On October 15, MEPhI hosted a Science Slam competition. The event brought together students and junior research associates, who shared their research in an unusual format of a “StandUp-battle”. According to the rules of the Science Slam, the winner was selected by the audience - more precisely,  by the strength of their applause.

Special guest, Georgiy Shakhgildyan, PhD, Department of Chemical Technology of Glass and Glassceramics, Dmitry Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, spoke about the main challenges in using glass and potential of resolving such challenges with the application of new materials. The issue is very acute as many of us can relate to the challenge of avoiding the scratches on our phone screens.  Unfortunately, the best advise that the science can give us on the subject is not to drop the phones. 

The competition began after the speech and five young scientists and engineers of MEPhI presented their research. 

Alexey Egorov, an engineer at the Institute of Intelligent Cybernetic Systems, told the audience why digital technologies do not change people.

Diana Bachurina, a graduate student at the Department of Physical Problems of Materials Science, explained how a soldering iron can help to make a thermonuclear power plant.

Alexey Bakun, an engineer at the Institute of Functional Nuclear Electronics, raised the problem of creating perfectly smooth surfaces.

Anastasia Kulichenko, a Master’s student of the Department of Laser micro -, nano- and biotechnology, told a story about a doctor and a scientist who searched for a cure for cancer and found it in nuclear physics.

Yaroslav Sadovsky, PhD-student of the Department of Plasma Physics, showed how dangerous a dust in a thermonuclear reactor can be and how to get rid of it.

Each performance was the result of lengthy work and preparation; and, the audience showed its appreciation with enthusiasm. The loudest applause went to Anastasia Kulichenko as she won the main prize — the boxing gloves!

MEPhI Science Slam was held with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and The Fund for Infrastructure and Educational Programs of RUSNANO Group.