Category: Наука и инновации/

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Vasily Vasilyevich Leontief (1905–1999) – economist, creator of the theory of inter-industry analysis, lecturer at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute named after M. I. Kalinin. Laureate of the Nobel Prize in Economics "for his development of the input-output method and its application to important economic problems" in 1973.

Vasily Leontiev was born in August 1905, the son of an economics professor in Munich, and grew up in Petrograd. In 1921, he entered the Faculty of Social Sciences at Petrograd University, graduating as an external student in 1923.

After completing his studies, he began working as a lecturer in the Department of Economic Geography at the M. I. Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. In 1925, he went abroad for medical treatment, where he continued his research. He remained a lecturer at the Polytechnic Institute until September 1926.

The personal file of V. V. Leontiev, a teacher at the M. I. Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, is kept in the Central State Archives of St. Petersburg, Collection R-3121. Inventory 12. File 384.

In 1931, the scientist settled in the United States, where he conducted economic research and taught at Harvard and New York Universities. He was the founder and director of the American Institute of Economic Analysis and a consultant to the United Nations.

Wassily Leontief made extensive use of mathematical methods and soon developed new principles of mathematical analysis of the economy, making him a renowned scholar. In 1954, he was elected president of the Econometric Society, and in 1970, president of the American Economic Association. In 1973, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his research, which he conducted while still in the Soviet Union.

In 1988, the scientist was invited to the USSR as an expert to consult on perestroika. That same year, he was elected a foreign member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

A number of economic phenomena are named after Vasily Vasilyevich, such as the Leontief model and Leontief's paradox. Because of these discoveries, the scientist became known as the "apostle of planning."

Vasily Leontiev is an honorary doctor of the Universities of Brussels, Paris, and Leningrad, an officer of the Legion of Honor (France, 1968), and was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan, 1984) and the Order of Arts and Literature (France, 1985). He was also a laureate of the Bernard Harms Prize (1970).

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Researchers from the Advanced Engineering School "Digital Engineering" at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have presented a digital model of a vitrification furnace for high-level radioactive waste. The digital model will allow engineers to plan production cycles for complex nuclear waste disposal equipment more quickly, efficiently, and safely. The development is being commissioned by the Mayak Production Association (part of Rosatom State Corporation) and is based on the CML-Bench® digital twin development and application platform under the supervision of Alexey Borovkov, Chief Designer for System Digital Engineering, SPbPU's key scientific and technological development area.

Vitrification technology is the global standard for liquid radioactive waste disposal. Sintering in a special furnace at temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius transforms the waste into a solid, glass-like substance. This approach achieves two key objectives: first, it reduces the initial volume of hazardous materials by removing the liquid component, and second, it encases them in a chemically stable and durable form, ideal for safe storage over long periods of time. This is the most effective and safest of all existing methods.

Engineers from the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University's PSI have developed a digital model of a vitrification furnace. It allows engineers to "peek inside" a working installation and conduct hundreds of digital tests, ushering in a new era in the design of critical nuclear facilities.

The model shows how the glass melt moves, how the temperature changes in different zones, and how the equipment responds to changing operating modes. This is especially important for ensuring the efficient operation of such complex equipment as a vitrification furnace. The digital model takes into account the influence of complex physical processes, including heat transfer, hydrodynamics, electrodynamics, and more. Simultaneously considering multiple input parameters and their interactions allows for complex studies to be conducted digitally to optimize the vitrification process, which is cheaper and safer than in-kind testing, noted Dmitry Evstratov, Lead Engineer of the Cross-Industry Technologies Department at the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) at PISh SPbPU.

Only a limited number of countries possess the technology to vitrify high-level radioactive waste, but a digital model of this unique equipment has been created for the first time in the world.

