Rwandan Students Invited to Explore the Arctic on a Nuclear Icebreaker

1. By The Inspirer.

• Rosatom has opened applications for the 2026 Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition, calling on schoolchildren from 23 countries to win a voyage to the North Pole aboard a nuclear icebreaker

Rosatom started the competitive selection process for international participants in its VII international scientific and educational project “Icebreaker of Knowledge”. Schoolchildren aged 14 to 16 years old from 23 countries, including Egypt, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Africa, are invited to participate in the international stage of the selection process. The project winners from each country will participate in an Arctic expedition to the North Pole aboard the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy, which will take place in August 2026. Some of the expedition participants will be the first representatives of their countries to reach the pole.

For Rwandan teenagers, taking part in the Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition is a unique opportunity. For the first time, teenagers from Rwanda will not only see the Arctic but also witness a scientific expedition aboard a nuclear icebreaker firsthand.

The Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition offers Rwandan students a complete immersion in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. On board the nuclear icebreaker, they will work alongside scientists, take part in research, and learn how nuclear technology solves challenges in extreme conditions. Ten days in the high latitudes are not just an excursion, but an intensive scientific school: lectures, experiments, team projects. Participants will return home not only with vivid impressions but also with new competencies that can help them build Rwanda’s energy future.

“Rosatom has shown its dedication to fostering long-term partnerships in Africa, particularly within the nuclear sector. We are already witnessing tangible examples of collaboration in areas such as project development, education, and skill transfer. Nuclear energy serves a dual purpose in Africa’s growth: it is a clean power source and a catalyst for technological advancement. The continents future will be shaped by those willing to look beyond today’s boundaries. Participants in the Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition will experience the strengths of nuclear technology in the Arctic, empowering them to bring that knowledge back home. They will be the pioneers of a new energy era for the continent,” highlighted CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa Ryan Collyer.

The Icebreaker of Knowledge is a lecture hall on a nuclear icebreaker: a ten-day journey where science meets adventure. Participants will explore the Arctic alongside leading scientists, science communicators and bloggers. They will see Rosatom’s innovative nuclear technologies that ensure safe navigation in the Arctic, and witness the unique beauty of the polar region. They can expect encounters with polar bears, new friends from all over the world, and stories that will stay with them for life.

The selection process for international participants consists of three stages. At the first stage, those who register on goarctic.energy take part in a science-based quiz. The second stage comprises a series of webinars on Rosatom’s innovative solutions, including technologies used to ensure the safe development of Arctic shipping.

After watching the videos, each participant takes a test to assess their knowledge and completes tasks based on the presented material. Top 10 finalists from each country with the highest scores in the first two stages present their ideas related to the topic of the final task in a form of a video business card.

Russia remains the only country in the world with a fleet of nuclear icebreakers: today there are eight such vessels, all operated by Rosatom.

Rosatom places special emphasis on supporting educational, scientific, and cultural initiatives, including those in Rwanda. Cooperation agreements in the field of peaceful nuclear energy have already been signed between countries.

Rosatom, together with Rwandan partners, is implementing long-term projects to develop nuclear infrastructure and train local specialists. Rwanda’s participation in the Icebreaker of Knowledge project is a natural continuation of this partnership, offering Rwandan teenagers a unique chance to be among the first representatives of their country to reach the North Pole.