News and Advocacy 

Implementation of future cooperation

Our first meeting of the working group of the USA-Ukraine Collaboration (#STEMwithUkraine) in  quantum research and education took place on January 4th, 2024. This is collaboration between Drohobych State Pedagogical University of Ivan Franko , Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University, @Donbas State Pedagogical University (https://ddpu.edu.ua/index.php/english-version) and the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). As part of this collaboration, we will offer the online course on Quantum Computing this Spring 2024.

Please let us know if you would like to join the collaboration and participate.

Congratulations to STEMwithUkraine members  Dr. Khrystyna Voitovych, Olha Leshko and Dr. Hanna Terletska for winning APS-IRTAP awards.

STEM with UKRAINE group is very grateful to American Physical Society (APS) and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for this support of Ukrainian Scholars.

STEM with Ukraine Group Members help to organize an International Conference in Ukraine

STEM with Ukraine members, Dr. Hanna Terletska and Dr. Igor Kogoutiouk, recently presented their research at the international conference "Міжнародна конференція 'Актуальні проблеми сучасної науки'" hosted by Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University's Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, Economics, and Innovative Technologies on May 10-11, 2023. The conference brought together over 240 participants, including students and educators from Ukraine and international scholars from the United States, Latvia, Poland, and Hungary.

Website link

Dr. Nataliya Pidkovka Spearheads USA for UA: Aiding Ukraine with Humanitarian and Medical Aid

Dr. Nataliya Pidkovka, a Ukrainian born biomedical scientist and educator residing in Nashville, TN has joined STEM with Ukraine team. At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nataliya, with the support of her family and together with her friend Mariya Kramar, an interior designer, founded USA for UA, a 501 c3 non-profit volunteer organization of Ukrainians in Nashville, TN. USA for UA supports people in Ukraine by providing essential humanitarian and medical aid as they are standing for the freedom and democracy in the entire World. In addition to humanitarian function, the team inspires growing Ukrainian community in Nashville through organizing social events and fundraisings. Recently, USA for UA in partnership with the volunteer organization “Help Heroes of Ukraine” (Chicago, IL) hosted a first benefit concert of the Ukrainian modern band TRIODA in Nashville. All collected funds went to support the defenders of Ukraine. USA for UA developed a friendship and collaboration with other US-based charity organizations Ukrainian Humanity Center (Seattle, WA) and Kyiv Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International (Chicago, IL). 

USA for Ukraine Facebook page: Facebook

Ways to support: Zelle or PayPal: usaforua22@gmail.com

Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/WK7LUYHAFTNV?ref_=wl_share


Ukrainian TN community, MTSU and Vanderbilt students and faculty at #StandwithUkraine rally in Nashville TN State Capitol.


Photo credits: Sasha Grkvnk P H O T O G R A P H Y , Nashville, TN.

Ukraine and Tennessee Children Foster Heartwarming Pen Pal Connections Through Card Campaign organized by Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro TN.

Children from Middle Tennessee and Ukraine have formed touching connections through a card campaign led by CEO & President Tara MacDougall at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro. Young visitors to the center wrote heartfelt messages and drawings to support Ukrainian children impacted by the ongoing conflict. This simple act of kindness evolved into a meaningful exchange, as Ukrainian children responded in kind. The initiative reflects the universal yearning for peace and love among children and demonstrates the enduring power of compassion in challenging times.

Link to the full story by Channel5 

Image source: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/ukraine-and-tennessee-children-become-pen-pals-through-card-campaign

Dariia Hozhenko (STEM with Ukraine Group), a Ukrainian graduate student at Minnesota State University Mankato , is turning her education in physics into a powerful tool for aiding her war-torn homeland.

To raise awareness and assist Ukraine, Dariia has started a campus campaign directing people to the Ukrainian Community Center, a Minneapolis organization providing humanitarian aid to fellow Ukrainians. She does that while staying focused on her master’s in physics, leading undergrads as a physics lab teaching assistant. ... While in Ukraine, her mother has opened her home to a couple fleeing Kyiv. “They are living in our house, but they are total strangers for us. A lot of people moved so we are trying to help as much as we can,” she said.

Read full story here.


APS (American Physical Society)

offers research travel awards to Ukrainian  students and scholars.

Deadline October 16, 2023. Program website: https://www.aps.org/programs/international/programs/ukraine.cfm

STEM with Ukraine member, Dariia Hozhenko reflects on her return to Ukraine in the midst of the war: "It is a compete darkness... You just want to stay alive. It’s very scary." ... “My first time when I woke up from bombing, my mom was going to work,” Dariia began. “In the morning, she didn’t hear the air alert because she went outside.

“And then, I can hear explosions. And she is running to me and I hear that again, and I had a feeling that it’s going straight to her."

Read the full story here.

Excellent opportunity for Ukrainian Educators by BridgeUSA program.

Deadline Jan 21st, 2024. Program website: americancouncils.org.ua/programs/bridgeusa-uafp/ 

STEM Educators please APPLY! 

 Webinar on how to apply is available  on https://www.facebook.com/bridgeusaukraine/