A Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom initiative last month to raise public awareness in India about nuclear technology generated an unprecedented response with the participation of over 10,000 students in an Olympiad competition in mathematics, chemistry and physics titled “The Precise Energy – 2023”.
A Rosatom statement said that students from 30 universities and colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring union territory of Puducherry participated in the senior level competition, comprising separate written tests in mathematics, physics and chemistry, while pupils from 53 schools took part in the junior level tests.
This is the third edition of the Olympiad that is conducted annually in order to promote science and technology, as well as to encourage talented youth of Tamil Nadu to pursue careers in the field of nuclear technologies, Rosatom said.
Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu state is the location of India’s largest nuclear power plant being built with the assistance of Rosatom which is the equipment supplier and technical consultant for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP).
The first two 1,000 MW units of KNPP are already connected to the grid. Rosatom is also collaborating with the Indian operator, the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), in building four more similar reactors of 1,000 MW capacity each at Kudankulam – Units 3, 4, 5 and 6.
“The competition unfolded in two rounds, with the participation of over 10,100 students in the preliminary round. Out of this exceptional pool of talent, over 700 students qualified for the final round held in Chennai on July 24-26, 2023,” the statement said.
“The initial round witnessed the evaluation by a distinguished jury panel, consisting of esteemed educators from local educational institutions. The final round was judged by specially invited Russian Professors from the renowned National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute),” the statement added.
The top participants in each of the three subjects were awarded at the senior level, while a second set of top three performers received prizes at the junior level.
The winners are Madhubala L. from Madras University (in Physics), Sanand G. Dev from Pondicherry University (in Mathematics), Girish S. from Anna University (in Chemistry) and Adarsh Chandramouli from Dav Boys, Gopalapuram (in the Junior level).
“The year 2023 is the third time that we are holding this unique event, the Precise Energy Olympiad in mathematics, physics and chemistry. Who knows, maybe it is participation in such an interdisciplinary Olympiad at the cutting edge of modern scientific and experimental achievements that will give you an impetus to choose your future career,” Rosatom subsidiary Atomstroyexport (ASE) Head of Communications Department, Nina Dementsova, said at the awards ceremony.
The Olympiad “Precise Energy”, which has become a regular feature among the many Rosatom initiatives to raise public awareness about the benefits of nuclear technology, is traditionally held by Rosatom’s engineering division, ASE, together with ANO Energy of Future in partnership with the Russian House in Chennai, the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre.
