Fresh updates from the "ECOLEADER" School, currently taking place in Chelyabinsk Region!

Young environmentalists continue to impress with their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, while the organizers keep surprising them with a variety of activities.

The second day of the program combined practical exploration of natural areas with an introduction to the history of domestic nuclear physics.

The morning began with a trip to the "Sunny Glade" camp, located in the Kashtak Forest Nature Reserve. Here, under the guidance of specialists from the Chelyabinsk Children's Environmental Center, the students learned methods for assessing environmental conditions. They studied how to determine air quality based on the presence and condition of lichens, conducted a laboratory analysis of water from the Chelyabinsk Reservoir, and explored the biodiversity of the Kashtak Forest.

The highlight of the morning was creating an ecological profile of the nature reserve, where the participants applied their newly acquired knowledge in practice.

In the afternoon, the students were taken on a journey into the world of atomic science. Staff from the "Russia - My History" Historical Park gave an interactive lecture titled "Ilya Kurchatov: The Wizard of the 'Nuclear Beard'." The participants learned about the life and scientific achievements of the renowned physicist and his role in the development of the domestic nuclear industry.

A particular highlight was the virtual tour of the world’s first nuclear power plant using VR technology. At the interactive exhibit, the students had the opportunity to experience being nuclear power plant operators, simulating the start-up of a nuclear reactor.

The day ended up with the traditional project group activities. The participants went on their consultations with experts and mentors, polishing up their ecological project concepts.

Today, the students are planning to visit the Environmental Monitoring Center, take a tour of the Chelyabinsk reclaimed municipal waste landfill, to meet with experts, and to engage in many other activities.