Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
During the fall break, the Polytechnic University became a magnet for talented and inquisitive schoolchildren. A series of events took place within the university walls, where students demonstrated their knowledge, worked on real-life engineering problems, and immersed themselves in the world of modern technology.
The main event for high school students was the "Polytechnic Challenge" festival. Over the course of a week, teams from schools in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region competed in five categories, solving research and scientific problems developed by university students and faculty.
The intellectual program was incredibly intense. The classic game "What? Where? When?" was especially popular, attracting the largest number of teams ready to demonstrate their erudition and resourcefulness. The math battles were equally vibrant, where participants honed their skills in solving unconventional problems and defending their solutions as a team. And in the "Physics Battles" section, students were required not only to solve complex problems but also to convincingly defend their point of view in scientific debates with their opponents.
The festival's practical significance was demonstrated through the solution of relevant problems. For example, at the case championship held by the SPbPU Case Club, participants had to find a solution to a real-life production problem. The students developed a plan to improve energy efficiency and transition to green energy for the Technoprom plant, which was facing rising costs and environmental regulations.
A hackathon was held in collaboration with IT Contact. Teams created a "Smart Journal" tool for automatically comparing student grades, allowing teachers to save time and track changes in student performance.
The Polytechnic Challenge festival clearly demonstrated a willingness to offer practical solutions to modern engineering and social challenges. It's important to us that the competition opened up new horizons for the students in various scientific fields, the organizers noted.
The festival's winners were students from Schools No. 246, No. 219, and No. 471, as well as Lyceums No. 373, No. 144, and No. 280. The top teams received an important advantage for admission to the Polytechnic University—five additional points toward their Unified State Exam scores.
In parallel with the festival, a series of educational intensives, "Engineering League," was held for schoolchildren of all ages, where theory was immediately applied to practice.
At the "Unmanned Aircraft Systems" intensive course, participants immersed themselves in the world of drones: they studied their design, learned soldering, assembled and configured their own quadcopters, and then learned to pilot them through obstacle courses.
Participants in the "Virtual Reality Technologies" program created in a completely different dimension. They learned to create their own 3D worlds in Blender, transfer them into virtual reality, and freely navigate the VR space using virtual reality headsets.
For those fascinated by space, an intensive rocket science course was held. Young designers went through all the stages of creating a working rocket model: from design and programming to launch. Particular attention was paid to the recovery system—each vehicle was equipped with a parachute for a safe landing.
A course for younger students allowed participants to experience the full design cycle—from conception and 3D modeling of the case to soldering the electronics and final assembly. The five-day project culminated in each participant building their own radio-controlled tank.
The autumn break events at the Polytechnic University became an important step in the students' professional development. They not only acquired new knowledge and skills but also gained exposure to real-world engineering work, which plays a key role in shaping future professionals in advanced technologies.
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