18 teams of future engineers became participants of the CASE-IN qualifying stage at TulSU

The qualifying stage of the Student League of the XIII International Engineering CASE-IN Championship took place at Tula State University.

Its purpose is to support students of specialized universities, assist them in obtaining practical knowledge, experience and new competencies, enhance the image of an employee of engineering industries, and form a personnel reserve.

This year, the organizers of the championship are the Reliable Change Foundation, the Non—profit Partnership Youth Forum of Mining Leaders, the Astralogica company and the presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities, and the title partner of the Student League is the Alabuga Industrial Special Economic Zone. 

The theme of the current season of the championship is "Technological innovations". The Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, approved by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in 2024, provides for the advanced development of fundamentally new scientific and technological solutions, including those ensuring the competitiveness and development of the Russian economy in the strategic perspective. And it is technological innovations that play a crucial role in this. 

At TulSU, the qualifying stage was held in three directions. 

18 teams took part in it, including 15 from TulSU, 1 from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, 1 from the National Research University "MEI" and 1 from the Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies.   

6 TulSU teams competed in the field of Mining, 5 in the field of Biotechnology and 4 in the field of Project Engineering.

The ALROSA Diamond Mining Company (PJSC) became the strategic partner of the Mining direction, the Russian vertically integrated Tatneft company became the Biotechnology direction, and SIBUR, a major player in the global petrochemical market, became the Project Engineering direction.

The Conjugation team of the TulSU Institute of Mining and Construction included fourth-year students of the Mining course Alina Khromushkina (captain), Roman Podolsky, Andrey Lomakin and Artyom Mazaev. The mentors of the students were Doctors of Technical Sciences, professors of the Department of Materials Mechanics and Geotechnology Vladimir Ivanovich Sarychev and Viktor Petrovich Safronov. 

Their case, the team members said, is called "Explosive Efficiency." The students had to analyze the key factors of the field affecting the drilling and blasting operations, identify problems and prepare their solutions. 

"We propose the construction of more precise boundaries of the ore body, an innovative technology for embedding so—called threads into the inner surface of the well, as well as the procedure for working out the ledge, taking into account the reduction of equipment downtime," the guys shared. "This will significantly reduce labor costs and increase production efficiency." 

The Three Convolutions Team (Biotechnology field)— students of the TulSU Natural Science Institute. These are third-year students of the Biotechnology course Artem Yushkin (captain) and Ilya Skotnikov, a sophomore of the same course Victoria Katkova and a third-year student of the Chemistry course Vladislav Bulgakov. The mentor of the students is Vyacheslav Alekseevich Arlyapov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Director of the Biochemtech Research Center. 

"We were solving the case "Development of methods for processing co₂ (carbon dioxide)," Ilya Skotnikov said. — We have proposed such an algorithm. First, exhaust gas purification by sequentially passing through three systems: a wet scrubber, an electrostatic precipitator and an amine purification column. Next, purified gas is supplied to bioreactors with Chlorella vulgaris microalgae in two different strains. And finally, the use of microalgae biomass to produce biodiesel, which is more environmentally friendly than conventional diesel."

The Machine Tool Localization team (Project Engineering) includes fourth-year students of the TulSU Polytechnic Institute: Captain Artem Belousov (Automation of technological Processes and Production), Pavel Gutsul and Sergey Shekhovtsov (both are studying in the field of Mechanical Engineering). Alexey Valentinovich Plyasov, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Mechanics and Processes of Plastic Shaping, acted as a mentor. 

The team members proposed to place on the floating vessel a complex for filtration, accumulation and lifting of oil from the surface of the water into the vessel's reservoir. The advantages of this innovative solution are the speed and efficiency of collecting petroleum products. The complex can be used in waters where oil is extracted and transported by tankers. 

The qualifying stage of the championship was opened by Anton Valerievich Pankratov, Candidate of Technical Sciences, graduate of the TulSU Institute of Mining and Construction, and now Chairman of the Tula Region Committee on Science and Innovation. He welcomed all the participants and organizers on behalf of the Government of the Tula region. 

