On June 17, another meeting was held within the European Studies “ANTS”. The youth talked with leading Ukrainian environmental and agricultural scientists who use satellite data, modeling methods, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tools in their research.
Nataliia Kussul, Professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Mathematical Modeling and Data Analysis of the Scientific and Educational Institute of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, expert of the OSCE, the World Bank, the Commission’s Joint Research Center, scientific project manager of the HORIZON 2020 and HORIZON Europe programs, and representative of Ukraine in the EuroGEO high-level working group.
Andriy Shelestov, professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor of the Department of Mathematical Modeling and Data Analysis of the Scientific and Educational Institute of NTUU “KPI named after Igor Sikorsky”, expert of OSCE, UNDP, World Bank, Joint Research Center of the European Commission, participant in the HORIZON 2020 and HORIZON program projects Europe.
Hanna Yailymova, Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Mathematics, Department of Mathematical Modeling and Data Analysis of the Scientific and Educational Institute of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, World Bank expert, participant of the HORIZON 2020 and HORIZON Europe programs.
“Why is this topic important within European Studies? Because of such studies of European integration, 
participation in joint programs is extremely important because it means access to relevant data, information, and technologies. Is Ukraine integrated into joint programs with European countries? Yes, Ukraine participates in Earth observation programs; there are pilot programs. However, this participation must definitely deepen and be more systematic. It is important that all Ukrainian institutions related to the issue of access to satellite surveillance data coordinate well with each other, for example, scientists, the State Space Agency of Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine, etc. It is necessary that these organizations have a strong institutional memory so that there is no need to tell new leaders again what it is and why it is important. Also, Ukrainian legislation should be adapted to the perception of data obtained with the help of the latest technological developments,” says the coordinator of “European Studies” Olena Sas. “Ultimately, this opens up immeasurable possibilities, in particular in terms of determining the causes and consequences of such disasters as the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP, because modern satellites provide the opportunity to fix and recognize small details in time and space.”
Yes, Nataliia Kussul confirmed that it is quite possible to establish reliable information about the causes of the Kakhovka HPP disaster.
According to the researchers, for the successful integration of Ukraine into global and European programs, we should not only use European data; we also need to develop our own descriptions of the environment and agricultural land, as they are different and have their own specifics.
“Representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine were interested in the information provided at the meeting, as satellite data is a reliable source of information from those places where it is difficult to get access for the purpose of investigating crimes, in particular, war crimes of the russian federation,” said Olena Sas.
The event is held within the framework of the “MATRA”/”Key Principles of Ukraine’s Effective Path to the EU: Monitoring, Cooperation, Education” Program project.
Additional Information:
ANTS European Studies is a unique approach to educating promising Ukrainian youth, immersing students in the theory and practice of European integration.
It consists of a combination of lectures by leading European and Ukrainian experts, intellectuals, and practitioners, recorded in Bohdan Gavrylyshyn’s apartment, from which a distance learning course is formed on an open educational platform, and further live meetings of the most successful students in face-to-face format with lecturers.
The value of this combination lies in the listeners’ in-depth and step-by-step understanding of the specifics of the work of European institutions, their effectiveness, their connections with national management systems, the EU budget, and fiscal procedures, as well as the activities of various markets, innovation ecosystems, the latest developments in the fields of defense and security, etc.
An important component of the training is also the familiarization visits of students to Europe and internships, as well as possible further work in the Ukrainian central authorities and analytical centers of Ukraine for the implementation of our country’s effective European integration progress.
European studies are part of a larger plan of the NGO National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS” to form and nurture a new state elite, a network of new-generation specialists who will work for the good of Ukraine as part of state and civil institutions.
