All-Ukrainian Essay Contest “Nuclear Energy and the World” – 2025: Results
On December 11–12, the final stage of the All-Ukrainian Essay Contest for school students “Nuclear Energy and the World” took place. The contest is held annually by the Ukrainian Nuclear Society together with JSC “NAEK Energoatom”, with the support of the Energy Safety Group of Companies and partner higher education institutions: Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Odessa Polytechnic National University, and V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.
The purpose of the contest is to promote knowledge of nuclear physics and nuclear energy, support talented school students, and encourage high-school pupils to pursue studies at профильні higher education institutions and further professional careers in Ukraine’s nuclear sector.
During the autumn, selection rounds were held, resulting in 26 finalists from various regions of Ukraine. The participants represented NPP satellite cities (Varash, Netishyn, Yuzhnoukrainsk), as well as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Slavutych, Uzhhorod, and Chop.
The final stage of the contest was conducted online. Participants presented their research papers to a jury composed of experts from leading industry enterprises, research institutions, and higher education institutions of Ukraine. The works were evaluated according to the relevance of the topic, depth of analysis, logical structure, quality of conclusions, and the level of oral presentation.
Based on the results of the contest, the winners were determined as follows:
1st place — Andrii Bobrov (Kyiv, Kyivska Rus Gymnasium, Grade 9)
“The Use of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins to Enhance the Safety of Nuclear Power Plants”
2nd place — Yevheniia Tomishyna (Chop, Chop Lyceum, Grade 11)
“Analysis of a Computer Model of the Photofission Process of Plutonium Isotopes Using an Electron Accelerator”
3rd place — Anastasiia Vlasiuk (Sudylkiv village, Khmelnytskyi region, Sudylkiv Lyceum, Grade 11)
“Radiation and Radiation Safety of Nuclear Power Plants in Today’s Conditions”
In addition to the main prize winners, the jury recognized participants who demonstrated a high level of research, creativity, or an unconventional approach to the topic:
- Daryna Bovhyra (Varash, Varash Lyceum No. 6, Grade 11) — “Nuclear Energy in Space: The Future of Interplanetary Technologies”
- Andrii Boiko (Kharkiv, Kharkiv Lyceum No. 3, Grade 11) — “Nuclear Energy Through the Eyes of a Gamer: How Computer Games Shape Attitudes Toward the Atom”
- Nataliia Martynko (Yuzhnoukrainsk, Lyceum No. 5, Grade 11) — “Thermonuclear Fusion as an Alternative to Nuclear Power”
The essays submitted to the All-Ukrainian Essay Contest “Nuclear Energy and the World” – 2025 covered a wide range of актуальних scientific and applied topics reflecting the current state and future prospects of the nuclear industry. A significant portion of the works focused on innovative technologies in nuclear energy, particularly the application of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and computer modeling to improve the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants, as well as the integration of AI into the control of nuclear and thermonuclear reactors.
A substantial block of research addressed issues of nuclear and radiation safety, including the impact of radiation on humans and the environment, risk assessment for nuclear infrastructure under climate change conditions, lessons learned from major nuclear accidents, and modern approaches to ensuring the safe operation of nuclear power plants. Special attention was also given to radioactive waste management, disposal and storage methods, and issues related to the nuclear fuel cycle.
Alongside technological aspects, the contestants explored strategic perspectives of nuclear energy development, including small modular reactors, fast reactors, and thermonuclear fusion, as well as global trends in the industry. Some papers took an interdisciplinary and social approach — from the use of nuclear technologies in medicine and forensic science to the analysis of public perception of nuclear energy and the formation of trust in the “peaceful atom” in today’s world.
Overall, the topics of the 2025 contest papers demonstrated a high level of awareness among students, their ability to combine fundamental scientific knowledge with contemporary challenges, and their aspiration to view nuclear energy not only as a technology, but as an essential component of sustainable development, safety, and the future of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Nuclear Society sincerely congratulates the winners and finalists of the contest and expresses its gratitude to all participants, teachers, and jury members for their active contribution to fostering young people’s scientific interest in nuclear energy. We are confident that the “Nuclear Energy and the World” contest will continue to serve as an important platform for shaping the future generation of nuclear professionals in Ukraine.
