO SOYUZ, Kaluga region Education Department had crowned the Exhibition and evoked admiration by the boldness of ideas, and works quality.

The novelty, originality, creative approach have become a distinctive feature of the architectural and construction projects presented by students of the Russian University of People's Friendship, Moscow Institute of Communal Services and Construction, Samara Architectural-Construction Academy, Moscow State Construction University, Gzhel State Industrial-Art University, Yaroslavl Technical Construction College, Oryol State Technical University, etc. The Exhibition presented new ecologically clean construction materials, equipment, architectural projects of building living quarters, elements of decorative design. Works of Start children's art school impressed by their fantasy and beauty, its project presented interest to commercial-production services of the well-known trade-house IKEA.

Today, in the urbanization era, the problem of environment protection is especially vital.

How to make the air cleaner? What water we drink? How to help forests and water basins? The answers to these and other questions could be found on stands in Ecology section, which was participated by representatives of 19 world countries. A pupil of the 4th form of Moscow school Lobanov Yaroslav had developed a project "Use of sea water in coastal cities" with the purpose of use of sea water for transmission of electric power to living premises without use of electric wires, receiving of fresh water for home needs and use of sea salt for medical purposes.

During the Exhibition, children's ecological center Echo-Dom (Domodedovo, Moscow region) had received over 1 thousand orders from the customers for laying in of medicinal grass and plants.

Solution of the ecological problem of developing the Caspian sea hydrocarbon reserves was provided in the projects of students of the Daghestan State University.

Ways of preservation of water resources, soils fertility, air, solution of industrial and household waste utilization problems were the primary subjects of Russian ecological problems.

Human health depends on the state of the environment. Modern diagnostics, dietary norms, prevention of illnesses and new treatment methods have become the subjects of "Medicine and biology" projects.

"Youth research projects" section was supplemented by research projects in physics, chemistry, mathematics and informatics.

Of special interest with the visitors was "High energy" project of a 15-year-old physicist V. Kryukov. His project evoked interest of three key Moscow high schools — MGU, MGTU of Bauman, MIFI.

EXPO — Science 2003 special feature had become animation zones at which any visitor could try modeling, design, launching of joint projects under the guidance of experienced animators.

Work of the section was supplemented by outdoor presentations: launching of airplane and missile models, competitions of ship-modelers.

This form of interactive participation of visitors and participants created a festivity atmosphere, helped to quickly establish contacts and evoked positive emotions.

Foreign participation

EXPO-Science 2003 was participated by representatives of 88 countries, in all 863 participants from 127 (including international) institutions: UNESCO, PRELUDE, SCHLUMBERGER) presented 340 projects.

An important contribution into the success of EXPO — Science 2003 was made by animators from France. 4 animation sites had been presented: "Robot Algoro", "Archaeological excavations", "Everybody alike — everybody different", "Micro-missile shop".

Section "Small and smart village"

Section "Small and smart village" presented science in an entertaining and accessible form.

The section was built on the following principle:

• stands with projects of exhibition participants;
• animation zones;
• master-classes.

Section work was participated by Russian and foreign delegations:

• Russian participants — 135 (14 institutions);
• Foreign participants — 29 (7 institutions).

Age of participants: 6-15.
Number of projects: 86.

Of large interest to children, their parents and students were the following animation zones:

• "Lawn of games" (Stilts, whipping-tops and other folk games. "Lawn" was always full with visitors).
• Children's research town "World of color and light" (Exposition of school museum of entertaining science. Unique exhibit Galilei Gutter (LENGTH 7 m and HEIGHT 1.5 m) representing a research experiment conducted by Galileo Galilei. Optical laws were illustrated in an entertaining and popular form. Exposits: gyroscope, inside photo camera, color shadows, etc.
• "Creativity field" (Animation zone that collected: education games "Game room origami — checks, chess and domino"; exhibits demonstrating physical laws in a game form ("Air cannon", "Playing with soap films", "Near a lake — water basin for a flotilla", "Bogey with quadrangular wheels", "Floating Earth model". Children and grownups played in the "Filed").
• "Martian expedition" (Interactive section including: Inflatable Planetarium; labyrinth; master-class and children's projects. Everything in the exposition was successful and cooperating. Visitors received information on life conditions on Earth and Mars in a game form.

The stands of participant sections presented the most interesting projects: "Crystals growing", "Martian expedition", "Park of the invisible forces", "Crossword with experiments", "Origami world", "Brainteaser sculptures". "Man. Problem, Garbage", "About ants", "How old is ballpoint pen and what about its future?", "Enigma of air balls", "Paper offers surprises", etc.

