Only Space Is Closer. How the Science Festival Unfolded at an Altitude of 3,500 Meters

From September 8 to 11, the second Science Festival was held in Bolivia, organized by ANO Energy of the Future with support from State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, the Higher University of San Andrés and the Bolivian Nuclear Physics Club. The event brought together more than 1,000 young Bolivians interested in science and technology.

The festival’s main theme was the application of nuclear technologies in space. A highlight of the program was a meeting with Hero of the Russian Federation and test cosmonaut Sergey Korsakov, organized in collaboration with the science outreach project “We Believe in Space”, a partner to ANO Energy of the Future.

Sergey spoke about his 195 days aboard the ISS, how life in orbit differs from life on Earth and what modern technologies can be used in space.

“Humanity’s next step into space will certainly not be made by a single person, profession or country. It will take knowledge, curiosity, discipline, courage and the ability to work together. It will take energy. But even more than that, it will take people ready to make it a reality,” Sergey Korsakov said.

The program also featured lectures by experts from Russia, Brazil and Peru on non-power applications of nuclear technology, meetings with participants in the Icebreaker of Knowledge project, student robotics competitions and a chess tournament. The festival concluded with presentations of student projects.

Science Festivals will be held in eight more countries this year. The next one, in Indonesia on September 22–24, will be part of IRIFair’s science week. The aim of the Festivals is to show young people that careers in engineering and science offer a path to solving humanity’s most ambitious challenges, including those beyond Earth.