On February 5-6, 2026, on the eve of the Russian Science Day, the final stage of the "Smart RPE" Competition was held in Saint Petersburg. This contest showcased projects and innovative ideas from students, PhD students, young scientists, and specialists in the field of respiratory protective equipment (RPE). The competition is aimed at stimulating the creative activity of young people, implementing innovative ideas and developments into production, instilling a culture of using RPE, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The competition included several stages, and the selected projects were presented at the final round. One of these finalists was Tatyana YAKUBENKO, a fifth-year student of the Faculty of General Medicine, with the project, "High-Tech Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers" performed under the supervision of Natalia V. SEMENOVA, MD, PhD (in Medicine), Assoc. Prof. of the Department of Extreme and Evidence-Based Medicine.
More than twenty projects by students, PhD students, young scientists, and young specialists from companies across Russia reached the final round of the "Smart RPE" Competition. Tatyana Yakubenko's project, dedicated to the creation of new high-tech masks for healthcare workers,was awarded a second-place diploma. The project team received high praise from experts and a special prize from the Union of Chemists of Russia. Leading Russian manufacturers of respiratory protective equipment also supported the project and offered to participate in the development of the components of the "high-tech mask".
We congratulate to Tatyana Yakubenko and her supervisor Natalia V. Semenova! We wish them further success and early implementation of scientific inventions into the work of healthcare workers to prolong their working lives and maintain their health!