«Two Cosmoses of the Observatory»: Nominees of the Second National Forum of Talented Youth Conquer Mount Pip Ivan

In late August 2026, eleven nominees of the Second National Forum of Talented Youth — winners of the “Light of the Universe” category (physics, astronomy) and other categories — took part in the educational and research programme “Two Cosmoses of the Observatory,” organised by the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports in partnership with Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University. This was the fifth event in a series of special experiences for nominees of the Second National Forum of Talented Youth.

For four days, the young researchers stayed at an altitude of 2,028 metres at the International Scientific Centre “Observatory” on Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi.

Even before setting out on the trail, the nominees had already become a team: most travelled from Kyiv on the same train, and by the time they reached the station, eleven participants from different universities and fields of study were already getting acquainted and joking with one another.

The route to the Observatory ran through Vorokhta and Verkhovyna to the village of Shybene, the starting point for the climb up Pip Ivan. It is an ancient peak: its oldest recorded name, Chorna Hora (Black Mountain), dates back to the mid-17th century. The modern name “Pip Ivan” appeared later. According to one legend, the mountain was named after a priest who used to lead people to the summit to pray and gather medicinal herbs.

Along the way, participants tasted bilberries and wild raspberries, drank spring water, and passed Lake Marichejka.

The climb took more than four hours and was far from easy, but the reward was the view: clear, sunny weather let them see the Chornohora ridge stretching almost its entire length.

That evening, once settled into the library of the International Scientific Center “Observatory,” the nominees met the programme’s mentors, Myroslava Mylenka and Uliana Semak. Participants received their main task for the coming days: to imagine what the Carpathians will look like in 2036, and to articulate what can be done today for their future. That same evening brought the first astronomy session, “The Cosmos Above Us: Learning to See the Invisible,” led by Volodymyr Troyanskyi.

The second day of the programme was devoted entirely to field research. The morning opened with a lecture, “Reading the Mountains,” by Uliana Semak on altitudinal zonation and high-mountain biodiversity. The nominees then turned into “digital naturalists”: guided by Tetiana Mykytyn and Viktor Shparyk, they installed the iNaturalist app and set out to photograph plants — including species listed in the Red Data Book — building their own scientific “library” of observations.

This was followed by an introduction to lichens as living indicators of environmental change (mentor Nadiia Kapets) and to camera traps as a tool for studying wildlife without disturbing it (mentor Roman Cherepanyn).

The eleven participants spent the second half of the day on teamwork. In a workshop called “Think Like a Mountain,” the team divided into roles — field researchers, analysts, “2036 scriptwriters,” a solutions team, a horizon team, visualisers, and the team’s voice — and produced a joint mini-project, “Carpathians 2036: See Today — Preserve Tomorrow,” describing what they had observed, forecasting risks to mountain ecosystems over the coming decade, and offering five proposals for their conservation. That evening, the team presented their work for the first time to the mentors and representatives of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, and the day closed with a second astronomy session, “Looking Far: From the Carpathians to the Universe,” with Volodymyr Troyanskyi.

The next morning was spent in a “research council,” fine-tuning conclusions, the five proposals, and the speech itself one last time. The day’s central event was the official opening of the International Centre for Shared Use of Scientific Equipment, based at the International Scientific Center “Observatory” — the result of years of cooperation between Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University and the University of Warsaw.

The ceremony was attended by Andrii Butenko, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, and Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland, along with representatives of the University of Warsaw, the diplomatic corps, and government bodies. The nominees had a unique opportunity to speak with both ministers about joint Ukrainian-Polish projects and further plans for the Observatory’s development. The high point was the symbolic opening of the astronomical dome: to applause from guests, it swung open to reveal the telescope installed inside, and the ministers signed the Carpathian Declaration on the Development of Science, Higher Education, and Research Infrastructure in the Carpathians. As part of the celebrations, the participants also presented their 15-minute talk, “Carpathians 2036,” closing with the message that the Observatory teaches you to look further — into the cosmos, to understand the Universe, and toward the Carpathians, to catch their changes in time and safeguard their future.

The day itself turned grey and rainy. For a few hours the mountains vanished into cloud, and, as the participants put it, summer briefly seemed to give way to late autumn. But no sooner had the guests left than a strong wind picked up and the sky lit up with a brilliant sunset.

Part of the team greeted the programme’s final morning with sunrise over the Carpathians. At the closing gathering, each nominee completed four prompts: what they had seen, what they had learned, what had surprised them, and what they hoped for after the Observatory. This was followed by the presentation of certificates and a group photo of the “Carpathians 2036” team.

The descent from the mountain proved to be one more test of teamwork: part of the route was covered aboard a GAZ-66 truck, where participants had to hold on, support one another, and duck branches in time — an experience the nominees unanimously called genuine Carpathian extreme.

For the Fund of the President of Ukraine, educational and research programmes like this one are part of its systematic work to preserve and grow Ukraine’s human capital. Young people with strong achievements in education, science, culture, and civic life should have the chance to see first-hand how science is made, to work alongside experts, to form teams, and to propose solutions for their country’s future. “Two Cosmoses of the Observatory” became exactly that kind of environment — one where research into the Carpathians met a view of the Universe, and where the participants’ personal experience turned into a sense of responsibility for preserving nature and advancing Ukraine.

The Fund of the President of Ukraine thanks the programme’s participants: Daria Lysenko, Taras Sherstii, Yehor Vorobiov, Anna Kabaka, Nazarii Vrashchuk, Uliana Herbut, Daria Karpova, Yaroslav Derzhypolskyi, Maria Loran, Yurii Davydko, and Daria Kyrychenko.

We also thank Ihor Tsependa, advisor to the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine; Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University and the team of the International Scientific Center “Observatory” on Mount Pip Ivan; and the programme’s mentors — Myroslava Mylenka, Viktor Shparyk, Roman Cherepanyn, Tetiana Mykytyn, and Uliana Semak — for their support, expert guidance, and for creating a space where nominees could research, learn, and work together on the future of the Carpathians.

The trip to Pip Ivan was the fifth in a series of special events for nominees of the Second National Forum of Talented Youth. The first gift went to nominees of the “Power of the Word” category, who visited the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre. The second was a visit to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine for nominees of the “Science of Victory” and “Code of the Future” categories. The third visit took place at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine for nominees of the “Noospheric Breakthrough” category. The fourth was a visit to the Palace of Hetman Kyrylo Rozumovsky in Baturyn.

The Second National Forum of Talented Youth, along with the gift programme, was supported by JSC Ukrgasbank (UGB), the BGV Charitable Foundation, the Hepatica Foundation, Nestlé Ukraine, and the Charitable Foundation “MHP-Hromadi.”

Background

The Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports supports the development of talented Ukrainians in order to strengthen the country’s human potential and its leadership position in the world.

The Fund launched the annual National Forum of Talented Youth as a platform for recognising the achievements of young Ukrainians at the state level, building a community of talent, and demonstrating real opportunities for professional fulfilment in Ukraine.

The Second National Forum of Talented Youth was held on 23 January 2026 in Kyiv and brought together more than 600 participants: winners of international and national olympiads, participants of WRO 2025, young people with the highest results on the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT), medallists of the 2025 Youth Olympic Games, and young scientists.