Six teams of school students have come to NCFU to lock horns at the finals of the Life Science Technology contest, where they are to present the Jury with new foods and respective production technology.

Such contests have been held in Russia since 2016, the aim of that entire movement being to identify youngsters able to faced the current technological challenges. Yong people are always welcome to join their efforts and offer solutions in most diverse areas – from AI to smart energy and genome alteration.

This year, NCFU has initiated a new project – Life Science Technology with over a thousand of applications submitted by high school students, of which only 80 applicants have been selected to come and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in Biology and Chemistry. After that, the best ones have advanced to the finals – 18 schoolers representing 10 areas of Russia.

The task is more than challenging – to develop new advanced foods for specific people, in view of their sex, age, job, lifestyle and even some genetic predisposition.

– The task is quite a complicated one, which is good, – Natalia Oboturova (Assistant Acting Director, Institute of Life Science, NCFU) was quoted as saying. – The teams will have to develop new foods, and now we have three teams selecting dairy products, while another two opted for meat-based products, and one more is busy developing a special drink.

Each participant has an expert assisting them. The entire event is held online. Besides, there are students who are helping the teams volunteering as assistants.

Tomorrow the teams are to analyze the quality and safety of the products developed, after which the Jury, which involves both NCFU experts and food-production companies, will select the best ones. The winners will be announceв on May 15, at the closing ceremony, with prizes awarded and extra bonuses offered to those seeking admission to the university.