A Rwandan student made her first journey to the North Pole, with the support of a nuclear powered icebreaker operated by Russia’s Rosatom. This became the first journey by a Rwandan to this part of the world.
The journey provided the student and her fellow science students with valuable experience. It was part of Rosatom’s seventh international expedition, known as Icebreaker of Knowledge.
Over a period of 10 days, talented high school students from different parts of the world travelled aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy, following the route Murmansk North Pole, Franz Josef, Land Murmansk.
The expedition also went down in history as the 200th voyage of the icebreaker to the North Pole.
Ruslan Sasov, the captain of the 50 Let Pobedy, said: “We successfully completed the seventh Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition to the Arctic. The ship’s crew always welcomes this project with special enthusiasm because such expeditions make a real contribution to the development of future generations.”
He added: “Young scientists and talented young people take part in this expedition. Many of them dreamed of reaching the North Pole and seeing polar bears in these areas. I am very pleased that Rosatom and our crew helped them achieve these dreams.”
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Students Gain First-Hand Experience Through Arctic Research Expedition
During the expedition, the participants worked together with scientists to prepare and carry out unique research activities, including launching a radiosonde into the atmosphere to provide communication in difficult-to-reach areas of the Arctic and along the Northern Sea Route, among other activities.
Yegor Plakhotnyuk, Head of Projects at the Research Institute of Technical Physics and Automation (NIITFA), said that at Rosatom, they work every day on things that once seemed impossible in science.
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He said: “That is why it is very important for us to show these things to children in person, and it is wonderful that we can do so aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy.”
He said that during the expedition, the children witnessed how Russia is applying science aimed at developing the future and based on real technologies that are transforming people’s lives.
Among the participants was Izere Louise from Rwanda, one of the young scientists selected to take part in this international research and educational expedition to the North Pole.
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Rwandan Student Reflects on Historic Journey to the Top of the World
For her, the journey was an opportunity to experience the Arctic, meet fellow students from other countries and see how science and technology are applied outside the classroom.
She said: “Reaching the North Pole is something I will never forget. Seeing the vast ice-covered landscapes and icebergs with my own eyes made me realize that there is still so much about our world that needs to be discovered. In particular, I was proud to make this journey representing Rwanda. This journey showed me that science can take you to places you once thought were too far to reach, and it inspired me to dream bigger about my future.”
Icebreaker of Knowledge aims to promote education in environmental science and nuclear energy technologies, identify and support talented young people, develop their abilities and help them discover possible career paths.
The project brings together students from regular secondary schools and vocational education programs at the upper-secondary level, aged between 14 and 16, from different parts of the world.
Around 5,000 students from 22 countries competed for the opportunity to take part in the expedition through an international selection process.
These countries are Rwanda, Namibia, Egypt, South Africa, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Hungary, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Serbia, Tanzania, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Rwanda and Rosatom Continue Expanding Cooperation in Nuclear Education
Rosatom’s cooperation with students and young people at the beginning of their careers is part of efforts to develop skilled professionals needed in the nuclear energy sector, including in Africa.
As many countries continue to recognize the potential of nuclear technology for sustainable development, Rwanda has also not been left behind.
Rwanda and Rosatom have been building long-term cooperation in nuclear energy education and workforce training since 2019, when the two sides signed a cooperation agreement on workforce development.
This cooperation has already produced tangible results. Eighteen people who graduated from universities in Russia in fields related to nuclear energy are now working in Rwandan institutions involved in nuclear energy and other related sectors, while in 2025, nine Rwandan students graduated from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, Rosatom has allocated 20 places for Rwandan students to study nuclear energy and related fields at universities in Russia.
