There finished the season of the Constellation Regional Summer School for gifted children in the Dubki Children's Health and Education Centre. On August 28, the closing ceremony was attended by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Igor Malinskii, a consultant of the Department for the Development of General and Extracurricular Education of the Ministry of Education of Saratov Region Elena Konoplenko, deans, directors, and professors of the faculties and institutes of Saratov University, Acting Director of the Dubki camp Anastasia Kolmykova, schoolchildren, and their parents.
During the 33rd shift, ten scientific spheres were presented: mathematics, computer science, geography, robotics, English, German, philology, physics, chemistry, and history. 240 schoolchildren of Saratov and the region studied in the Constellation. 45 teaching staff members accompanied them during the ten days. The participants of the school attended 182 lectures and tried their hand at 25 olympiads in various subjects. In addition, the students wrote historical essays, discussed natural science and linguistic issues, as well as solved programming tasks.
After each commander reported on the readiness of their teams for the opening of the line-up, Igor Malinskii welcomed the audience. ‘I want to thank everyone who has taken part in the summer school. Today, almost all faculties and institutes of Saratov University are involved in its implementation. I remember how this school started when there was still a very small number of teams: 33 years ago, I participated in the very first season as a counsellor. It is nice to see how a good tradition has turned into a big and good thing. It is worth noting all the students who are the future of our university, region, and country. I hope you will choose the right path in your life and never forget the indescribable atmosphere where you have spent ten days. Always remember this season and keep in touch with your new friends.’
In order to make the atmosphere more cheerful, six students read a poem by Oleg Dmitriyev, the scientific supervisor of the mathematics team, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Differential Equations and Applied Mathematics, the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics. The poem was dedicated to the closing of the season. In their speech, the children managed to describe the warm atmosphere that did not leave the school during the week.
The consultant of the Department of Development of General and Extracurricular Education of the Ministry of Education of Saratov region Elena Konoplenko congratulated the children on the ending of the season. ‘Judging by your lively mood, I can confidently say that the season was a success. All these ten days you have been diligently engaged in research and gained a lot of new knowledge. You are our pride, you make your parents and mentors happy. I hope that you will remember this season for the rest of your life. I wish you a successful performance at the new stage of the All-Russian olympiad for schoolchildren, which will begin on September 1.’
The scientific leaders of the teams handed over to the eleventh graders, for whom the season was the last, souvenirs designed and created by the Quantorium Technopark of the Saratov Regional Institute for the Development of Education. Each of the students took a small star symbolising a piece of the large Constellation, which will always remind of the summer school.
At the same time, the solemn and exciting moment of the ceremony, which united the participants of the senior and junior shifts, was the honours to the nation and the Constellation school. This ceremony became a symbolic ending of the season.
The evening ended with an awarding ceremony for the winners and prize-winners of the olympiads, which took place right during the summer school. In total, about 200 diplomas were awarded.
According to the tradition, the first set of awards was received by a team of chemists, which was formed back in 1989. Deputy Director for Research of the Institute of Chemistry, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Chemistry Arsenii Ushakov was invited to the stage for the solemn presentation. He drew an analogy between life and the basic principle chemical current sources. ‘I want to wish you a fast charge, a slow discharge, and as much energy efficiency as possible.’
Dean of the Faculty of Computer Sciences and Information Technology Sergei Mironov presented the team of computer scientists with well-deserved diplomas and certificates. ‘I think these tem days have become unforgettable for you. Believe me, despite all the difficulties, a couple of years will pass, and the Constellation will remain in your memory as a place where you found good friends and, possibly, future colleagues. Surely, you will keep only the best memories of this bright summer. I hope that you will come back here with great pleasure,’ he said.
The team of mathematicians was awarded by the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics Andrei Zakharov. He spoke how important it was to participate in the summer school. ‘I think you are all lucky, because it is a great privilege to be in this school. The invaluable experience acquired here will definitely be useful to you at school and university. I really hope that we will see each other more than once.’
Following the mathematicians, historians received their awards. ‘I am very pleased that not only the senior, but also the junior shift study here. In a few years, they will share their experience with a new generation of students, carefully passing on the traditions of the school. A team of historians came to Constellation right after computer scientists. Of course, there are a lot of humanities groups in this school now, but I believe that it was historians who paved the way for them,’ Tatyana Cherevichko, director of the Institute of History and International Relations, commented.
The team of philologists who came on stage to receive awards was welcomed by the Deputy Director for Social Work of the Institute of Philology and Journalism, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Philology and Media Education Gulnara Altynbayeva. ‘During these ten days you have passed along a very interesting, long, and knowledge-enriching path. I want you to continue what you started and achieve even greater success in life.’
This year, for the first time, a German language team was formed at the Constellation school. Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Language Teaching Methods Svetlana Shilova and the scientific supervisor of the team, Associate Professor of the Department of German Language and its Teaching Methods Natalia Kvashnyova were invited to the stage to award the German and English language teams. ‘I congratulate all of you on the ending of another successful season. It is always very nice to see such a large number of young, talented children. I hope that there will be many more achievements, victories, and conquests on your way,’ Svetlana Shilova expressed her opinion.
The team of geographers was awarded by Senior Lecturer of the Department of Geomorphology and Geoecology Victoria Kopnina. Meanwhile, Deputy Director for Practical Training of the Institute of Physics, Associate Professor of the Department of General, Theoretical and Computer Physics Svetlana Churochkina and Associate Professor of the Department of Nonlinear Physics Aleksei Savin presented diplomas and certificates to the team of physicists.
The distinguished schoolchildren who worked in the Quantorium mobile technopark were awarded by Acting Head of the technopark Elena Lutova and the teacher-mentor of the technopark Vadim Bozhenko.
All evening the festive atmosphere was created by dance performances of senior and junior shifts of the school. The founders of the season of young talents are the Ministry of Education of Saratov Region and Saratov University.
You can watch the video report from the closing ceremony on the official SSU account on Rutube.
