Ural Federal University’s Young Researchers Honoured With Monetary Awards

Evgeny Kuyvashev, the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region, has signed a decree to award the Governor’s Prizes to young scientists in 22 nominations. The contest is held within the framework of the national project “Science and Universities”. For their contribution to the development of science, the winners from among scientists up to 35 years of age will receive 200 thousand rubles each.

According to the results of 2022, 88 works were submitted to the competition by universities of the Sverdlovsk region and institutes of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Ural Federal University remains the leader in the number of submitted projects with 23 works.

For example, the project by Ivan Zhidkov on stabilizing the operation of solar panels was recognized as the best in the field of Electrophysics and Power Engineering.

“Nowadays, solar cells are a promising and environmentally friendly way to generate electricity, but at the same time they are very expensive or very short-lived. In addition, they do not provide enough voltage in cloudy weather, such as now in the Urals. We are researching new efficient batteries that can work in adverse conditions. Today the life of such batteries is up to two years, so the main goal is to extend the life of these batteries. In addition, we are working on lightweight, high-efficiency batteries suitable for use in space. We are also researching materials that will make it possible to generate electricity even without high solar activity, for example by “recycling light” by collecting it from lamps in workshops and production facilities,” says Ivan Zhidkov, Associate Professor at the Department of Electrophysics.

The ceremony of awarding diplomas to the best projects will be held on February 9 at the Ural Federal University.