To mark Shell’s 30th anniversary in Kazakhstan, the NXplorers Kazakhstan team held a National Scientific NXplorers Festival. A staggering 1,500 children and teachers from across the country gathered in Astana to take part in this truly special event.
The festival’s aim was to celebrate curiosity, the learner mindset and to encourage collaboration. It included a variety of scientific and educational lectures in which facilitators and students discussed modern educational trends. Facilitators also delivered chemistry and biological workshops, held a variety of masterclasses, chess tournaments and so much more.
The NXplorers programme is recognised by the Republic of Kazakhstan. A three-party Memorandum of Understanding between Shell Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Education and Caravan of Knowledge (a local delivery partner), was signed at the festival. It signifies Shell’s commitment to personal development through the unique NXplorers methodology. It also strengthens cooperation in promoting critical, creative and systemic thinking.
This partnership paves the way for a more holistic and sustainable approach to education, encouraging students to become our thoughtful and eco-conscious leaders of tomorrow. And as a testament to this commitment, the Ministry of Education has announced that the 2024 – 2025 academic year is to be the ‘Year of NXplorers’!
As part of the event, the team ran the final of the national level contest called ‘NXplorers: Zhasyl Urpaq baigesy’, which was also held during the National Scientific NXplorers Festival. Students pitched their projects aimed at solving environmental problems. Out of the 20 finalists, a jury selected the five best regional teams that will receive seed funds.
The winners were:
Ecopaper (Sarykol village, Kostanay oblast) – Creation of wastepaper processing equipment
Ecoteam (Stepnogorsk, Akmola oblast) – Vermi cultivation for the purpose of processing food waste
Green team (Uralsk) – Research and spread of wheatgrass
Тransformers team (Ayagoz city, Abay oblast) – Solving the drinking water problem through rainwater harvesting
Naturalists (Uralsk) – Recycling of waste by black soldier fly larvae
