A Battle of Wits – Scientific Battle to Be Held at WYF 2024

A spectacular scientific battle between young scientists will take place at the World Youth Festival as part of the Science Slam University League. The event is organized by the MISIS University of Science and Technology and the Science Slam Russia Association with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia.

"MISIS University is known for its traditions and non-standard approaches to popularizing science. We were one of the first to bring the Science Slam format, usually held in bars and rock clubs, to the university. Our experience shows that this is a very successful and original way to popularize science. We will present this format to Festival guests. Perhaps this will encourage the participants to implement it in their countries and universities. It is also sure to be one of the highlights of the entire Festival. The slam's motto is: Science is the new rock 'n' roll," said Andrey Voronin, Acting Vice-Rector for Education at MISIS University.

Scientists will discuss the major scientific ideas of our time and their own research in the format of an intellectual "competition". Each participant will have 10 minutes to present their scientific project or development in an interesting and accessible way. It is up to Festival guests to decide the winner. First place will go to the young scientist who receives the most applause, the volume of which will be measured by a sound meter.

"They say if you want to understand something complicated, explain it to someone else. The Science Slam is the best way to show the beauty of modern science through an exciting story and simple language. At the WYF 2024, I will tell you in 10 minutes how quantum physics and modern computing methods are making it possible to create the devices of the future for storing and processing information," said Konstantin Larionov, participant of the Science Slam University League at the WYF 2024 and researcher at MISIS University.

Festival participants will see the best performances. The winners of the previous seasons of the Science Slam University League will compete at the WYF 2024. Scientists will demonstrate that science can be interesting and exciting. About a thousand Russian scientists have already performed in the Science Slam format. More than 100 universities annually participate in the Science Slam University League.

"The Science Slam is a great format that allows scientists to talk about complex things in simple language thus engaging as many people as possible in science and making new discoveries. At the slam, I will tell you how, we are trying to make cancer drugs from such terrible substances as cyanides "sprinkled" with nanodiamonds in our small laboratory," said Vera Andreeva, participant of the Science Slam University League at the WYF 2024 and Associate Professor of the Department of Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Chuvash State University.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival will take place in 2024 according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. At the first meeting of the Organizing Committee chaired by Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration, it was decided to hold the Festival in the Sirius Federal Territory.

20,000 young leaders in education, science, international cooperation, culture, volunteering, charity, sports, business, media, etc., including 10,000 foreign participants, will take part in the WYF 2024. For the first time in the history of the festival movement young people aged 14-17, 500 from Russia and 500 from abroad, will have the opportunity to participate in the event.

5,000 volunteers from all regions of Russia, including 228 residents of the LPR, DPR, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions will be involved in the organization and delivery of the Festival.

The World Youth Festival is organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and operated by the World Youth Festival Directorate.

Prepared by the WYF 2024 Press Office