natlastovets
I am a Ukrainian historian, lecturer, and active member of the Wikimedia movement. I hold a PhD in History and work as a senior lecturer at the Department of Ukrainian Studies at Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics.
I started editing Wikipedia in 2013 and became actively involved in 2017. Since 2018, I have been a member of Wikimedia Ukraine, later joining its Board, where I was responsible for the community engagement and participation support direction. I regularly conduct educational and outreach events, including Wikipedia training sessions for educators, students, and members of civil society.
Since 2020, I have been actively engaged in organizing the Ukrainian edition of the Wiki Science Competition.
Session
Ukraine's Wiki Science Competition is part of an international initiative promoting science through visual representation. Since its inaugural national edition in 2015, the Ukrainian competition has significantly evolved in categories and organizational approaches. This report will compare the 2019 and 2024 editions, highlighting changes in nomination categories, participation requirements, evaluation criteria, and security-related restrictions.
Special attention will be given to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war on the competition's format and logistics. In 2023, a special award was introduced to acknowledge the effects of the war in Ukraine, including images of damaged equipment, evacuated laboratories, and memorials to fallen scientists.
The presentation will discuss key organizational challenges and outline the competition's role as a tool for science communication, collective memory, and community resilience. This report is based on practical experience in coordinating the competition in Ukraine.