Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 2-3 November, the International Festival NAUKA 0+ will take place in Tashkent, under the theme "Science Around Us." This event is part of the Decade of Science and Technology and is one of the world’s largest projects aimed at promoting science. Each year, the festival spans more than 400 venues across 80 regions in Russia and other countries.

The rector of Moscow State University, academician V.A. Sadovnichiy, emphasized that this is not the first time Tashkent has hosted this significant international project. He expressed gratitude to the university and academic community of Uzbekistan for their collaboration in expanding access to knowledge and raising public awareness about scientific achievements. The festival could not happen without the support of Uzbekistan’s ministries, agencies, and active participation from local partners.

This year, NAUKA 0+ will also be held in other countries, including Belarus, Cuba, and Kazakhstan. The main venues for the festival in Tashkent will be the Tashkent Polytechnic Museum, branches of Moscow State University (MSU), Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology (RHTU), Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (RSU), the Institute of Materials Science, and other scientific and educational institutions.

The festival will feature science-popularizing lectures, interactive exhibitions, virtual labs, science shows, discussions, and various competitions. Leading scientists will present key scientific discoveries and their importance to society.

Scheduled lectures include virologist Nikolay Nikitin discussing new pathogens and Anna Doroshenko’s talk on modern biomaterials for medicine. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with robots, test their knowledge in quizzes, and enjoy science shows.

The festival will also offer hands-on activities such as extracting DNA from bananas and conducting experiments with solar energy. The event is supported by organizations such as the Alisher Usmanov Charitable Foundation and Russia’s State Corporation "Rosatom."

NAUKA 0+ has been held since 2006, initiated by the rector of MSU, and aims to attract young people to scientific research and promote science among the general public. In 2022, the festival became part of Russia’s Decade of Science and Technology, aimed at engaging talented youth and showcasing the achievements of the Russian scientific community.