Almas Ordabaev, 28, from Ust-Kamenogorsk
Graduated from Moscow State University, chemistry teacher, OYLA magazine scientific editor
The project was a kind of a logical continuation of the things we’d been dealing with in the magazine for two and a half years. OYLA is a popular science magazine. We write about science in an accessible and clear language. There’re a great many pseudoscientific facts on the internet. Some unscrupulous companies misuse this promoting their so-called healing organic products.
Anyone has the right to know more
We provide scientific facts from biology, physics, and chemistry spheres willing to prove that the science is not a complicated matter. All the phenomena we come across revolve around some ordinary moments.
Last year Maria Valyaeva, our scientific editor, introduced us to the people organizing the "Lab" which has been conducted in Russia for two years. It was launched in Moscow and has been quite popular since then.
This project spread in many other countries as well: China, Spain, Germany, Holland, Belarus, France, etc. The event was first held in February last year. We fell in love with the Russian project and launched the same in Kazakhstan in June.
People liked the event which lasted for four hours instead of an hour and a half. The audience consisting of about hundred people was discussing and asking questions. This year the timeframe had to be strictly regulated and we managed to cope with in two hours. This year more than two hundred people came. Maria and I were sorting out the tasks during the discussions.
We’re planning to hold an "Open Lab" in Astana and Pavlodar, if possible.
"Lab" is popular among people of all ages (from 6 to 50) , as we deal with the matters related to a daily life such as the color of the sky; the rain; some ordinary facts. For example, the ISS is believed to be based in space by many, though it’s in an earthly atmosphere.
A few weeks earlier we announce that we are going to conduct the Lab. Participants are registered and receive handouts, brochures at the event. 30 minutes are given to solve the tasks, and then the answers are collected. One copy is for the participant, the other is for us. Discussions are always heated. Points are calculated for each heading.
"Lab" is not a competition, not an exam, but each participant’s personal matter
The only thing we calculate is the average cut. We collect duplicate works to get statistics later.
Initially, there were more than 500 people willing to attend in general. But the event took place in the Saturday morning, so fewer attendants came.
The Lab was held in KBTU (Kazakh-British Technical University), since it’s in the city center and has a large hall for 500 people. They expressed a desire to support us the next year too.
We received the brochures and the assignments in advance from Moscow. They sent an electronic version, and we translated it into Kazakh.
Maria Veliaeva, 24, from Kokshetau
OYLA magazine scientific editor
The initial name of the "Open Laboratory" project is "All-Russian Laboratory", which was launched in 2017. I’ve heard of the project at the School of Scientific Journalism. The project’s creators were to present it and were looking for like-minded people. I liked the idea of testing scientific literacy. It’s kind of a "Total dictation" for sciences.
Last year I found like-minded people in OYLA’s editorial office and in summer we launched the "Open Lab" project in Almaty. We were the first to use this brand and this year the "Open Lab" was held in 10 countries.
The project’s goal is to make rapidly developing science popular. People rarely use the latest inventions in their daily lives, so they don’t seem to be interested in discoveries. Anyway, children must always be kept in mind. Children do need correct answers. Their interest must be cultivated. The one not knowing some important scientific facts can be cheated upon by pseudoscientific facts.
Important decisions can be made according to public opinion
GM products were banished in Russia according to public opinion a few years ago. But the thing was that no one knew if the surveys and studies were actually conducted. This may also apply to vaccinations or medications. Having caught cold, many of my friends take antibiotics. But people who are good at biology and know the structure of cells and bacterial particles understand that antibiotics cannot kill a virus, because they affect cellular structures. Besides, the virus does not have a cell, therefore they cannot kill it.
People do not notice that important decisions are being constantly taken
The tasks are classified into several categories: remix, "your version", "laboratory work". A person who lacks basic ideas on a particular subject may find them difficult. In some tasks the scale of the phenomenon is required to be estimated, in others physical and chemical experiments have to be explained. Also, there’re some optional partner tasks such as a crossword from the Polytechnic University. The thing is that people knowing the answer can cope with the tasks just in 15 minutes.
Aery Duisenova, 21, from Astana, student
I drew attention to the "Open Laboratory" while being subscribed to OYLA magazine. I follow their activities and publications, as they often organize something cognitive and educational.
The project was similar to the "Total dictation", kind of a verification of scientific literacy for all comers. There were schoolchildren, their parents, grandparents, students and teachers, apparently a very diverse audience.
We were given illustrated questionnaires with some amusing statements that had to be refuted or confirmed, answered. Later Maria explained if the answer was true or not, and told different stories. She joked a lot, showed videos, there were some debates and arguments on the tasks.
It was really interesting to test myself, I could not answer some questions, and was a bit mislead. I revealed some myths, found out why the Eiffel Tower is higher and wider in summer than in winter.
Duman Smakov, 23, from Almaty
Factcheck.kz project editor
I heard of the event on the OYLA’s page. I got interested, as really wanted to test my knowledge and skills and found last year's questions out, which seemed interesting.
The event was held on Saturday morning. I passed it in Kazakh. To tell the truth, participating in such an event I expected to see more Russian-speaking participants, but this year there were more Kazakh-speakers.
It took me 40-45 minutes to answer the tasks, and 40-45 minutes to discuss.
I learned a lot of new information that I could not get anywhere else
I liked people discussing the issues that children usually ask: quite simple, yet requiring scientific proof.
I’m planning to attend all the useful events organized by OYLA magazine and its partners.
