From Liquid Metals to Quantum Computing: Results of the Moscow Polytechnic University's SST-2026 Conference

On February 16, the Moscow Polytechnic University's Department of Physics held a large-scale in-person scientific and practical conference, "Science—Society—Technology—2026" (SST-2026). The event, timed to coincide with the university's anniversary year, became a major discussion platform, bringing together approximately 130 participants, ranging from recognized scientific leaders to young schoolchildren taking their first steps in research.

The main goal of the forum, as noted by the organizers, is to blur the boundaries between disciplines and unite the efforts of specialists to solve pressing modern problems.

This year, the conference program included four thematic sections covering a wide range of scientific fields:

• The Physics and Mathematics section (24 applications) provided a platform for discussions on fundamental problems in astrophysics, cosmology, and modern challenges in computational mathematics.
• The Engineering and Technology section (37 applications) impressed with the diversity of applied research: participants discussed the role of liquid metals in future energy, breakthrough developments in quantum computing, and structural strength.
• The Pedagogical Technologies section (23 applications) focused on current teaching and training methods.
• The new "Steps into Science" section, which opened this year, provided a unique opportunity for schoolchildren and college students to display their talent. Young researchers presented 37 compelling and innovative papers, confirming that the future of Russian science is safe.

The conference's geography extended far beyond the capital. Representatives from Moscow Polytechnic University branches in Kolomna, Ryazan, and Cheboksary actively participated in the sections. In addition, international partners from the Armenian Polytechnic University (Yerevan and Vanadzor), the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus (Gomel, Minsk), and the Belarusian National Technical University joined the discussion online. A total of 72 participants presented papers out of 211 authors, with 87 submitted papers, demonstrating the high interest of the scientific community in the Moscow Polytechnic University’s agenda.

Following the conference, a collection of articles will be published and included in the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI). This will provide young scientists and talented students with the opportunity to present their first serious research at a professional level and become part of the global scientific dialogue.