The main practical result of this development is that the system enables full-scale testing on virtual test rigs, repeatedly validating various operating scenarios and design solutions. Using digital twin technology shifts the bulk of engineering risks to the development stage. This means that both developers and operators of high-tech equipment can test the effectiveness of various operating scenarios on the CML-Bench® digital platform and implement the one that yields the best digital test results in a real installation. This dramatically reduces the need for expensive and time-consuming full-scale testing and numerous design modifications. As a result, overall installation lifecycle costs are reduced, and its reliability increases significantly, noted Yuri Gorsky, Head of the Cross-Industry Technologies Department at the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) at PSI SPbPU.

To create the model, scientists used advanced computer modeling techniques: finite element and finite volume methods, supplemented by machine learning and regression analysis algorithms. The digital model has already been validated: its performance was compared with data from an existing pilot plant. Discrepancies in key parameters were minimal, confirming its validity.

Work in this area has been underway at SPbPU for several years. In 2023, a team from the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) at SPbPU's PISh, commissioned by FSUE PO Mayak (Rosatom State Corporation), developed the architecture of the future digital twin—its detailed design and a system of mathematical and computer models. This work represents a logical and fundamentally new result: the previously developed architecture has been embodied in a fully functional digital engineering tool.

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The 3rd International Obninsk Tech Winter School, an educational program of the Obninsk.Tech project, concluded in Obninsk. Held at the Obninsk Institute of Atomic Energy of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (a flagship university of the Rosatom State Corporation), with the support of Rosatom, the school brought together 125 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world.

Participants included students from international educational programs at the Institute of Power Engineering of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. For SPbPU representatives, this week was not only an opportunity to deepen their professional knowledge but also a significant milestone in their personal and international professional development.

The educational program traditionally focused on three key areas: fundamental theory, practical laboratory work, and technical tours of nuclear industry facilities. Leading industry experts and Rosatom ambassadors shared their experiences with the participants during the lecture series. The lectures were aimed at broadening their professional horizons and developing a strategic vision for the development of nuclear energy.

The practical part took place in the modern scientific laboratories of the Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering (INPhI) at MEPhI. Students worked in the areas of dosimetry, radiation monitoring, electronics and automation for nuclear power plants, electrical engineering, 3D modeling, non-destructive testing, and materials science. This format allowed participants to consolidate their theoretical knowledge and acquire applied competencies in demand in the international nuclear industry.

A separate section of the program included technical tours to Rosatom State Corporation's flagship facilities and high-tech enterprises in the Kaluga Region—the Rosatom Technical Academy, the IPPE Institute, the A.F. Tsyb Moscow Regional Nuclear Research Center, the LUCH Research Center, and other organizations. Participants had the opportunity to explore unique installations and practical aspects of the peaceful application of nuclear technology.

A key event for many students was a visit to the world's first nuclear power plant. Among them was IE student Anas Abuhajras (Palestine). He says even a return visit doesn't diminish the emotion: "This experience was both captivating and amazing. Visiting the birthplace of nuclear energy is a tremendous honor. Even being here for the second time, I experienced the same emotions as the first. Learning about the workings of nuclear facilities and medical centers was incredibly fascinating."

According to Anas, the school's greatest value lies in its international professional community: "Without initiatives like these, bringing together students from different countries who speak the same professional language would be impossible. It's a chance to exchange ideas and work together to solve real-life engineering cases at hackathons. It's been an incredibly enriching experience."

The international nature of the participants allowed for an open dialogue about the development of the nuclear industry in various countries. Student Sizakele Kumalo (South Africa), also representing IE, noted the significance of participating in the global project: "Being part of this international project was a truly wonderful and amazing experience. I was delighted that my institute supported this initiative. The Winter School allowed me to better understand and explore various areas of nuclear technology and their applications through lectures, practical classes, technical tours, and, of course, live interaction with people from diverse cultures."

Student Samuel Gebreninsae (Eritrea) emphasized the harmonious combination of a rich professional program and the cultural component: "The program was very intensive, but the visit to the first nuclear power plant was a turning point for me. It gave me a direct understanding of the origins of the industry."

