During the school break, Yurii Merzliakov, an Associate Professor in the Department of Technical Thermophysics, conducted an interactive, hands-on workshop titled "The Flower Business: How to Profit from Artificial Cooling."
The event was attended by 9th and 10th-grade schoolchildren from the Sumy Classical Lyceum.
Throughout the workshop, the schoolchildren explored how engineering expertise can be integrated with entrepreneurship to build a business. Using the flower industry as a case study, participants learned about the role of artificial cooling in preserving cut flowers. They discovered why air temperature and humidity are critical for maintaining freshness and discussed how well-implemented cooling systems help reduce product loss and operational costs.
Special emphasis was placed on the practical application of refrigeration technologies. The schoolchildren learned how refrigeration systems function, why cold storage units are essential in the flower trade, and how the choice of equipment—along with strict adherence to temperature requirements—directly impacts product quality and business profitability.
The interactive format allowed the students to view everyday objects through an engineer’s lens, tracing the connections between physical phenomena, modern technology, and real-world business processes. After all, behind every flower that stays fresh for a long time lie precise calculations, a solid understanding of the laws of thermophysics, and carefully selected technical solutions.
Such meetings help students better understand the practical value of the natural and technical sciences, foster an interest in engineering professions, and demonstrate that knowledge of thermal physics, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration can be applied across a wide range of fields.
The Department of Technical Thermal Physics at SumDU continues to introduce school students to modern engineering technologies, helping them discover new opportunities for education, professional development, and the realization of their own ideas.
