Malehul Salehin Prottoy, a Class Ten student at Rajshahi Cadet College, has completed a 10-day expedition to the North Pole aboard Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy, joining young participants from 22 countries in a scientific and educational voyage through the Arctic.
Prottoy returned to the Russian port city of Murmansk after taking part in Rosatom’s seventh International Scientific and Educational Expedition, “Icebreaker of Knowledge,” which followed the route Murmansk–North Pole–Franz Josef Land–Murmansk.
The voyage also marked the 200th expedition by a surface vessel to reach the North Pole, according to the organisers.
“From a dream to the top of the world, my journey aboard the Icebreaker of Knowledge was unforgettable,” Prottoy said. “I met people from 22 countries, experienced 22 different cultures and heard 22 languages.”
He said participants learned from experts in marine biology, nuclear physics, artificial intelligence and other scientific fields. “The Arctic gave me knowledge, friendship and memories that I will cherish forever,” he added.
The expedition brought together students aged 14 to 16 selected for their academic and extracurricular achievements.
Prottoy has previously participated successfully in several international competitions, including the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition, the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, the International Youth Math Challenge and the Bangladesh Artificial Intelligence Olympiad.
A scientific programme aboard the icebreaker included an aerospace laboratory where students took part in hands-on experiments alongside researchers.
Participants helped launch a radiosonde designed to support communications in remote areas of the Arctic and along the Northern Sea Route. They also participated in tests of what organisers described as the world’s first recoverable stratospheric platform.
“At Rosatom, we work every day on technologies that seemed like science fiction just yesterday,” said Yegor Plakhotnyuk, project manager at NIITFA, part of Rosatom’s Scientific Division. He said the expedition allowed the students to see how scientific research could be translated into technologies with practical applications.
Ruslan Sasov, captain of 50 Let Pobedy, said the voyages were intended to inspire a new generation of young scientists.
“Such voyages truly contribute to the development of the next generation,” Sasov said. “The brightest and most talented young people take part in these expeditions.”
After reaching 90 degrees north, participants marked their arrival with what organisers called the northernmost and most international circle dance around the geographic North Pole. Bashkortostan musical group AY YOLA performed live during the event.
The students also worked with Russian science-fiction writer Sergey Lukyanenko to develop a story during the voyage, which is expected to be published through the Icebreaker of Knowledge project’s social media channels.
Rosatom launched the Icebreaker of Knowledge programme to encourage young people to pursue natural sciences and nuclear technology and to identify and support talented students. More than 470 schoolchildren from different countries have travelled to the Arctic and North Pole during the programme’s seven seasons.
Russia is currently the only country operating a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, vessels designed to maintain navigation through the Arctic’s ice-covered waters.