Talents for Ukraine by KSE Foundation supports talented individuals who apply their knowledge across a wide range of fields — from art and culture to engineering and science. Among this week’s winners are a sculptor, a design engineer, and a Doctor of Biological Sciences.
Volodymyr Gamal is a sculptor with over 50 years of creative practice. A representative of the “Estonian school” of sculpture in Ukraine, he has created dozens of monumental and easel sculptures that have become part of the public spaces of various cities. His works are distinguished by their concise form, humanistic content, and a deep connection to Ukraine’s cultural heritage. The artist combines the European school of plastic art with Ukrainian tradition, remaining actively engaged in creative exploration and material-based work. He is a laureate of art awards and a participant in numerous exhibitions and symposia.
“The quality of your work is your honesty toward future generations,” Volodymyr notes.
Marko Lavrin is a design engineer, inventor, and developer of defense and energy technologies. He specializes in the creation of unmanned systems, electronic warfare equipment, and anti-drone solutions. A separate focus of his work is energy technologies and electric vehicle engineering. He has practical experience across the full development cycle: from concept and design to hands-on testing, modernization, implementation, and operational deployment. In his work, he combines engineering, experimental approaches, and systems thinking.
“One failed experiment is better than dozens of unrealized ideas,” Marko emphasizes.
Anna Kuzemko is a Doctor of Biological Sciences, a leading researcher at the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and the chief editor of key publications on Ukraine’s habitats. She initiated the inclusion of habitats into Annex 4 of the Bern Convention, securing their conservation status at the European level. Anna organized the use of remote sensing methods for habitat mapping and documenting the impacts of war (including Askania-Nova and the exposed bed of the Kakhovka Reservoir). She conducts large-scale field expeditions that shape the modern understanding of Ukraine’s ecosystem conditions.
“The greatest value in my work is gaining new knowledge,” Anna comments.
