Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 28 April, the competitive selection for international participants in the VI International Educational Project "Icebreaker of Knowledge" began. This year's event is dedicated to two significant anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry and the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the exploration of the Northern Sea Route.

The winners of the competition will join a unique Arctic expedition aboard the nuclear icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" of the "Atomflot" enterprise, part of the state corporation "Rosatom." Participants will be engaged in an intensive educational program, including lectures, workshops, quizzes, and scientific activities.

Schoolchildren aged 14–16 from 20 countries, including Uzbekistan, Armenia, China, India, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, and others, are eligible to participate. Applications will be accepted until May 27 on the website goarctic.energy. The selection process will take place in three stages and will conclude on June 20, culminating in the formation of an international team that will travel to the North Pole. This expedition is expected to be a historic first for some of the participating countries.

An additional competition for Russian schoolchildren is ongoing on the site polus.atom.online and will run until 5 May.

The "Icebreaker of Knowledge" project has been implemented for six consecutive years by the Information Centers for Nuclear Energy with the support of "Rosatom." Its goal is to promote natural sciences, support talented students, and foster interest in the nuclear industry. Since its launch, over 350 adolescents have participated in the expeditions. In 2024, the project went international, with schoolchildren and experts from 10 countries joining the Arctic journey.

In 2025, Russia's nuclear industry celebrates its 80th anniversary. The Soviet Union was the first country to build a nuclear power plant (1954, Obninsk) and a nuclear icebreaker (1959, "Lenin"). Today, "Rosatom" remains a global leader in nuclear technologies, involved in building nuclear power plants, managing logistics for the Northern Sea Route, and developing materials and medical products.

The anniversary year is under the slogan: pride, inspiration, dream. The culmination of the celebrations will be the World Atomic Week international forum, which will be held in Moscow in the fall.

The Northern Sea Route, which celebrates its 500th anniversary in 2025, is the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. Its development is currently overseen by "Rosatom," which boasts a unique fleet of nuclear icebreakers — the only one in the world. The "Atomflot" fleet includes eight nuclear icebreakers.

Education, science, and culture support remain priorities for "Rosatom" and its enterprises. The corporation actively implements scholarship programs, develops university departments, and assists in the employment of young professionals.