Zhores Alferov. An archive photo
MINSK, 2 May (BelTA) – In a recent episode of BelTA’s project On Point. Our People, Konstantin Kovalevich, a physics and computer science teacher at Secondary School No. 3 in Bereza, discusses when Belarusian schoolchildren are first introduced to the works of Zhores Alferov and what discovery they make for themselves.
The teacher pointed out that modern schoolchildren, especially the youngest ones, rarely give a second thought to when or thanks to whom the smartphones and gadgets they use every day came to be. “A smartphone is a coveted possession, a status symbol for a teenager or child,” Konstantin Kovalevich explained. “When you start asking them, ‘How many pixels does your phone have? How many light‑emitting diodes are in the screen? What kind of screen is that? What is actually going on in there?’ they just don’t think about it. They simply use it. So I begin to uncover who invented all of this. It didn’t just materialize by magic. The first thing to do at school is to show that this is not magic; someone conceived of it, someone made it a reality.”
He added that the 1960s, when Zhores Alferov made his discoveries, feel like ancient history to today’s students. “But that technology was already being born back then,” the physics teacher said. He explained that while students know about scientists from past centuries, like Newton, they are almost completely unfamiliar with contemporary scientific figures. “You tell them, there is this scientist named Alferov. He invented the very things that make the internet possible, that bring light, enable your communication, power your 4K technology and high resolutions, and deliver the vivid pictures and videos on YouTube, where you watch all your content. All of that is built on his work.”
According to Konstantin Kovalevich, older students taking advanced physics only encounter Zhores Alferov’s work when studying semiconductors. Zhores Alferov won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering role in modern information technology. Yet what truly astonishes schoolchildren is learning that this great scientist was a native of Vitebsk. “So he’s Belarusian! He’s from Belarus!” they are stunned.
“That is a revelation for the kids. And they also realize just how widely this technology is used. It is all around you, and you are living inside it. Without this achievement, you would be writing letters, not calling each other or chatting through video messages,” the teacher remarked.
He added that if one looks beyond the strictly academic curriculum, students might learn Zhores Alferov’s name even earlier, through extracurricular activities or while preparing for knowledge competitions. “So as a significant figure, as a scientist who reached the heights of success and displayed it to the entire world, he has a place in our schools,” Konstantin Kovalevich said.
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