Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan is hosting the BRICS+ Open Science Week from 2 to 8 November, with the fifth International NAUKA 0+ Festival taking place in Tashkent on 7–8 November. For the first time, the events have covered all regions of the country.
The programme includes 70 popular science lectures, more than 2,000 square metres of interactive exhibitions across 20 venues, workshops, quizzes and science shows. The Polytechnic Museum once again serves as the festival's main venue in Tashkent.
The main theme for 2026 is “Your Space Universe”, marking the 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight.
The festival is organised by Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Moscow State University, with support from the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. The Alisher Usmanov Charity Foundation for Art, Science and Sport is the general partner, while Uzbekistan's Centre for Subject Olympiads under the Agency for Specialised Educational Institutions is the organisational partner.
Moscow State University Rector and Academician Viktor Sadovnichy said: “Uzbekistan is once again becoming one of the key venues for the NAUKA 0+ Festival, bringing together science communicators, students and schoolchildren through their shared interest in science and technology. I am confident that the festival's events will help strengthen scientific and educational ties between Russia and Uzbekistan, promote international scientific dialogue and inspire a new generation to pursue research and make discoveries.”
For the first time, the “Future Scientists” competition was held in Uzbekistan, covering all regions of the country. The semi-finals took place at specialised schools, where participants presented their projects in poster sessions. They were assessed by a jury comprising researchers from regional universities and industry partners.
At the final, held at the Tashkent branch of Moscow State University, more than 100 schoolchildren who had reached the final stage of the competition from STEM centres in Russia, Uzbekistan and other countries presented their projects to a jury of university and business representatives.
Participants in the festival included Lomonosov Moscow State University, Mirzo Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan, the Tashkent branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the branch of the Dmitry Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, the Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Zaryadye Park, Uzavtosanoat JSC, and companies VOLTBRO and MUR Edu.
Lectures were delivered by Russian researchers and representatives of science and technology companies. Nikolai Nikitin of Moscow State University's Faculty of Biology spoke about viruses in space and hosted a virus-themed quiz. Ivan Panchenko of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute at Moscow State University discussed gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe, while Maxim Mironenko of the university's VR Centre explained how virtual reality helps train cosmonauts.
Ivan Samylovsky and Anastasia Samylovskaya of the AstroDynamics Laboratory at Moscow State University's Faculty of Space Research spoke about satellite docking and space-based solar panels. Yuri Moiseyev of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute and the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences discussed the early history of the universe. Natalia Makarova and Elvira Dorofeeva of Zaryadye Park explored how space affects the human body and how plants are grown in orbit.
Sergei Sergeev, organiser of the “Future Scientists” competition, delivered a lecture for parents and teachers titled “How to Raise Geniuses”. A Roscosmos cosmonaut spoke about how to become a space researcher and the experiments conducted in orbit.
Visitors had the opportunity to operate a rover at the Mars Yard organised by the Research Institute of Mechanics at Moscow State University, examine rockets, satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles that had undergone flight tests, and practise controlling a drone using a VR simulator. The MUR Edu team presented underwater vehicles that had competed in the Underwater Navigation Grand Prix.
Quizzes on the history of science, astronomy and virology were also held. At the National University of Uzbekistan and the MEPhI branch, visitors assembled a model nuclear power plant and used virtual reality technology to take a virtual tour of a research reactor.
Other activities included workshops on Chinese painting and calligraphy, displays of minerals and oil samples, CubeSat models and a flight control centre. Uzavtosanoat presented an exhibition titled “The Evolution of the Wheel”.
A forum for science communicators, bringing together researchers and journalists, was held at the Tashkent branch of Moscow State University.
NAUKA 0+ has been held since 2006 on the initiative of Moscow State University Rector and Academician Viktor Sadovnichy. Over the years, the festival's cumulative audience has exceeded 100 million people.