Anton Valerievich did not hide the fact that at these moments he was overwhelmed with pleasant memories. He also took part in the CASE-IN championship at one time. Their team was called Diamond.

 Of course, the guest emphasized, the activity and determination of the participants themselves are important in the implementation of tasks. At the same time, the role of mentors is also huge, those people who have invested in their students not only knowledge, but also a part of themselves. And he is very happy, the speaker admitted, to see today Vladimir Ivanovich Sarychev, Viktor Petrovich Safronov, Roman Anatolyevich Kovalev— his teachers who have made a great contribution to his development. And now they are passing on knowledge and experience to the next generation of students, helping them become true professionals in their field.

Anton Valerievich emphasized that the regional government supports scientific projects and attracts federal funds so that young researchers can realize themselves and develop their talents. And work in this direction will continue.

"I wish you guys to set ambitious goals for yourselves and only go forward! — Anton Valerievich addressed the participants. —And know that it is through overcoming difficulties that invaluable experience is gained!"

Vladislav Viktorovich Kotov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, warmly welcomed the participants. 

The history of Tula State University, he said, dates back to 1930, when the Tula Mechanical Institute was established in the city of Gunsmiths. Later, the Tula Mining Institute appeared in Tula. The result of the 1963 merger of TMI and TGI was Tula Polytechnic Institute, which later grew into Tula State University. 

Vladislav Viktorovich spoke about the place of engineering education at the university, about the participation of TulSU in the federal project "Advanced Engineering School". 

The university, the speaker noted, does a lot of work related to the search and support of talented young people interested in technical creativity. The ongoing CASE-IN championship serves the same purpose. Our university has been an active participant in it for a number of years. 

Vladislav Viktorovich expressed the hope that everything proposed by the students will serve in solving production problems and will be put into practice.

Yulia Vladimirovna Verbitskaya, PhD in Economics, Director of the TulSU Startup Studio, wished the participants a good journey. 

Our common future, she said, is being forged now, and the ideas of the young are an excellent foundation for further implementation.

Artem Sergeevich Korolev, founder of the International Engineering Championship CASE-IN, and Gennady Evgenievich Guryanov, First Deputy General Director of the presidential platform "Russia — the Land of Opportunities", addressed the participants via videoconference.  

In their speeches, they noted the great importance of the championship for the search, selection and support of talents. In the thirteen years of its existence, the championship has transformed from a student competition into a large-scale ecosystem that unites schools, universities, and industry companies. It has become a symbol of unity and inspiration.   

Artyom Sergeevich and Gennady Evgenievich wished all the guys success in their work. 

Experts from the Diamond Mining Company ALROSA (PJSC), Timofey Yuryevich Baishev, head of the mining department, and Peter Alexandrovich Semenov, Deputy Head of Mining Operations, arrived at Tula State University from Yakutia specifically for the qualifying stage of the championship.

"This is our first time at your university," they shared. — Our company has prepared cases for the participants of the championship, and by being here, we have the opportunity to get acquainted with the fresh perspective of students on solving the problems of mining enterprises. This primarily concerns the efficiency of drilling and blasting operations." 

The solutions of the cases were evaluated by an expert jury, which included teachers of TulSU and representatives of the Diamond Mining Company ALROSA (PJSC).

According to the results of the qualifying stage, we won:

— in the field of "Mining":

I place — the Fodienda team (TulSU);

II place — the Pairing team (TulSU);

III place — team "Mons" (TulSU);

— in the field of "Biotechnology":

I place — the Active Center team (TulSU);

II place — PolyHealBio team (TulSU);

3rd place — Technolozhka team (Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies);

— in the field of "Project engineering":

I place — RUDN University Designers team (Peoples' Friendship University of Russia);I

1st place — the NeftiStop team (TulSU);

III place — the team "Polytechnic TulSU".   

A source