High school students earned ChNU coins and explored the world of living science at the “ChNU Planet” On 19 May, the university square of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy transformed into a real scientific metropolis

. It became the venue for the large-scale scientific picnic “ChNU Planet”, which brought together high school students, their parents, and teachers. Acting Rector of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy Yevhen Kyryliuk addressed the community and guests with a welcoming speech: “‘ChNU Planet’ is a space of living science.

A space where you can see that science is not something distant or complicated. It is close to us. It is fascinating. It has the power to change lives. For more than 100 years, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy has remained a centre of science, innovation, and intellectual development in the region. In 2026, our university is ranked 25th in the Scopus ranking and is included in leading international rankings, such as the QS World University Rankings. We want the talented youth of the Cherkasy region to see the future right here – in their home region, at a strong Ukrainian university.” The participants of the picnic were also welcomed by the event’s guest of honour, Deputy Head of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Shamrai, who emphasised the importance of such interactive events for the professional self-determination of young people.

“It is truly wonderful that on such a sunny day, the square in front of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy has turned into a venue where one can see first-hand what the university is all about and what scientific opportunities it offers. I congratulate the future applicants who came here to choose a profession that speaks to their hearts and souls. It is impressive that all the faculties and institutes of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy have presented their scientific achievements and areas of study – the very accomplishments, which make the university proud and secure its high positions in academic rankings. This glorifies the Cherkasy region as a strong and successful educational centre with a large student family.” Today, more than 6,000 students study at BKNUC across 58 bachelor’s and 46 master’s degree programmes. All the advantages and educational opportunities offered by the university’s eight educational-scientific institutes and two faculties were presented through themed interactive stations. The “Smart-Development Space” organised by the Educational-Scientific Institute of Pedagogical Education, Social Work and Art became particularly vibrant and engaging. There, future speech therapists explained the importance of their profession, spoke about the growing number of children with speech impairments, and demonstrated play-based methods for improving speech using pictures, puzzles and building blocks, while nearby, at the art station, aspiring artists created personalised portraits for everyone in just five minutes.

Guests were introduced to a genuine world of high technology at “Eureka Lab” organised by the Educational-Scientific Institute of Informational and Educational Technologies, where young scientists presented a unique device that, similar to bat echolocation, can measure the distance to objects using sound. At the “Word in the Frame” location run by the Educational-Scientific Institute of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications, schoolchildren had the opportunity to try themselves at several interactive stations at once: testing their diction with tongue twisters in the radio broadcasting sector, learning to recognise media fakes in photographs, posting their own creative stories on Instagram, and sharing their thoughts on what journalism and advertising personally mean to them in exchange for delicious gifts. Linguistic quests, riddles, literary fortune-telling activities prepared by philology students proved equally exciting. The “Space of Movement, Health and Knowledge” organised by the Educational-Scientific Institute of Physical Culture, Sports and Health impressed visitors with its incredible energy and team spirit. Three stations operated there, where participants could demonstrate their teamwork skills, balance, and the ability to estimate wind force and the weight of sports equipment. High school students competed in accuracy by tossing rings onto cones, played a unique version of table tennis in which the ball had to bounce off the table into a cup, and worked together in groups of four on an imaginary square to simultaneously hit the cones with wooden handles. A spectacular scene unfolded at the “World of Natural Sciences: A Path to the Profession” location hosted by the Educational-Scientific Institute of Natural and Agrarian Sciences. Here, participants enthusiastically observed numerous chemical experiments involving various liquids, while the institute’s students explained the complex nature of these processes in a simple yet incredibly engaging way. Visitors were invited to journey deep into the past at the “In Response to the Call of Antiquity: Treasures and Relics of Ukraine” location organised by the Educational-Scientific Institute of International Relations, History and Philosophy. Three impressive mini-exhibits were presented there by the Cherkasy Regional Museum of Local Lore, the Institute’s Archaeology Department, and the Institute of Ukrainian Cossacks.

Unique artefacts ranged from mammoth teeth and bones and Trypillian pottery to Cossack sabres and clay amulets. Everyone could take a “hetman potential” test using a Cossack mace – to do this, one had to lift the heavy head of the mace without lifting its handle off the table surface. The “Foreign Languages: A World without Borders” stand run by the Educational-Scientific Institute of Foreign Languages, took visitors on exciting linguistic journeys. At the German station, participants were offered a sweet reward in exchange for reading out a specially selected extra-long word, while at the English station, visitors were asked to translate the Ukrainian word they had heard and quickly assemble its English equivalent from printed letters. High school students had the chance to test their logic and knowledge and learn a lot of new things at the “Economic and Law Quizzes” organised by the Educational-Scientific Institute of Economics and Law. Visitors solved intellectual riddles – in exchange for special coins – about Winston Churchill’s management secrets, Henry Ford’s legendary automobile assembly line, and the outstanding diplomatic and military talents of Ukrainian hetmans. The Faculty of Psychology helped visitors to delve into the mysteries of the human psyche at the “Journey into the Unconscious” location. Here, guests eagerly explored psychological picture cards, put together emotional jigsaw puzzles, and relaxed in a specially designed relaxation area, whilst faculty students warmly shared their vivid personal impressions of studying at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy and assured visitors that choosing the university had become the best decision of their lives.

A particular highlight at the Faculty of Psychology’s venue was the participation of the university’s long-standing partners – military psychologists from one of the military units of the National Guard of Ukraine – who demonstrated to the guests of the picnic cutting-edge technological methods currently used for psychological support and rehabilitation. Using a high-tech device capable of reading brain waves, the specialists monitored a person’s stress levels and self-soothing abilities in real time, as well as helped to identify destructive traumatic ruminations. Visitors also had the opportunity to experience the capabilities of innovative VR therapy using special Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headsets. Furthermore, testing the portable Emotiv Insight mobile electroencephalograph caused a real stir. Such synergy between academic science and the practical expertise of military specialists served as a vivid example of how modern psychology stands guard over the mental health of Ukrainians. Another highly popular location was “Microcontrollers are Simple!” organised by the Faculty of Computing, Intellectual and Management Systems, where schoolchildren enthusiastically mastered the basics of robotics.

A themed photo zone was arranged in the M. Maksymovych Scientific Library, where visitors could have their photos taken wearing master’s gowns. The highlight of this year’s picnic was its special gamified reward system. By completing various quests and tasks at different locations, each participant had the chance to earn a special university currency – ChNU coins. Guests were keen to exchange their accumulated points for delicious and branded gifts, as well as for exclusive personal guide certificates. Such a certificate will prove especially useful for future first-year students, as it guarantees personalised support and comprehensive assistance from experienced student mentors during the first months of university study. The event was organised and conducted by the university’s academic and student affairs team under the leadership of Vice-Rectors Oleksandr Spriahailo and Halyna Havryliuk.

VIEW ALL PHOTOS HERE Nadiia Lykholai, Anastasiia Pryhodiuk, Nataliia Yaremenko, 3rd-year PR students of the Educational-Scientific Institute of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications Press Office of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy