Steps into science begin today: winners of international and All-Russian Olympiads talk about their achievements
The path to “big” science should start with students. The first step is active participation in student Olympiads and competitions. RUDN encourages students’ interest in science: one of the measures of the project “Science of the Future: Promising Young” is the payment to the winning students and their mentors. In the first half of 2023 alone, 120 students and 35 mentors who won 24 external Olympiads and competitions were rewarded. The leading faculties in terms of the number of winners are: Medical Institute, Faculty of Philology, Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
The winners of all-Russian and international competitions and Olympiads talk about their motivation to do science, application of skills acquired at university and the Olympiad as a point of radical change.
Yulia Bolshakova, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, “State and Municipal Management”, IV course
Winner of the All-Russian Student Olympiad “I am a Professional”
Winning the All-Russian Student Olympiad “I am a Professional” in the direction of “State and Municipal Management” was the final point of my undergraduate studies. I was able to apply my accumulated knowledge and skills, although I admit that it was not easy; the participants were tested not only on their experience in public administration, but also on their ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, their skills in working with new computer programmes, their ability to fully immerse themselves in a new field and to explore unusual phenomena.
I am glad that I was able to successfully pass 3 competitive stages and win the Olympiad, which gave me confidence in my abilities and allowed me to radically change the direction of my studies — now I am studying in the Master’s programme “Modern Financial Technologies” and researching the impact of state corporations in the financial market of Russia.
Scientific research helps me to keep up with the times and to understand how fast our world is changing and what skills I need to develop in order not to be left behind by scientific progress. Therefore, my credo is “Science as a basis for development”.
Maria Balashova, Medical Institute, “Stomatology”, postgraduate studies
Winner of the competition under the UMNIK programme
My way to get the Grant started with participation in the competition Moscow Youth Start 2022 under the programme “UMNIK” on the basis of RUDN.
I was inspired by my scientific supervisor Khabadze Zurab Sulikoyevich. Passionate study of the topic and thorough preparation ensured the passage of the semi-final and final examination, and my application was declared the winner.
My development concerns the topic of optimisation of
Love for science, probably like love in principle, cannot be described in a couple of words. It is a feeling endured and tempered by years, successes and failures, enthusiasm and difficulties, which never weakens, but only grows stronger if you remain faithful to it. When doing science, it is worth remembering that it is not always important only the result, and it does not matter whether it is positive or not. It is important to really enjoy the process. For me, medical science is complex, inexhaustible, and multifaceted. It is these qualities that serve as a permanent motivator for continuous learning and development.
My credo is “Do what you like, show genuine interest and don’t be afraid to make mistakes!”.
Alexander Vinokurov, Faculty of Economics, “Advertising and Public Relations”, IV course
Winner of the All-Russian Student Olympiad “I am a Professional”
I participated in the Olympiad for the second time, the first time I was 2 points short of the prize-winner status. Then I decided that next season I would do my best, and it worked. The final was held in person in Kazan. We were given 4 hours to solve a case study on “popularisation of electric motorbikes in the Russian Federation”. I liked the topic very much, as I am a car enthusiast myself and any transport arouses interest. On the second day we performed in front of the jury. It was a pleasure to speak, as I went the way of improvisational speech filled with “meme” phrases. When I came out of the defence, I assumed that the result was quite good, I expected a medal, but I didn’t even think about gold. Success comes to persistent people. Luck or luck is just a “bonus” for those who are not lazy and tirelessly go to the goal, not looking for freebies. Not without reason there are many sayings on this subject in Russian folklore
I am motivated to do science by the opportunity to learn something new and share it with people who need such information. For me, scientific articles are part of a life-long learning approach. That’s why among my articles you can find the Clubhouse phenomenon, the Russian mortgage bubble, and the impact of the pandemic on outdoor advertising in different regions of the world.
My credo is “Curiosity is a “side catalyst of activity. What you feel it for, that’s what you need to do”.
To form a comprehensive system for involving students in scientific activities, RUDN supports not only the winners and prize-winners of external competitions, but also implements a series of its own. Among the key ones: “Joint start: let’s do science together”, “Project start: scientific agenda by country of admission”, “Project start: our scientific initiative”, “Project start: the work of the scientific circle”.