Teen who fled Ukraine war now studying space technology

A 16-year-old who fled the war in Ukraine is now working with top scientists on space technology that could help the world achieve net zero.

Kateryna has been described as an "exceptional and brilliant student" by her lecturer.

The teenager spent 10 months living in a hotel room with her mother and grandmother when she first came to Wales in 2022 but has now become the first school pupil to complete an internship at Swansea University's Centre of Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM).

Kateryna is researching space-based solar panels to harvest energy from the sun and wants to follow in the footsteps of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking to become a theoretical physicist.

Kateryna said her work focussed on satellites orbiting the earth which experience "very high temperatures" when facing the sun.

"We have to make sure the semiconductors will work efficiently in those temperatures, but also the satellite can be hidden behind the earth so it will experience very cold temperatures," she said.

"We have to make sure the semiconductors will withstand that temperature range and continue to work," she added.

Internships at CISM are usually open to third year undergraduates who have studied two years of physics, and Kateryna's project will be studied further by third year undergraduates at least four years older than her.

Dr Gregory Burwell, a senior lecturer in the department of physics at Swansea University, described her as "exceptional".

"This was the first internship of its kind at CISM, and her success has set a high benchmark for future programmes."

He highlighted her work on "photovoltaics in space" - when photocells convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Photovoltaic or solar panels on land are limited by the weather and Earth's day-night cycle but space-based panels face the sun and can capture solar energy 24 hours a day.

The energy collected from the sun would be beamed to the ground where it is converted into electricity.

Dr Burwell said solar panels used on roofs are made from silicon "which isn't ideal for space because it's too heavy to absorb enough light".

"So, we're interested in developing thin filmed photovoltaics to generate more power with less weight which is important when launching satellites into space," he said.

"Kateryna's achievements demonstrate the impact of giving talented students meaningful access to advanced facilities and mentoring," he said.

Kateryna has got this far against all the odds - she fled the war and left her home in Kyiv at the age of 13 with her mother, Olena, 41, and 71-year-old grandmother, also called Kateryna.

The three lived in a hotel room in Swansea for 10 months and Kateryna did not have any space to herself to study.

"I'm very glad now we were able to secure a flat before my GCSEs and having a study space where I spend most of my time."

Kateryna has started her A levels at Bishop Gore school in Swansea studying five subjects including further maths, maths, physics, chemistry and computer science as well as the Welsh baccalaureate.

"School is great but is quite easy compared to the internship," she joked.

Eight thousand Ukrainians fled to Wales using routes opened by the UK and Welsh governments, with many first going to welcome centres, often repurposed hotel buildings like the one where Kateryna and her family lived.

Kateryna said she cannot see herself returning to Ukraine soon, adding she was grateful for the support people were still providing to her country.

Hundreds of gifts have set off this week from Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan for orphanages, hospitals and refugee centres in Ukraine for Christmas.

Kateryna said Russian attacks on Ukrainian power supplies were creating difficulties for the population there - Russia argues its attacks on energy targets are aimed at the Ukrainian military.

"Many people are stranded without electricity and towns without water or gas.

"Many people in the Ukraine have deserted their homes because the front lines are getting more dangerous, so help is still needed and it's important to talk about it," she said.

Amid current tensions around refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, Kateryna said that although she would like to study at Oxford or Cambridge, she was considering applying to universities in Germany or Austria.

"I am fortunate enough not to face any direct hostility but the talks of deporting immigrants and possibly terminating support of Ukrainian refugees has worried me," she said.

Olena said she was "incredibly proud" of her daughter.

"Kateryna works hard and is very focused on her studies - seeing her succeed makes me truly happy and proud every single day. "

"But we also want to say thank you to the people of Wales for their support, it is very important to us."