Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Four Novosibirsk State University faculty members have been named winners of the Potanin Foundation grant competition for the 2025/26 season. This year, representatives from several university departments received support: Institute of Philosophy and Law (IPL), Faculty of Geology and Geophysics (FGG) And Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS).
The winners are: – Indira Borisova, lecturer in the Department of Ontology, Theory of Knowledge and Methodology of Science at the Institute of Physical Problems. – Pavel Gavryushkin, associate professor in the Department of Mineralogy and Geochemistry at the Faculty of Geochemistry and Physics. – Mikhail Simonov, senior lecturer in the Department of Catalysis and Adsorption at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. – Alina Fatyanova, associate professor in the Department of Physiology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
Last year, three NSU faculty members were among the winners; this year, there are already four, confirming the university's steady growth in involvement in the competition.
A total of 150 teachers from 58 Russian universities received grants following the selection process. The total grant awards amounted to 73.5 million rubles. The competition received over 500 applications, and over 1,300 people expressed interest.
The competition's key goal is to develop modern educational practices and develop students' competencies in demand in the labor market. This season, special attention was paid to interdisciplinary approaches and the implementation of digital solutions.
"Faculty are increasingly creating end-to-end educational projects that allow students to experience the full cycle—from problem setting to presentation of the result. The integration of artificial intelligence is reaching a new level: it's important not only to use technology but also to foster a culture of interaction with it," noted Oksana Oracheva, CEO of the Potanin Foundation.
One of the supported projects at NSU is related to the development of digital educational tools.
"The goal of my project is to create a digital accompaniment for the course 'Theory and Practice of Argumentation,' including video materials and recommendations for using generative AI," says Indira Borisova.
According to her, student feedback was an important factor in participation.
"They actively participate in the process and help us understand how the course can be improved. The competition itself is an opportunity to look at your idea from a new perspective and evaluate its potential," adds Indira Borisova.
Another project aims to transform laboratory classes in the natural sciences.
"Traditional practicums are often structured like this: one student works, the others observe. We want to change this logic and give everyone the opportunity to work with real experimental data," explains Alina Fatyanova, PhysioLab project creator.
The project involves the creation of a digital physiology workshop with interactive laboratory work.
"This isn't a replacement for live experiments, but an expansion of learning opportunities. Students will be able to analyze data, test hypotheses, and return to experiments without limitations," explains Alina Fatyanova.
The project is of particular importance for the university as a whole.
"PhysioLab will be the first digital practical course in natural sciences at NSU and could become a model for other disciplines. And the multilingual interface will strengthen the university's position in the international educational space," notes Alina Fatyanova. "It's important that the virtual lab doesn't just demonstrate phenomena, but forces students to think, analyze, and make decisions."
Mikhail Simonov's project focuses on updating the content of chemistry education.
"The goal is to create a practice-oriented version of the 'Modern Catalytic Experimental Technique' course that meets the requirements of knowledge-intensive industries," explains Mikhail Simonov.
According to him, there has been a major leap forward in science in recent years.
"Today, it's important not just to impart basic knowledge, but to incorporate modern research and data-processing methods into training. This directly impacts the competitiveness of graduates," he adds.
He also emphasizes that one of the goals will be to adapt the course to the new generation of students:
— We need to make the material not only relevant, but also truly engaging.
Pavel Gavryushkin's project combines several directions at once.
"The focus is on atomistic modeling of crystals and 3D printing. I'm developing a course that will combine geology and chemistry," explains Pavel Gavryushkin. "This will be an opportunity for students to become familiar with a rapidly developing field and apply themselves to it."
Among the challenges is the need to create infrastructure:
"Implementing 3D printing and supercomputer modeling within the course is a significant challenge. But we've already gained experience and are ready to move forward," emphasizes Pavel Gavryushkin.
Support from the Potanin Foundation allows teachers not only to implement their projects but also to reach new levels of professional development, including through participation in specialized educational programs.
The victory of NSU faculty in the competition is another step toward the development of modern educational approaches at the university and confirmation of the high level of teaching, focused on both fundamental training and the practice and future of professions.
The material was prepared by: Yulia Dankova, NSU press service
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