Night at the Museum

On May 18, 2026, the Ridder Museum of History and Local Lore once again became the cultural heart of the city, bringing together history, traditions, creativity, and modern technologies as part of the international “Night at the Museum” campaign. The theme of the evening — “A Dialogue of Times. From the Past to the Present” — united the past and the future, allowing visitors to take a fresh look at the cultural heritage of their native land and the achievements of the younger generation.

Residents and guests of Ridder enjoyed thematic exhibitions, interactive platforms, workshops, and creative spaces throughout the evening. One of the highlights of the event was the exhibition of ancient European maps, “Kazakhstan in the Flow of History,” which demonstrated how the Kazakh land and elements of Kazakh statehood were reflected in European cartography across different historical periods.

One of the most remarkable parts of the event was the presentation of robotics and artificial intelligence projects created by lyceum students. Young innovators introduced ideas aimed at solving important environmental, social, and everyday challenges. Among the featured projects were:

“AQ Net – Air Quality Monitoring Station Network” — an automated air pollution alert system developed by Maksim Kovalenko (Grade 9). The project has already received international recognition and won first place in France.
“Step Wrap” — an eco-friendly biodegradable packaging solution created by Diana Kotvitskaya and Lina Anselm (Grade 7), capable of decomposing naturally without harming the environment.
“Disinfection Robot” by Artemiy Nechaev (Grade 9), designed to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The project won first place at international competitions in Switzerland and Indonesia.
“Breadron” — a device for quickly preparing dough starter and baking bread, developed by Nikita Ulyankin (Grade 7).
“Preventive Smart Backpack for School Students” by Ivan Gribenshchikov (Grade 9), designed to help monitor weight distribution, air quality, and other important indicators. The project received first-place awards in Korea and China. Special attention from younger visitors was drawn to the workshop “Build Your Own Car”, conducted by Nazar Kuryatnikov (Grade 8) and Eva Smorodina (Grade 6). Children enthusiastically assembled model cars and watched them overcome obstacles.

“Night at the Museum – 2026” became a true space for dialogue between generations, where history and culture met science, technology, and artificial intelligence. The event demonstrated how talented and determined today’s youth are, creating projects capable of changing the world for the better. “Night at the Museum” once again proved that today a museum is not only a guardian of history, but also a modern space for inspiration, discovery, and new ideas.