A new "Atomic Class" has been opened in Nizhny Novgorod for future engineers of the nuclear industry.

      The ceremonial opening of a specialized "Atomic Class" was held at Nizhny Novgorod Technical Lyceum No. 87 named after L.I. Novikova.

      In the year of the 80th anniversary of Russia's nuclear industry, the project was implemented by the Rosatom State Corporation’s core university, Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R.E. Alekseev, together with strategic partner OKBM Afrikantov (part of Rosatom’s machine‑building division — Rosatom Machine‑Building).

      The new "Atomic Class" established at Lyceum No. 87 became the third in Nizhny Novgorod; two others operate at School No. 30 and Lyceum No. 40.

      The opening ceremony was attended by Sergey Dmitriev, rector of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R.E. Alekseev; Vitaly Petrunin, first deputy general director — chief designer of OKBM Afrikantov; and Svetlana Kulyova, director of the lyceum, as well as representatives of OKBM management, the university and the administration of Nizhny Novgorod.

      "From the moment of its founding, the nuclear industry has purposefully built an entire system for personnel training. And atomic classes today are one of its links. I am confident that they will help attract new talented young researchers to solve the problems that nuclear specialists are addressing today. This will further expand the capabilities of the personnel training system, which are very much needed by the country's nuclear industry," said Vitaly Petrunin, first deputy general director — chief designer of OKBM Afrikantov and head of the "Design of Nuclear Installations" department at Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R.E. Alekseev, addressing the future nuclear specialists.

      In turn, Sergey Dmitriev, rector of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University, emphasized: "The most important thing in this project is that atomic classes are truly vocational guidance — an introduction for schoolchildren to the nuclear industry. This is supported by all the activities carried out by Rosatom and the Union of Machine Builders of Russia. Students from atomic classes will certainly visit our university and enterprises of the nuclear industry. They will receive additional training; lectures will be given by both employees of OKBM Afrikantov and NSTU faculty. The students will take part in laboratory work in nuclear physics at our university, which, of course, cannot be carried out in a school setting. Therefore the most important aspect of this project is vocational guidance so that the students immediately understand what they will be doing and whether they should go into the nuclear industry. But I can say unequivocally that they should," said S. Dmitriev.

      "It is a great honor and responsibility for us to become a platform for the 'Atomic Class'," said Svetlana Kulyova, director of Nizhny Novgorod Technical Lyceum No. 87. "In fact, it is a door to the future for our talented students. Partnership with a leading enterprise of the Rosatom State Corporation and one of the country's best technical universities will allow our pupils, from a very young age, to immerse themselves in a real high‑tech environment, work with mentors who are real scientists and engineers, and decide on a profession. We are confident that this project will give a powerful impetus to the development of engineering education at our lyceum."

      Students in grades 10–11 will receive instruction under the "Atomic Class" program. The educational process will be organized with the involvement not only of the lyceum's pedagogical staff but also of highly qualified specialists from OKBM Afrikantov and university lecturers. Some classes, including practical sessions and laboratory work, will be held at Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R.E. Alekseev. A rich program of off‑site educational events and excursions to enterprises of the nuclear industry in the Nizhny Novgorod region is also planned for senior students.

      Recall that the "Atomic Classes" program is an initiative of the Rosatom State Corporation, implemented since 2011 as part of the "Rosatom School" project. The project's goal is to support and develop natural science and mathematics education in Russian schools. The program is currently supported and implemented by 80 schools in 28 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

      More news about the event:

      Atomic class: specialists are trained from school — The students of the atomic class have faced serious entrance trials — a portfolio competition and exams in specialized subjects. 16:41 18.09.2025 GTRK Nizhny Novgorod — Nizhny Novgorod

      A new "Atomic Class" for future engineers of the nuclear industry has been opened in Nizhny Novgorod — A ceremonial opening of a specialized "Atomic Class" was held at Nizhny Novgorod Technical Lyceum No. 87 named after L.I. Novikova. 15:28 18.09.2025 Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University — Nizhny Novgorod