Almat Mukhamedrakhim

Almat won the Academician Shakhmardan Yessenov scholarship at the age of 20 as a second-year student at the Buketov Karaganda State University. He succeeded in a tough competition with over 500 contenders. How did the student from Karaganda win the scholarship, how is he doing now, and what plans does the young Kazakhstani have for the future?

Please tell us where you are from, and share some of your brightest childhood memories.
I am from the village of Uyaly which is located at the northernmost point in Kazakhstan. In winter, we can build not only snowmen but even ice robots there. When I was a child, I was different from my peers. While they played with toy soldiers, I built an army of robots. I dreamed of becoming a robotics scientist, you know, a crazy genius, but with good intentions. Since there were no sophisticated parts at hand, I was content with plasticine and made my cybernetic friends with it. But, on the other hand, I watched sci-fi movies and cartoons so much that I could spend a week afterwards composing stories about robot world domination — naturally, with me as the leading inventor.

Why did you decide to specialize in heat power engineering?
Because, as I grew up, I realized that everything is based on energy. Now, working at Buketov University in Karaganda, I conduct research in the field of alternative energy. This is my way of ensuring that everyone gets energy from clean and renewable sources. Am I planning to work in my field? Yes, for sure. I see great potential in this and believe that my research and development can change the world for the better. Today, I’m not so much “shaping” robots as I am shaping the future of energy. I think the plasticine robots from my childhood would be proud of me.

How did you first learn about the Yessenov Foundation competition, and how did you do in the competition?
I first learned about the Yessenov Foundation competition from my research advisor. The first stage, an essay about a professional path in the modern world, became a kind of immersion in the topic for me because I was constantly thinking about my career. The second stage, the online conference, turned out to be unexpectedly exciting. I met like-minded enthusiastic people there and even managed to get acquainted with them, and I still stay in touch with some of them. And, of course, I was very happy when I found out that I had won.

Why do you think you were able to win that competition?
I think that my success in the competition was due to a combination of several factors. First, I am genuinely passionate about my scientific work, and I think the Foundation’s staff saw this both in my essay and in the online discussion. Second, I managed to not only demonstrate my knowledge of the topic but also present my own perspective and approach to solving modern

problems in the field of alternative energy. And finally, I tried to be open and sociable when communicating with other participants, which may have given the impression of a genuinely interested and responsive person. My life hack is the following: immerse yourself in the topic, find your unique viewpoint, and don’t be afraid to share it, be open to communication and discussions. Success often comes from sincerity and enthusiasm.

Almat, did the Yessenov scholarship, which you won in 2023, help you, and how?
Thanks to the Academician Shakhmardan Yessenov scholarship, I was able to delve into programming, take English courses, and work with Arduino and similar platforms. This enabled me to bring my ideas to life by creating wind turbine models, expand my network, and exchange experiences with like-minded people. In this way, the scholarship not only helped me financially but also accelerated my professional growth.

What do you do now, and what are your plans for the next 2 years?
Currently, I am actively conducting research in the field of alternative energy at my university, with the goal of improving the efficiency of wind turbines. My work includes both theoretical development and practical experiments. Over the next two years, I want to deepen my knowledge of automated management systems for renewable energy sources. There are plans to publish the research outcomes in scientific journals and present them at conferences. I am also eager to continue learning English to stay up to date with the latest global developments in my field of study and collaborate effectively with colleagues from other countries.

How do you spend your free time?
I prefer reading science fiction – that’s my way of relaxing while also fueling my imagination. I recently started reading Black Yasha by Zinoviy Yuryev, the book is about the development of AI technologies. I am also interested in 3D printing. This is a great opportunity for me to bring my engineering ideas to life and manufacture parts for various projects, from small mechanisms to models of wind turbines, myself.