Section "Small and smart village" enjoyed success. It turned out to be attractive, entertaining, merry, and attracted both children and their parents.

Technical-research program

The International Research Congress "Youth. Science. Community" had become a component part of EXPO — Science 2003. The Congress was a complex of international events in the youth technical-research creativity area developed by the Russian side, and had no analogs in the world as to its content and scale.

The extra-mural phase of the Congress included debates, contest of research papers on the subject "Youth and science", contest of drawings on the subject "Science and life", contest "Young organizer in science and hi-techs".

Of large interest were the debate "Fate of the planet in the youth hands" conducted from November 2002 to June 11, 2003.

The debates participants were more than 1700 people from Argentine, Brazil, Cameroon, Byelorussia, Latvia, Georgia (in total 20 countries), 15 Russian regions, who expressed over 10500 opinions.

Children and youth aged 10-23 answered 11 questions.

The debates analysis showed that the answers to questions asked reflect the youth concern about the future. Today's political and ecological situation aggravates this concern making the subject "Fate of the planet in the youth hands" highly topical. Most of the debate participants believe it is necessary to reach large progress in medicine in order to protect people against diseases, many are troubled by the growing environmental pollution. The basic orientations of the society further development are also social-political, cultural and other humanitarian areas of scientific knowledge.

From 1 April to 11 June 2003, an open contest for children and youth was conducted in two age categories:

• from 10 to 13 years — contest for the best drawing on the subject: "Science and life".
• from 14 to 23 years — contest for the best research paper on the subject: "Youth and science".

Contest "Young organizer in research and hi-tech area" was conducted in two phases: extra-mural phase — from 10 May to 25 June 2003, intra-mural phase — from 12 to 16 July 2003.

Expert council comprising 22 key scientists, pedagogues and representatives of the youth research communities considered over 600 research papers. Their subjects covered the following knowledge areas: natural, social, economic, humanitarian, political sciences, medicine, pedagogy, psychology, engineering and information technologies, architecture, etc. The contest participants had become representatives of 69 high schools, 34 lyceums, gymnasium and colleges, 97 schools, 9 children-youth centers from Byelorussia, Kazakhstan, Romania, Bulgaria, Chile, 32 Russian regions.

The drawings contest invited over 1,000 works. The contest was participated by children from Greece, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechia, Tunisia, Russia: cities Moscow, Zelenograd, Balashikha, Korolyov, Vidnoye, Chelyabinsk, Saransk, Omsk, Khabarovsk, Togliatti, village Avdotyino of Stupino district, Krasnodar territory, Novgorod, Moscow, Rostov regions. The most popular have become drawings on the subjects: "Future", "Space", "Ecology", "Everyday life".

The Assembly of the International Youth Scientific Congress — the final congress event scored and formulated results of all preceding events.

The Assembly was held on July 17, 2003 in the "Academichesky" Big Concert Hall of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It was participated by 1,200 people: the exhibition and contest participants, winners of research-paper and drawing contests, participants in extra-mural debates who had provided the most interesting and unusual answers to the asked questions, representatives of youth organizations, education, research and business circles, members of the Organizing Committee, honorary guests, mass media representatives.

Response of official leaders, guests and typical response of guests and participants: "I was delighted by everything I saw. These are not children's works. These are works of the future builders of the world in all of its aspects: technological, humanitarian and political. I greet all participants and organizers!"

"The TIMUN Fund — organization engaged in world youth education aspects, expresses its gratitude to the Mayor of Moscow, this city and Russia's population at large for this remarkable opportunity to get familiar with the youth works.
We admire their enthusiasm and devotion to science! Many thanks!"

"I believe this exhibition is a unique event. It was perfectly organized. Besides, it allows to communicate with the foreign guests. I wish this kind of exhibition to be carried out more frequently. Best wishes".

"We are for the first time in Moscow, and at an exhibition like this one! This is just wonderful! Frankly speaking, we have never seen of felt anything like that. We have nowhere been met with such warmth like here in Russia. I hope we'll come back. This is our great wish. Greetings from Astana.

"Russia is a very interesting country, and its people are friendly and kind. I liked the way the exhibition was organized and the atmosphere of friendship between people created by it. Thanks for your hospitality.

"Moscow is wonderful, especially Red Square. The exhibition is a real success, since it has presented quite a number of opportunities to communicate with representatives of other countries. We've seen a lot of interesting things! The guides were very nice!

"Together people of the world can reach a lot. We should always remember this and trust each other".