The visit aimed to further strengthen cooperation between the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Copernicus Science Centre, one of the largest science centres in Europe.

The JASU team welcomed Robert Firmhofer at the railway station with a greeting from Stanislav Dovgyi broadcast over the station's public address system. On the first day of the visit, Mr Firmhofer toured the JASU Science Museum and the Museum of Mathematics “Kuboid”. He learned about the history of these venues, explored their exhibitions, and met with the teams responsible for their development and operation.

During his stay, Robert Firmhofer was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Mykhailo Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, upon the recommendation of Stanislav Dovgyi, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advancement of science education in Ukraine and his long-standing cooperation with Ukrainian educators. He was also honoured with the Igor Sikorsky Honorary Distinction of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Mr Firmhofer also participated in a press conference “International Day of Engagement in Science for Sustainable Development: New Opportunities for Ukraine and the Global Scientific Community.” The event was attended by Stanislav Dovgyi, President of JASU, and Olena Kvatchevska, Acting Director of the National Centre “Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.” The discussion was moderated by Vasyl Dunets, Deputy Director of the National Centre “JASU.”

The experts discussed the significance of the International Day of Engagement in Science for Sustainable Development, shared experiences in applying the principles of science education to inspire children and young people, and considered the most relevant approaches for engaging youth in science centres in the near future.

As part of the visit, the JASU team and Mr Firmhofer also participated in the international forum “Education, Science, Innovation: Human Capital in Ukraine’s Post-War Revival.” The forum brought together Ukrainian and international educators, scientists, government representatives, international organisations, and civil society actors to discuss strategies for developing human capital in support of Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

Addressing the forum, Robert Firmhofer remarked:
“Learning is inherently a reciprocal process. The teacher supports curiosity and intellectual growth, while the learner’s task is to put knowledge into practice. Science must become not only a body of knowledge, but a tool and a way of thinking.”

He also highlighted the importance of establishing the International Day of Engagement in Science for Sustainable Development, expressing his gratitude to Stanislav Dovgyi for this initiative and for his sustained efforts in promoting science education.

The three-day visit once again confirmed the strong and substantive partnership between the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Copernicus Science Centre. The two institutions are jointly implementing a series of educational initiatives, including “Explore Science in Ukrainian,” while the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is also a partner in the “Young Inventor Clubs” programme.

“Robert Firmhofer is a true friend of Ukraine,” summarised Stanislav Dovgyi. “His contribution extends beyond words, taking the form of tangible actions that strengthen international cooperation and support the development of science education in Ukraine.”
The visit concluded with a meeting between Robert Firmhofer and the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine. The discussion focused on new initiatives to further strengthen Polish–Ukrainian cooperation in education and to expand opportunities for international partnership.