A Namibian school student has returned home after becoming one of the first Namibian teenagers to stand at the North Pole as part of an international scientific expedition. Tironenn Amutenya Kadhikwa was among young researchers from 22 countries who took part in Rosatom’s seventh international “Icebreaker of Knowledge” expedition aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy.
The ten-day expedition travelled from Murmansk to the North Pole and Franz Josef Land before returning to Murmansk. The voyage also marked the 200th expedition by a surface vessel to reach the North Pole. For Tironenn, reaching the northernmost point on Earth was an experience he said changed the way he sees his future. “Now that it’s all behind me, I realise I couldn’t have imagined what it would actually feel like. The North Pole stopped being a point on a map – I saw it with my own eyes, stood where only a handful of people ever have,” he said. He said the experience changed his view of what is possible. “What once felt distant and almost unreal turned out to be completely within reach,” he said.
Tironenn earned his place on the expedition after taking part in a three-stage international selection process. About 5 000 students from 22 countries, including Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda and Egypt, competed for places on the expedition. The selection process tested participants’ knowledge of natural sciences, nuclear energy and Arctic exploration. The finalists were also required to develop creative projects on the theme “How Nuclear Technologies Are Changing the World Today”.
The final projects were judged by an international panel made up of representatives from the nuclear industry, science, education, Arctic affairs and science communication. Only the top performers were selected to join the expedition. The students did more than travel to the North Pole. During the voyage, they took part in a scientific and educational programme aboard the nuclear-powered vessel, including work with a real aerospace laboratory. Together with scientists, the young participants conducted two experiments.
One involved launching a radiosonde, which can be used to provide communication in hard-to-reach areas of the Arctic and along the Northern Sea Route. They also tested what was described as the world’s first recoverable stratospheric platform. On the day the expedition reached the North Pole, the participants also took part in a symbolic international circle dance around the 90° point.
During the voyage, the students also worked with science fiction writer Sergey Lukyanenko to create a science fiction story, which will be published on Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge social media accounts. Tironenn’s participation also comes against the background of Namibia and Russia’s developing cooperation in the nuclear field. The two countries have discussed nuclear cooperation for more than a decade, including uranium exploration, personnel training and the possible peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The countries are working on a framework agreement on the peaceful use of atomic energy. Rosatom is also involved in uranium exploration and development in Namibia’s Omaheke region through Headspring Investments, which is part of the Rosatom Group. The company is exploring and developing the Wings uranium deposit. According to the information provided, the project is planned to use in-situ recovery technology, a method used in Russia, Kazakhstan, the United States and other countries. The Icebreaker of Knowledge programme is aimed at promoting natural sciences and nuclear technologies, supporting talented young people and helping them explore possible career paths.
Students between the ages of 14 and 16 from around the world can take part in the programme. Over seven seasons, more than 470 schoolchildren have participated in Rosatom’s Arctic expeditions to the North Pole. For Tironenn, the journey has now added a remarkable chapter to that list – and given one Namibian teenager the opportunity to see the North Pole with his own eyes.
By Eileen van der Schyff
