Icebreaker of Knowledge: Myanmar student joins Arctic expedition to North Pole

A student from Myanmar, Phyo Thu Min Thit, was among 68 young participants from Russia and 22 countries who took part in the seventh international scientific and educational expedition “Icebreaker of Knowledge,” organized with the support of Rosatom.

The 10-day expedition returned to Murmansk on August 13 after traveling aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker, 50 Let Pobedy, from Murmansk to the North Pole, Franz Josef Land and back. The voyage also marked the 200th surface-vessel expedition to the North Pole. The participants took part in scientific and educational activities, including the launch of a radiosonde and the testing of a returnable stratospheric platform for Arctic environmental monitoring.

The platform reached an altitude of more than 15 kilometers, traveled over 100 kilometers and successfully landed on Hooker Island before being recovered by the expedition team. The expedition was held as part of Russia’s Year of the Unity of the Peoples and included a symbolic international event at the North Pole.

The “Icebreaker of Knowledge” project aims to encourage young people to pursue science and technology and provide educational and career opportunities in the nuclear industry and other scientific fields. More than 470 schoolchildren from around the world have participated in the project’s Arctic expeditions over its seven seasons.