A Bangladeshi school student has earned a rare opportunity to travel to the North Pole after winning the seventh edition of Rosatom’s international educational competition, Icebreaker of Knowledge.
Md. Malekul Salehin Prottoy, a Class X student of Rajshahi Cadet College, emerged as one of the global winners after competing against nearly 5,000 students aged between 14 and 16 from 22 countries, including Bangladesh. The winners were announced on June 23 at the Museum of Atomic Energy in Moscow.
As part of the award, Prottoy will join an international Arctic expedition in August aboard 50 Let Pobedy, the world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker, for a unique scientific journey to the North Pole.
The competition consisted of three stages, including a science quiz covering nuclear energy, Arctic exploration and emerging technologies, participation in expert-led educational webinars, and a final presentation on the theme, “How Nuclear Technologies Are Changing the World Today.” Finalists were evaluated by an international jury comprising experts from science, education, the nuclear industry and Arctic research.
Expressing his excitement, Prottoy said the achievement was beyond his expectations.
“I still find it hard to believe that this opportunity has become a reality for me. Taking part in such an expedition is not just a journey, but a chance to step beyond the familiar and see how vast the world of science can be. It is a truly inspiring experience, one that I want to turn into motivation for the future,” he said.
The expedition will bring together outstanding students from around the world to explore the Arctic, learn about advanced nuclear technologies and experience Rosatom’s nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet through lectures, workshops, scientific experiments and interactive sessions with leading experts.
Organized by Russia’s State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom, the Icebreaker of Knowledge program aims to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, encourage young talent to pursue careers in science and engineering, and highlight the role of nuclear technology in Arctic development and international scientific cooperation.
