Three Medals Earned by Ukrainian Students at Brazil’s 41st MOSTRATEC International Science Fair

Ukrainian Students Shine at the 41st MOSTRATEC Science and Technology Fair

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: At the 41st International Science and Technology Fair MOSTRATEC, held from October 26 to 30, 2026, in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, Ukrainian students secured three medals for their outstanding scientific projects. Four young scholars from Ukraine showcased their innovative research in astronomy, genetics, computer science, and medicine. The event was organized by Fundação Escola Técnica Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha and Sebrae.

The fair attracted 796 projects from 13 different countries. Representing Ukraine were four students:

• Kateryna Palamarchuk
• Vladyslav Andrukhov
• Sofiya Honcharova
• Kyrylo Pavlyuk

Kateryna Palamarchuk and Vladyslav Andrukhov earned their places by winning the third stage of Ukraine’s national competition for student research, organized by the Minor Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Sofiya Honcharova and Kyrylo Pavlyuk were winners at the ISEF Ukraine national contest.

The Ukrainian team brought home one bronze medal (third place) and two fourth-place medals. Sofiya Honcharova, a student at the Optima Education Center, received the bronze medal in the category "Animal and Plant Sciences." Under the guidance of Svetlana Kostenko, she studied chromosomes of freshwater crustaceans Gammarus fossarum from four populations in France. Her research uncovered meiotic abnormalities in specimens from a population exposed to cadmium.

Kateryna Palamarchuk, from the Kyiv Polytechnic Lyceum at NTUU "KPI," earned a fourth-place medal in the "Computer Science" category. Mentored by Ivan Komarov, she developed a video-based system to analyze football tactics. The system tracks player movements and maps team formations on the field, having been tested on matches of FC Kudrivka.

Kyrylo Pavlyuk, a student of the Scientific Lyceum at Khortytsia National Educational and Rehabilitation Academy in Zaporizhzhia region, also won a fourth-place medal, in the "Health Sciences" category. Under the supervision of Tetiana Tumanyan, he created a digital model for the SMART-BRACELET SAFE SPACE. This wearable device, designed for individuals on the autism spectrum, features sensors for noise, light, temperature, and tilt, sending alerts when thresholds are exceeded.

Representing Odessa’s Richelieu Scientific Lyceum, Vladyslav Andrukhov presented research on how stellar activity affects measurements of exoplanet sizes. Guided by Vladyslava Marsakova, he analyzed data from the Kepler and TESS space telescopes, comparing different methods for determining planetary radii.

Background of the MOSTRATEC Fair

The MOSTRATEC fair originated in 1978 as a local school science and technology exhibition. It expanded internationally in 1994 by welcoming participants from other countries, fostering global scientific collaboration. The recent achievements of Ukrainian students at MOSTRATEC highlight the high quality of science education and research among youth in Ukraine.

Ukrainian students’ success in international competitions like MOSTRATEC reflects a growing passion for science and technology among the country’s younger generation. It also emphasizes the crucial role of research activities within Ukrainian schools, which can positively influence the nation’s future progress in science and innovation. International recognition serves as strong encouragement for other students to pursue scientific endeavors and enhance their skills.