“The Future Belongs to Those Who Look Upward”: Samara University Captivated Kyrgyzstan with a Science Show
April 16, 2026
The popular science event in Bishkek drew over 400 attendees
As part of the international festival “Road to the Stars”—celebrating the 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight—a delegation from Samara National Research University brought an innovative educational format to Bishkek, proving that modern science can be a powerful magnet for youth.
On April 8, the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University named after B. N. Yeltsin (KRSU) hosted one of the festival’s most vibrant events: the popular science show “Very Scientific Affairs.” Over 400 students and high schoolers gathered not for traditional lectures, but for an engaging, dynamic dialogue about real discoveries, cutting-edge experiments, and ongoing research. The core message was clear: the journey into big science begins not with dry formulas, but with curiosity and the courage to change the world.
The show featured three speakers from Samara University: Ilya Leykovskiy, Tatiana Starostina, and Yegor Chitorkin, who explored today’s most compelling fields—space technologies, propulsion engineering, artificial intelligence, and neural networks.
A highlight for the audience was the presentation of entries from the “Science on Screen” competition, where complex physical laws were brought to life through creative, short videos—a vivid demonstration of how science communication can be both smart and entertaining.
“This show is an experiment for us,” said Sergey Goryainov, Head of Student Recruitment and Support at Samara University.
“It’s our first time staging something this large-scale in Kyrgyzstan, and the genuine enthusiasm shown by more than 400 people in the room confirms we’re on the right track. We believe that the young people who look up at the stars today will be the ones conquering space tomorrow.”
Local organizers echoed this sentiment. Yevgeny Shekunov, Vice-Rector of KRSU, remarked:
“Many still think science is boring. But science is exciting—and today’s guests from Samara University proved it. We hope schoolchildren will be inspired to pursue engineering and technical careers, and that university students will see that doing science is truly worthwhile.”
The Samara delegation’s visit extended far beyond a single venue. With Salizhan Sharipov, the first cosmonaut of Kyrgyzstan, as honorary guest, the “Road to the Stars” festival reached key educational hubs across the region. Lectures on AI and aerospace technologies were held at Jusup Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University and I. Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University. Meanwhile, the Samara team ran space-themed quizzes and hands-on workshops at the Russian Center of the Chuy Regional Library and School No. 2 in Kant.
Pavel Gultyaev, Curator of Educational Projects at Rossotrudnichestvo, emphasized that such interactive formats are the most effective way to promote Russian science and higher education among international youth.
The success of “Very Scientific Affairs” and its broad reach open new horizons for inter-university collaboration. Samara University plans to expand its outreach through traveling lectures and events, making science accessible, relatable, and truly popular among young people across borders.
For more information on admission for international students:
Department of Mobility and Recruitment, Samara University
Email: admission@ssau.ru
Phone: +7 (846) 267-48-17
Website: priemsamara.ru
