Oil painting, an app for young mothers. What surprised us at the Science Festival in Minsk

MINSK became the scene of experiments, lectures, and unexpected discoveries for a day. The Botanical Garden hosted the Science Festival, bringing together schoolchildren, students , teachers, and simply curious citizens. Under the tents, they debated the future of artificial intelligence and laughed at chemical experiments with colored smoke. On the stages, guests could build their own satellite, try their hand at being a DOCTOR, and visit an open-air cinema. The atmosphere was reminiscent of both a school lesson and an amusement fair, where adults were not shy about being amazed and children were asking endless questions. The organizers say the main goal of the festival is to show that science is closer than it seems. Judging by the lively discussions and queues, they succeeded. The main goal of the festival is to popularize science.

The Science Festival opened with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The organizers warned from the outset that it would be very unusual. The ribbon was pre-immersed in liquid nitrogen, so guests smashed it rather than cut it.
Vladimir Karanik, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, noted that each year the festival develops new technologies, the experiments become more spectacular, and the number of participants from foreign countries increases. "We are already seriously concerned that the size of our large Botanical Garden may soon become insufficient for this event," he added.
Vladimir Karanik reiterated that the festival's main goal is the popularization of science. "There are many young people here. We hope this will encourage them to pursue a career in science and that we will shape the next generation of scientists," he shared his plans. 
An app for young mothers, an open-air cinema

. The Ministry of Education's "University of the Future" platform was located at the very beginning of the Botanical Garden. It brought together more than 35 universities across the country, the Republican Youth Center, and the National Children's Technopark.
Fourth-year students of the Faculty of Digital Economy at BGEU, Angelina Ivanova and Yana Dorokhovich, developed a web application project called "MATULYA" during their undergraduate course. "It was created for young mothers who are either new to motherhood or lack advice or support. Our app has sections called 'Health,' 'Development,' and 'Calendar.' Using various features, you can track feedings, complementary foods, doctor appointments, and your child's height and weight," explained Angelina Ivanova. According to her, the app provides various recommendations for mothers, such as when and what complementary foods to introduce, at what age, and which doctor to take your baby to. 

Yana Dorokhovich emphasized that you can create a mother's account in the app, where you can record memorable events. This gives mothers the opportunity to combine work and childcare.
The Belarusian State University presented its aerospace measurements training laboratory. This complex is designed for teaching spacecraft monitoring and measurement technologies. It includes a prototype optical space observation system, an engineering model of a nanosatellite, and a quadcopter, allowing students to explore both the theoretical and practical aspects of aerospace measurements.
The Belarusian National Technical University introduced festival participants to developments in robotic systems. These included a product slicing and packaging system designed for food production automation and an experimental setup for applying microarc oxidation coatings, which is used to improve the wear resistance of components. A full-scale prototype of a robotic system for industrial monitoring was also on display, improving the accuracy and speed of measurements.
Guests also had the opportunity to explore the laboratory of the future, where master classes were held on notebook making, oil painting, drone control, composite sketches, customs control, and Chinese calligraphy.
A pleasant bonus for festival attendees was an open-air cinema, where they could relax and immerse themselves in the world of science by watching popular science films.
Milking robot, DNA vaccine.

The "100 Innovations of Young Scientists" zone provided a platform for young scientists to present their latest developments. 

One such development was a system for positioning milking equipment on the udders of dairy cows. Yulia Rogalskaya, a researcher at the Laboratory for Mechanization of MILK and Beef Production Processes at the Scientific and Practical Center for Agricultural Mechanization of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, explained that it consists of a frame on which a drive unit, control system, and power supply are mounted. "This is a component of a milking robot that can be used both separately for the milking robot and for creating robotic milking rotary machines," she noted. 
This system frees humans from the milking process and ensures greater productivity. Plans call for the development of a domestic milking robot by the end of 2027. 

Ekaterina Popicheva, a junior researcher at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences, developed a DNA vaccine for the treatment of lower extremity ischemia. "This is a fairly common condition, especially among the elderly. A finished drug has been developed and has passed preclinical trials. The drug is already in development. It is cheaper and more effective than existing ones," she said. 
To become a cosmonaut, you need to be disciplined and responsible.

At the "Cosmos" area, guests had the opportunity to talk with Belarus's first female cosmonaut, Marina Vasilevskaya. She explained that at school, many of her classmates dreamed of becoming cosmonauts and doctors. Her dream was to become a teacher: "I'm pleased when teachers are respected. They are the ones who invest all their energy in us today so that we emerge as wise adults."
She explained that to become a cosmonaut, one must be a good student, disciplined, and responsible. One must be able to get along with one's peers and find compromises. After all, people in space often spend six months to a year on expeditions, so teamwork is essential. 
Guests also had the opportunity to learn more about the meteorite found near Smolevichi. A small exhibit of its fragments was also set up. In this area, they also demonstrated how satellites are made, and anyone could assemble their own.

A quest for guests and tastings.

At the "Intelligent Technologies" platform, guests were introduced to innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. The festival also featured a polar zone, where Arctic and Antarctic exploration
was showcased. "Taste of Science" introduced visitors to the world of gastronomy from a scientific perspective, including a tasting of new food products. The "Ecology" platform covered environmental protection and sustainable development. Visitors learned about waste sorting, water and air purification, and rare plant and animal species in Belarus and around the world.
Doctors, researchers, and science journalists were brought together at the "Medicine" platform. Here, they could learn about the latest vaccines and diagnostic methods, try their hand at being a doctor in interactive simulations, and receive healthy lifestyle advice from experts.

The science festival in Minsk also welcomed guests from RUSSIA, represented by the "Science 0+" platform and Zaryadye Park. Rosatom's Atom Team showcased the use of peaceful nuclear energy in space, medicine, ecology, and robotics.
This year, the organizers created a quest for festival guests, something they hadn't done in previous years. The quest was designed for both adults and children, and festival participants received small prizes. This

year's Science Festival opened the doors to a world of amazing discoveries and inspiring ideas. It reminded us that science is not just a collection of facts and formulas, but a living, pulsating organism striving to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Spectators were able to tap into cutting-edge technologies, learn about the latest advances in various fields, and feel part of a larger scientific community. After all, it is through scientific discoveries and innovations that humanity can solve global problems and make the world more just and prosperous.

ANASTASIA KOZLOVA,

photo by Yan GORBANYUK,

BELTA.