Photo caption: Icebreaker of Knowledge programme
Students from Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, and Egypt are among those eligible for the 2025 “Icebreaker of Knowledge” programme
Schoolchildren aged 14 to 16 from Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, and Egypt, are invited to take part in the international educational project “Icebreaker of Knowledge”. The most outstanding participants will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a scientific expedition to the North Pole aboard the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy (“50 Years of Victory” in Russian), operated by Rosatom.
The selection process, which opened in late April 2025, is part of the sixth edition of the “Icebreaker of Knowledge” project. This year’s expedition holds special significance as it coincides with the 80 years of Russian nuclear industry and the 500th anniversary of the Northern Sea Route — two milestones that highlight humanity’s ongoing quest for exploration and technological advancement.
Schoolchildren from 20 countries across Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America are participating in the competition. The most successful candidates will form an international expedition team and embark on a scientific journey to the Arctic, taking part in lectures, masterclasses, quizzes, and collaborative research activities. For some students, it may become a historic experience, as they will be the first representatives of their countries ever to reach the geographic North Pole.
“The ‘Icebreaker of Knowledge’ project gives young people in Africa a platform to show their potential on a global stage. Science knows no borders, and the Arctic expedition is a unique chance to meet peers from different countries, work together on real scientific challenges, and see firsthand how innovation is shaping the world’s future. We encourage students from Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, and across the continent to seize this opportunity,” noted Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa.
The final selection results will be announced in June 2025, after which the expedition team will be finalised. Students from Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, and Egypt are among those invited to take part this year. In 2024, a participant from South Africa was among the winners who joined the Arctic expedition, becoming one of the first representatives from the African continent to reach the North Pole aboard a nuclear icebreaker.
Since its launch six years ago, “Icebreaker of Knowledge” has enabled more than 350 students to participate in Arctic expeditions arranged by Rosatom. The project is organised by the Nuclear Industry Information Centres (NIIC) with the support of Rosatom, one of the world’s leading nuclear technology companies. Rosatom is actively involved in educational, research, and cultural initiatives around the world, helping to foster new generations of scientists, engineers, and innovators.
