STAVROPOL, June 17 – RIA "Dagestan". A schoolgirl from Derbent, Amina Abdusalamova, has become a finalist of the "Icebreaker of Knowledge – 2026" project and secured a place on a North Pole expedition aboard the nuclear-powered vessel "50 Let Pobedy".
Implemented with the support of the state atomic energy corporation Rosatom, the science and education project offers its finalists the opportunity to join Arctic expeditions. In six seasons, over 400 gifted students from around the world have taken part. They saw a nuclear icebreaker at work and explored cutting-edge technologies of the Russian nuclear sector. The nuclear icebreaker fleet is a major competitive asset for Russia, as it is the only country that operates such ships.
In total, more than 73,000 schoolchildren and college students from all 89 regions of Russia took part in the online stages of the competitive selection in 2026. The competition amounted to 3,045 applicants per place.
The semi-final of the selection for the seventh Arctic expedition of Rosatom, "Icebreaker of Knowledge – 2026" held in Stavropol, was attended by 12 participants — four from each track of the seventh season ("Seeker" — for future scientists and science journalists; "Creator" — for future engineers; "Master" — for future representatives of working professions).
Each participant delivered a presentation on a given topic to the expert panel before moving on to an intellectual competition. The topics centered on Russia's state-of-the-art scientific and technological advances in nuclear technology. The jury was composed of nuclear industry specialists, regional authority figures and members of educational and youth organizations.
Based on the results of the competitive trials, Dagestani Amina Abdusalamova became a finalist in the "Creator" track. Along with her, five other individuals from the North Caucasian Federal District made it to the final.
Igor Skirichenko, Technical Director of the Center for Operational and Technological Management and Operation of Wind Power Plants in Nevinnomyssk of the Rosatom Renewable Energy company, noted that the "Icebreaker of Knowledge" project is not only an opportunity to see the North Pole, but also a contribution to the development of future specialists in high-tech fields.
In late June, the 48 strongest competitors will form 16 trios and meet in Moscow to undergo the final challenges, conducted as debates. The winning participants will then board the nuclear-powered vessel 50 Let Pobedy in August for a voyage to the North Pole. For the first time, the expedition will feature participants from each of the eight federal districts, commemorating the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia.