Energoatom actively encourages children interested in nuclear energy by inviting them to participate in competitions, master classes, lectures, and meetings. Multiform communication with schoolchildren is part of the company's consistent personnel policy aimed at popularizing the nuclear sector and fostering interest and trust in it. This is an investment in the future, and the company believes that today's schoolchildren researchers will become tomorrow's nuclear power professionals, making the Ukrainian nuclear industry even safer and more developed.
Recently, a themed event for the children of ZNPP employees was held at the Energoatom office, with two schoolchildren from the capital, Mykhailo (7th grade) and Maxym (6th grade), as special guests. Both are very enthusiastic about nuclear energy: they are extremely interested in how atoms work, how a reactor operates, and how electricity is generated. The boys gain new knowledge from books and online sources, visit the Chornobyl Museum and themed events, gradually immersing themselves in the complex and fascinating world of nuclear technologies.
It is also crucial for them to find like-minded people. That is why the event at Energoatom was so special for them—not only did they learn a great deal of new information, but they also found support and realized that others share their interests. This gave them enthusiasm and confidence. It is likely that in the future, we will see them among the professional community of engineers and scientists who design nuclear power plants, manage complex technologies, and develop clean energy generation systems.
Mykhailo plans to develop the latest nuclear reactors
Mykhailo Bystrymovych became interested in nuclear power plants at the age of 9. Since then, he has been studying this topic independently, and today, as a seventh grader, he already possesses a substantial knowledge base. In particular, he understands the principles of how nuclear power plants operate, is familiar with the various types of reactors, and is aware of the essential equipment of nuclear power units.
While demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the nuclear incidents that have occurred three times at nuclear power plants around the world (Chornobyl NPP, Three Mile Island in the USA, and Fukushima-1 in Japan), their causes, and the lessons learned, the boy shares that he wants to become a developer of the latest nuclear reactors with enhanced safety.
"I dream not just of designing and building nuclear power units, but also of working at a nuclear power plant. First of all, I would like to work at Zaporizhzhia NPP (after its liberation), because it is the largest in Europe, and at Khmelnytskyi NPP," says Mykhailyk about his plans for the future.
He is currently realizing his dreams by creating nuclear power units and power plants using LEGO bricks. He brought a handmade model of the Chornobyl NPP, complete with its entire infrastructure, to the meeting at Energoatom. In particular, the fourth unit is presented in detail, together with the shelter (containment). Incidentally, the Chornobyl NPP is one of his favorites, and he also wants to visit this power plant.
Especially for the meeting at Energoatom, Maxym created a model of one of the VVER-1000 power units at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which he considers to be much upgraded. Among his plans are models of power plants with new-generation reactors, such as the US AP1000.
Maxym's dream came true at Energoatom.
Maxym Svyryda became interested in nuclear energy at an early age, when he first heard about nuclear power plants, and now, at the age of 12, he wants to learn more and more. He is attracted not only by power units and reactors, but also by the entire well-coordinated organism of a nuclear power plant – buildings, workshops, equipment, and the interconnections of this huge complex, which is managed by thousands of people.
"The operation of nuclear power plants is a whole world of complex processes and systems, and I am fascinated to learn how it all works. I was very impressed when I saw the Khmelnytskyi NPP for the first time when my dad and I were driving past it before the war," the boy shares.
Maxym is also building his own nuclear power plant project—online for now, on the Minecraft gaming platform. He is also eagerly studying literature on nuclear topics, preferring printed books. After learning about the Voices of Ukraine collection, he searched for it for a long time but could not find it due to its limited print run. It was at the meeting at Energoatom that his dream came true—he received the coveted copy.
Voices of Ukraine. Volume Two: Nuclear Security in Times of War is a project of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), implemented with the support of Energoatom. The collection is dedicated to the stories of more than 20 specialists who were at the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the Chornobyl NPP during the occupation, ensuring nuclear and radiation safety in challenging conditions.
"I was extremely attracted to this book—it contains unique material on nuclear safety during the war, the occupation of the Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants, and exclusive interviews. I have never seen anything like it before. It is very interesting to learn about events through the stories of people, which paint a complete picture of what happened," Maxym shares.
When asked if he plans to commit his future to peaceful atom, he answers without hesitation: “Of course! I really want to work in the nuclear field.”