Over the course of a week, participants worked on projects as part of HackAtom, a team-based engineering intensive aimed at finding original solutions for the application of nuclear technology and the development of the industry. The project defenses marked the logical conclusion of the program. At the closing ceremony, students were awarded certificates of professional development, and the winning teams of HackAtom and the Atomic Triathlon received awards.

As Tatyana Osipova, Director of the Obninsk.Tech project office, noted, holding the school is of strategic importance for strengthening Obninsk's position as a global center for nuclear education and developing an international professional community.

The participation of students from the Institute of Power Engineering at SPbPU in the Obninsk Tech Winter School was an important step in developing their professional competencies, expanding their international connections, and fostering sustainable motivation to work in the global nuclear industry.

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The 2nd All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation, "Innovative Approaches in Urban Development: Science, Education, and Practice," was held at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The event was organized by the SPbPU Institute of Civil Engineering, the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, the Research Institute of Advanced Urban Development, and the Leningrad Region Urban Development Policy Committee, with the support of the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Utilities of the Russian Federation and the Government of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

The conference served as an interdisciplinary platform for dialogue between government officials, the scientific community, and business. Its main goal was to discuss current challenges in modern urban development, exchange best practices, and develop joint solutions for the development of agglomeration systems and large cities.

The conference was opened by SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy, President of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences (RAACS) Dmitry Shvidkovsky, Special Representative of the Governor of St. Petersburg for Economic Development Anatoly Kotov, President of the St. Petersburg Union of Architects Vladimir Grigoriev, General Director of JSC "St. Petersburg Development Corporation" Denis Gornev, Deputy Director of the Department of Urban Development and Architecture of the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation Alexander Stepanov, and Chairman of the Southern Territorial Branch of RAACS Yuri Rysin.

Today, the future of urban development directly depends on the development of science and the training of highly qualified personnel. The city must change, acquiring a national identity. I am confident that the training of such professionals will become the foundation for the sustainable development of the urban development industry, noted Dmitry Shvidkovsky.

The first day of the conference was devoted to current issues in contemporary urban development policy and existing challenges in territorial planning. Particular attention was paid to the role of universities in implementing the urban development agenda. Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Civil Engineering Institute, delivered a report titled "The Role of Universities in Implementing the Urban Development Agenda of the City and Region." She emphasized the importance of training students in territorial planning and urban design.

On the first day of the event, Margarita Perkova, Director of the ISI Higher School of Design and Architecture, presented a report titled "Urban Zoning of the Leningrad Region." Sergey Lutchenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad Region Urban Development Policy Committee and Associate Professor at the ISI Higher School of Design and Architecture, presented a report titled "Urban Development Policy: Science, Education, and Practice." Pavel Spirin, Director of the Research Institute of Industrial Geosciences and Head of the Urban Development Department at the ISI Research Institute for Advanced Urban Development, and Dmitry Shvidkovsky, President of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, presented a joint report titled "Future Traditions in Modern Urban Development. Spatial Development of the Territories of the Russian Federation."

The second day of the conference was devoted to a discussion of current tools and technologies for spatial development, as well as issues of functional, transport, and infrastructure planning in the context of modern industry challenges.

Pavel Spirin presented a report titled "Formation of the Kingisepp Industrial and Logistics Cluster Based on Urban Development Documents." Margarita Perkova and Alexandra Kuzmina, Vice President of the Union of Architects of Russia, presented a joint report titled "Urban Development of the Moscow Region. Announcement of the Thematic Issue of the "Architecture and Construction of Russia" Journal."

On the second day, a project session, "High-Rise Construction in the Leningrad Region," was held, featuring senior undergraduate and graduate students from specialized universities in the city and leading practicing architects from Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Leningrad Region Committee for Urban Development Policy commissioned the project session.

A special event was the awards ceremony for the winners of the 1st International Competition of Graduation Theses (Projects) for Bachelor's, Specialist, and Master's Students in Urban Planning, Architecture, and Design, "ARCHIGRAD," held in 2025 by the Institute of Civil Engineering at SPbPU. The competition aims to identify and support promising graduation projects in urban planning, architecture, and design.

