At the K. Kulazhanov Kazakh University of Technology and Business, a unique interactive 4D periodic table of chemical elements is presented. The author of the project is Candidate of Chemical Sciences, PhD, Research Professor Yerlan Melsuly Suleimen.
The innovative development has received an author’s certificate and has also been featured in national media, including the newspaper “Delovoy Kazakhstan” dated April 17, 2026 (article available at: https://dknews.kz/ru/all).
Currently, the interactive table is located in the university technopark building, where it has become an important part of the educational and science outreach environment. The installation is open to school students, university students, and all visitors interested in science.
The idea for creating the interactive table originated from the scientist’s daughter, Nuriya Suleimen, a figure skating master of sport and member of the national Olympic team. While Yerlan Suleimen was working at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, she sent him a photo of a 4D periodic table displayed in the office of Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft. However, that version was relatively simple and included only the elements themselves. This inspired the scientist to develop a more informative, visual, and interactive version of the periodic table, reflecting not only chemical elements but also their practical applications. Upon returning to Kazakhstan, Professor Suleimen began implementing the project, gradually filling the table with real samples of substances, minerals, compounds, and materials, while integrating modern digital and multimedia technologies.
Professor Yerlan Suleimen successfully implemented the project, creating a next-generation educational platform that combines science, visualization, and digital technologies.
The developed table is presented as a modern wall-mounted interactive stand, where each cell corresponds to a specific chemical element and contains real samples of substances, minerals, compounds, and products. A key feature of the system is its interactivity and multimedia integration: each cell is equipped with a QR code that allows users to access additional information about the element via smartphone, and is connected to a centralized control system.
The structure includes an integrated map of Kazakhstan, showing mineral deposits and industrial sites. When a cell is opened, the corresponding region where the element is extracted or used is automatically highlighted. For example, selecting copper highlights the Zhezkazgan deposit, while selecting iron displays iron ore mining regions and metallurgical facilities. Opening sensors activate visual and multimedia elements, including educational video content displayed on a built-in screen.
The interactive table integrates chemistry, geography, and industry into a single educational environment, making the study of science more engaging and visually intuitive. It helps foster understanding among young people of Kazakhstan’s natural resources, their geographic distribution, and industrial importance, while increasing interest in the natural sciences.
Professor Yerlan Melsuly Suleimen is a renowned Kazakh scientist, author of more than 30 patents and over 400 scientific publications. His research covers natural compounds chemistry, pharmaceutics, and advanced materials.
The development has already attracted the attention of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which has expressed interest in including the interactive table in its exhibition.
The table is currently displayed in the KazUTB technopark and is open to visitors. We invite school students, university students, and all interested visitors to explore the technopark and experience this unique development, which brings together science, technology, and education in one space. The placement of this innovation in the KazUTB technopark highlights the university’s role as a center for implementing modern educational technologies and promoting science, while also creating new opportunities for excursions, educational events, and scientific demonstrations.
- Author’s Certificate for the 4D Periodic Table
- Author of the Idea – Nuriya Suleimen (Master of Sport in figure skating, member of the Olympic team)\
- Bill Gates’ Table
- E.M. Suleimen’s Table
