The Da Vinci Ukraine program by KSE Foundation and STEM Talent Fund helps Ukrainian students dive deeper into science and engineering, develop systems thinking, and gain hands-on preparation for international-level competitions.
One of the participants already shaping a new generation of Ukrainian scientists is Sofiia Honcharova, an 11th-grade student at the Optima online school and a winner of the International Kaohsiung International Design and Science Fair (KIDE) in Taiwan.
Today, Sofiia is working on advanced biological research: studying the impact of pollution on aquatic organisms, investigating chromosomal abnormalities, and collaborating with international scientific institutions, including the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Her journey into science began with a school-level interest, but structured development opportunities emerged through the Science Mentoring project by the youth organization UkrTeenScience, implemented with support from the Da Vinci Ukraine grant program. The program provides laboratory materials, mentorship, and access to a community of like-minded peers.
In 2025, at the KIDE international exhibition in Taiwan, Sofiia presented her research and won the competition. Her project, developed in collaboration with international scientific partners, focused on the impact of pollution on aquatic organisms.
“I have been working on my own research for almost two years — a new approach to biological monitoring using machine learning. I study chromosomal abnormalities in aquatic organisms and have even described the karyotype of a species that is still barely studied worldwide. I presented this work at the international exhibition in Taiwan — and became its winner,” says Sofiia Honcharova.
Thanks to Science Mentoring, more than 100 students from across Ukraine joined the program, and 74% of participants won prizes in competitions and Olympiads.
The Da Vinci Ukraine grant program is an important part of building a sustainable STEM ecosystem that enables Ukrainian students not only to gain knowledge, but also to take their first steps in real scientific research and international collaboration.