Echo of school holidays

A sea of memories and unforgettable experiences

This year, I participated in the International School of Young Researchers "Dialogue" as a teacher for the second time. Until that time, I have come here many times as a child participant, so it became especially interesting for me to look at what was happening from a different angle. "Dialogue" is a summer school in which children engage in research activities, as well as develop their creative skills and intellectual abilities. For the second time, the summer session gives me an unforgettable experience that I want to share in this article.

The two-week session "Dialogue" is a synergy of research activities and various activities for its participants. The topics of projects are often not similar to each other so that each child can find something to his or her liking.

Every day, the participants of the "Dialogue" study the theory and afterwards, unite it with practice that ensures efficient consolidation of the material and intensive work. For example, children with a humanitarian bias could choose the project "Between the lines" and develop creative thinking, learn to write their own texts. Another humanitarian project "Gardens of Semiramis" was also presented, where young researchers could improve their knowledge of the English language. Specifically, my project, "Neuropark" was engaged in the study of neural networks. Children chose different areas for themselves: someone delved into the study of working with texts; some tested how artificial intelligence handles programming tasks and others measured creative thinking in a neural network and made it generate various images. There were many science-based projects. So, for example, in "Fairy monkey" the children studied the properties of detergents and carried out experiments. Children from the project "Svetyashki" tried to construct a spectrometer: they learnt about the principle of this instrument and made their own. But I especially remember the project "Dialogue kombat", where the participants wrote their own video game in the fighting genre (a genre of computer games that imitate hand-to-hand combat of a small number of characters within a limited space - Approx. ed.). This year, it was he who was awarded diplomas named after A.N.Sisakyan as the best research project.

Every day, during the session, various events were held for children. They were extremely diverse and required participants to unite physical activity with intellectual work. Thanks to such events, children get to know each other, rally and by the end of the session, become a big family, maintaining communication for many years. One of the events that the children were looking forward to is the "Witch hunt", where a fantastic world with interesting locations and magical creatures is thought out to the smallest detail. The participants, in turn, transform into hunters and solve various tasks in order to complete their mission. Another equally interesting event is "Detective", where a confusing and mysterious story is invented that the participants try to unravel.

It is important to state that the "Dialogue" has developed a communication system for teachers and participants. There are various telegram channels for notifying children about scheduled events. The most important component of this system is the telegram bot, where children can leave feedback after events in order to make them even better. "Dialogue" is the school where teachers listen to the opinion of its participants and take into account their wishes.

You can talk a lot about "Dialogue". Personally, having been here once, I want to return here again and again. Each session is a whole sea of memories and unforgettable experiences. Educators leave here with thoughts on how to make next year even better and children - with dreams of returning next year. "Dialogue" gave me many wonderful friends and pleasant memories.

In conclusion, on behalf of all "Dialogue" participants and School Director Sergey Shvidky, I would like to sincerely thank all those who annually help us in organizing "Dialogue" sessions, especially, JINR Directorate and the Dubna City Administration. We express our special gratitude to the Administration of the Recreation Centre "Gubkinets" that has been welcoming us so warmly for several years.

Natalia Tikhomirova,
photo from school archive

The School dates back to 1991. When organizing the "Dialogue", the experience of the International Computer School was used, as well as the vast experience of JINR. The order to hold the first school was signed by A.N.Sisakyan, at that time, Vice-Director of JINR, on 26 December, 1990. It was his idea and initiative that allowed starting this project.