SHE is SCIENCE, an educational initiative dedicated to the invaluable contribution of 12 Ukrainian female scientists to world science, is embarking on an international journey. The same-name exhibition that was a success in many Ukrainian cities and villages, has already visited Berlin.
Sergey Tokarev, one of the organizers of the art project SHE is SCIENCE, an investor and co-founder of the tech company Roosh, explains how the exhibition popularizes Ukraine around the world.
Project’s educational goals
According to Sergey Tokarev, although the idea of the exposition SHE is SCIENCE popped up quite unexpectedly, it had had a background. The organizers held a survey and asked the respondents to answer how many female scientists they remember. It turned out that, apart from Marie Curie, many could not remember a single name at all. Therefore, the project initiators decided to rectify the situation.
At the same time, the organizers chose a very interesting way to describe the heroines, combining visual arts and an essay competition. In total, the exhibition presented 12 portraits of female scientists created by five well-known illustrators from Ukraine, headed by Sergiy Maidukov.
And the captions to these portraits were written by Ukrainian girls who became winners of the All-Ukrainian essay competition. These pieces of writing by young authors between the ages of 14 and 21 have a distinctive feature— they do not give a naked outline of facts but convey the real emotions of the participants.
And this, according to the initiator of SHE is SCIENCE, attracts young people, and they show genuine interest in the stories of the heroines without being forced by teachers and parents.
Success in Ukraine
The first presentation of the exposition was held in Kyiv on June 10. The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska visited the event, as well as the representatives of various international organizations. In addition to the presentation itself, the organizers held a charity auction, and the winners of the essay competition got funds raised during the event to cover their education expenses.
After that, the exposition went on a trip to Ukrainian cities. First, the residents of Zaporizhzhia, Mariupol, and Kryvyi Rih saw the portraits. Later Lviv, Poltava, and Khmelnytskyi hosted the exhibition. All in all, the presentation of the educational project was held in more than 10 Ukrainian cities.
In addition, the initiators prepared 300 free copies of the exhibition to hand out to educational and other public institutions of Ukraine. According to Sergey Tokarev, the interest in the art project is so great that the organizers keep on receiving requests even now. That is why they plan to make an extra issue of the exhibition.
International achievements of SHE is SCIENCE
The organizers decided to move beyond and present the exhibition at the international arena. Already in September, the project presentation was held in Germany. It was timed to the Days of Ukraine in Berlin and Brandenburg. Brussels will be the next European city to see portraits of female scientists and creative captions. It will open at the Embassy of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium on October 26.
After that, the Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands will host the exposition SHE is SCIENCE. And later, the exhibition will move to Great Britain, where Ukrainian schools and other institutions will see it. At the moment, the initiators are coordinating the dates for presenting the project in Bulgaria.
In February 2022, the exhibition will be held in France at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. In the same month, the United States will host the project, and the presentation will include an international panel discussion about female scientists.