New heart implant and a training device for the visually impaired: school students presented their scientific projects at the "SMARTzdrav" Congress at the National Centre RUSSIA
An affordable and effective heart implant, a device for learning Braille, and a chemical analysis of chewing gum. At the "SMARTzdrav" ("SMARThealth") Congress at the National Centre RUSSIA, senior school students presented their health-focused projects. Young participants of the session "From School Student to Academician" demonstrated that they are able to think and act like real scientists. The initiatives were assessed by members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and leading specialists of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia.
The project "From School Student to Academician" helps school students engage in science in the field of health and prevention. Through research, data analysis and communication with professional scientists, a healthy lifestyle ceases to be a set of rules and becomes a conscious choice based on knowledge and experience. A key element of the project is direct interaction between students and members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which fosters scientific culture and allows young people to begin building a professional career in science while still at school.
"I look at the audience with envy, because everything lies ahead of you and you have the opportunity to choose the wonderful field that is most promising. Medicine is so vast that even after a lifetime within it, you continue to be amazed by its possibilities. The earlier you immerse yourselves in this environment, the greater success you will achieve. Our doors at institutes, research centres and hospitals are open to you," noted the Scientific Director of the Federal Research Centre of Nutrition and Biotechnology, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Viktor Tutelyan.
Three school projects were presented at the session, all of which had previously received high praise from experts at various contests. Stanislav Kiselev defended a project focused on creating an affordable working model of a heart implant. He compared materials, analysed biocompatibility and cost, developed several design layouts, and assembled a functioning prototype produced using a 3D printer. The student demonstrated how modern polymers and additive technologies can reduce the cost and simplify the production of complex medical devices.
Angelina Neronova presented the study "Chewing Gum: Harm or Benefit?". In her project, the tenth-grade student combined chemistry, medicine and social surveys conducted among her peers. She examined the composition of popular chewing gum brands, carried out a series of experiments and interviews with a doctor, and demonstrated the link between chewing gum consumption and health. Angelina Neronova showed how an everyday product affects digestion and explained why it is important to use chewing gum correctly and to inform children and teenagers about potential risks.
Darya Smetanina and Veronika Lyubimova presented a training device for learning Braille — a tactile, "speaking" keyboard based on Arduino with audio feedback. The device allows blind and visually impaired users to master Braille and touch typing independently, without the constant involvement of a teacher. This opens new opportunities for rehabilitation and adaptation and can be used both individually and in specialised rehabilitation centres. The students independently developed the casing, circuitry and software logic, demonstrating how a school project can evolve into a functional rehabilitation prototype.
Members of the jury emphasised that such initiatives should not remain at an early stage. It is already important to discuss project potential, implementation pathways and possible production partnerships, as well as to assess economic efficiency and compare the solutions with existing alternatives.
"Dear students, I congratulate you on your very successful presentations. Even stepping onto this stage before such an audience is already an achievement. You remained confident and presented your projects with great dignity. You have already taken an important step towards becoming researchers and, later, academicians. Your ideas — from implants to voice assistants and disability rehabilitation — show just how broad the scope of activity can be," stressed Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Shelygin.
At the conclusion of the session, the students received certificates and gifts from the Federation Council, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Society for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases. The awards ceremony was conducted by Senator of the Russian Federation Svetlana Kirillova, the Director General of the National Medical Research Centre for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Oksana Drapkina, and the Deputy Academic Secretary of the Medical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Igor Reshetov.
The "SMARTzdrav" Congress brought together parliamentarians, representatives of healthcare, science, culture, education, urban development, the social sector and business at the National Centre RUSSIA. The organisers of the Congress included the Federation Council, the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, the National Centre RUSSIA, the National Medical Research Centre for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia, and the Russian Society for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases.
