This year, Altai State University’s BioCamp brought together 48 schoolchildren—twice as many as last year—from Altai Krai, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk, and even Kazakhstan. Operating under the Priority 2030 technological leadership program, the project has once again demonstrated that a genuine passion for science knows no borders.

BioCamp is an educational camp for students in Years 5–11 who are passionate about biology. This summer, it took place from 17 to 30 August at the facilities of Altai State University’s Institute of Biology and Biotechnology. Participants learned about PCR and how it works, cultivated their own “bio-pets,” and explored how to publish their first scientific paper.

Olga Uvarova, a senior researcher at Altai State University’s South Siberian Botanical Garden and head of BioCamp, summarises the summer session:

The main update this year was the introduction of two specialised sessions. Now, not only high-school students but also pupils in years 5–7 can try their hand at research. We developed a separate program for each age group, with both programs grounded in the theory and practice of biotechnology, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and zoology. Classes took place in real laboratories equipped with advanced technology, where mentors explained complex concepts in simple, accessible language. But BioCamp is about more than just science. It also features quests, quizzes, and games that combine biology with fun while developing logic and intuition. We also conducted excursions: the first group visited the production facilities of Renaissance Cosmetic, while the second visited the Altai Ecological Centre. Above all, every participant conducted research and presented their project at a conference, while older students prepared articles for the Young Scientist journal. There is no fear of making mistakes here—only support, friendship, and room for discovery. BioCamp gives teenagers an opportunity to see what the profession is really like, discover which area of biology appeals to them most, and develop a genuine passion for science.