Beshankovich schoolchildren are mastering modern biotechnologies and creating new ones
Driving scientific progress
Specialized engineering classes began operating in Belarus in 2022. For two years, from 10th to 11th grade, schoolchildren study physics and mathematics or biology and chemistry in depth, and also engage in additional elective courses. But at Beshenkovichi Secondary School No. 1 named after I. Storchko, they went a little beyond the generally accepted requirements: here, high school students are mastering technical design and biotechnology, and studying natural sciences through the development of their own projects.
– Without technical design, a child cannot understand the structure of mechanisms and will never become an engineer, so we practice everything hands-on, – said Elena Piskunova, Deputy Director for Educational and Methodological Work. – In addition, teachers engage in engineering with everyone who wishes, even with children from younger grades. Our task is to develop not only theoretical but also practical skills in children, so that both hemispheres of their brain start working.
The school has established close cooperation with the Vitebsk Regional Institute for the Development of Education (VOIRO), which identifies gifted children in engineering throughout the region. Together with the institution, a school STEM laboratory has been created and is being developed, where scientific research is conducted and interactive design projects are implemented. The school's teachers are part of the "STEM Educator: Teacher of the Future" network community. Elena Piskunova periodically gives lectures at the institute for professional development and participates in joint seminars.
Young Lobachevskys and Kovalevskys
Thanks to Zinaida Burakova, an IT teacher and the homeroom teacher of the 11th grade, the students are learning to create innovative technologies. The educator teaches an elective course "Introduction to Engineering Profession" and works with students on programming. In particular, under her guidance, high school students develop various programs using the visual language "Scratch". Representatives of the school laboratory, as part of the VOIRO team, have already participated twice in the annual international exhibition forum TIBO in Minsk, dedicated to telecommunications, information, and banking technologies.
In the 2023/24 academic year, Zinaida Gennadyevna's student Pavel Sytov took 2nd place at the republican creative programming olympiad, after which he visited one of the Moscow technoparks as part of the Belarusian delegation. In September 2024, already an 11th-grader, the young man took part in the International Creative Programming Olympiad and became sixth, and in the team standings, the Belarusians took first place on the podium!
– I started getting interested in technology literally from kindergarten. I quickly mastered the computer and started designing – first, I assembled models from Lego constructor sets. In the first grade, I realized that mathematics is my favorite subject, – said Pavel Sytov. – In addition to programming, I am involved in engineering: I write programs and participate in the development of various mechanisms.
Classmates Andrey Roshchin and Masha Marinkina have also been passionate about design from an early age. Mathematics, physics, and computer science are their favorite subjects. Therefore, as soon as the engineering class opened at school, they immediately decided to study in it. It is natural that these talented schoolchildren plan to connect their future lives with programming.
Organic Leather
11th-grade student Maria Petukhova, under the guidance of Elena Piskunova, developed a technology for obtaining bio-leather from kombucha cellulose. The project was implemented in collaboration with VOIRO. For this development, which has no global analogues, the girl was awarded third place at the XV Republican Competition of Innovative Projects in the nomination "Best Youth Innovative Project", where, incidentally, she was the youngest participant. In the future, Maria plans to dedicate her life to bioengineering.
– I came to my discovery through experimentation. Once, while visiting my grandmother, I noticed a dried kombucha in a jar. I picked it up and found that it strongly resembled paper and tore easily. Then I wondered: how can I make this biological material stronger, improve its properties? I approached my teacher with my idea, and we began scientific research together.
– We decided to create a biomaterial suitable for making haberdashery. First, we found out if similar technologies exist in the world, – Elena Piskunova continued the student's story. – It turned out that our idea is unique, and it is entirely Belarusian. Various countries have tried to create eco-materials, but to date, they are not produced industrially. Representatives from South Korea calculated that launching the production of threads from biomaterial would require over 300 million dollars. To produce a similar material in our school craft workshop, provided the necessary equipment and consumables are purchased, would require 3.5 thousand Belarusian rubles.
The teacher and student have been conducting experiments on obtaining bio-leather for a year, and during this time, they have obtained samples with various operational properties, shades, and scents. Their collection includes leather based on kombucha, chocolate candies, apples, and pears. The material turns out to be surprisingly strong, elastic, and resistant to moisture. It is easily dyed in different shades and can be given any shape. By the way, the teacher proudly demonstrated a finished product made from bio-leather – a mobile phone case.
Minsk has shown interest in the development. The first samples of biocos were presented at the science festival, which is held annually in the Central Botanical Garden. Our compatriots competed with young scientists from Belarus at a high level. The gratitude of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences was a recognition of their merits.
