Day Two. Tobolsk.
This day of the expedition began with the childhood museum of Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev. And you know what struck the participants the most? Not the periodic table. Not his scientific accolades. But little Mitya, who at the age of five would run to the glassblowing factory in the village of Aremzyanskoye in the Tobolsk district, and ask the workers: why does glass expand? How does liquid become solid? Why does it shine?
That’s how — from a simple childhood “why” — great science begins. And this day gave our young researchers an understanding: a calling does not arrive at university. It can knock on your door in childhood. You just have to not brush it aside.
Then came SIBUR. Huge, complex, real. And once again — chemistry, but now adult, industrial, the kind that processes oil and gas, gives the country plastic, and gives plastic a second, third, and fifth life.
The participants listened, took notes, tried recycling plastic themselves. Then they sat down to write in their diaries. And here’s what came out:
📖 Mikhail:
“Today I learned how scientists first received Mendeleev’s periodic table. Russian scientists didn’t pay much attention because he presented it rather dryly, while abroad they wanted to prove that the table didn’t exist — but ended up proving the opposite. I came to believe that you can find your calling in childhood!”
📖 Darina:
“From one ton of plastic, they make 200 car covers, 400 sleeping bags, and even clothing. Plastic is a big problem, but people are solving it through recycling. Plastic goes through five to seven stages. In Tobolsk, there is the SIBUR holding company, which processes oil and gas.”
📖 Edik:
“I enjoyed the excursion about how plastic is recycled. We even tried doing it ourselves!”
📖 Vladimir:
“I want to talk about the SIBUR plant in Tobolsk. I’m interested in electronics and engineering, so I was impressed by the plant itself and its enormous scale!!!”
Four voices. One day. And one very important thought that will stay with the participants for a long time: science is a living, vast, and fascinating endeavor. And you can start it right now. With a question. With curiosity. From childhood.