The competition featured 378 entries in eight categories from 44 higher education institutions in 27 Russian cities, as well as from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The entries covered a wide range of topics, from the renovation of historical sites and the design of sustainable urban environments to the development of digital interfaces, architectural solutions for the Arctic and the Far North, and the design of cultural heritage sites and tourism infrastructure.

On the third day, a field trip to Gatchina took place, where participants visited the Gatchina Palace, the Stationmaster's House, and the memorial complex "In Memory of the Civilians of the USSR – Victims of Nazi Genocide during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945."

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The Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade at SPbPU held a scientific week to celebrate Russian Science Day and the institute's 10th anniversary. The events covered a variety of research areas and allowed students, postgraduates, and faculty to gain a closer understanding of the institute's current research and the historical legacy of Russian science.

The Science Week series of events at IPMEIT opened with a lecture titled "L. V. Kantorovich: Contribution to Global Economic Science." It was delivered by Svetlana Golovkina, Head of the Department of Economic Theory. Leonid Kantorovich was a scholar who stood at the origins of the Soviet school of economics and mathematics. His research contributed to the development of the theory of optimal planning and management of the national economy and the development of problems in socialist economics, including pricing, the theory of differential rent, and the efficiency of capital investment.

Following the open lecture, a science quiz hosted by the IPMEiT Student Scientific Society was held. The quiz brought together first-year students interested in science, research, and intellectual competitions. The event was an excellent way to test their knowledge of the history of science at Polytechnic University, scientists, and inventions across various historical periods. During the intellectual quiz, teams competed in three exciting rounds, featuring both classic test questions and open-ended challenges, which encouraged active participation and fostered an atmosphere of friendly competition. All participants received commemorative certificates, and the winners and runners-up were awarded diplomas.

Yaroslav Fazanov, a Management student, shared his impressions of the quiz: "It was very interesting to participate in learning about the history of science at Polytechnic University in such an engaging format. We didn't just recall names and dates—we teamed up to search for answers, debate, and celebrate our discoveries, like true researchers. It wasn't just a competition, but an opportunity to learn a lot about our university!"

In addition, IPMET held several other events during Science Week:

The scientific stand-up “PRO management: non-standard solutions for business” proved that the science of management can be not only fundamental, but also fascinating, similar to an exciting intellectual quest. The hosts of the event turned the audience into a “Laboratory of Innovative Solutions.” They invited students to become consultants and innovators rather than passive listeners. Student teams, acting as consulting bureaus, looked for ingenious and effective ways out of difficult production situations.
Panel discussion “Corporate master’s programs as a driver of scientific development in IT for the oil and gas industry.” During the discussion, representatives of the university and industrial partners discussed the role of corporate educational programs in the development of applied science, the integration of student projects into real business problems, the formation of a professional environment and the construction of sustainable career trajectories for graduates. Participants shared their experience in implementing corporate programs, discussed mechanisms for supporting research activities, as well as key challenges and sustainability factors for long-term partnerships between the university and industry.
The round table “From multiple tasks to unity of result” was dedicated to the economic security of foreign economic activity, sanctions risks, new opportunities and predictive measures in modern realities. The participants were representatives of financial, credit and legal companies, who shared their experiences and identified key challenges.
The round table “Modeling the development of socio-economic systems” became a platform for professional dialogue about modern approaches to the construction of interdisciplinary models, data verification and their practical application. The main topics of discussion were tools for supporting decision-making in conditions of uncertainty, industry cases in the field of government programs and corporate strategies.
The scientific seminar “Creative Economy: From Theory to Practice in the World and Russia” introduced participants to the characteristics and components of a creative economy, which contributes to the achievement of various innovative goals and objectives. Representatives of more than 20 Russian scientific and educational organizations took part in the seminar.
The scientific seminar “Applied machine learning in business management” brought together master’s students who presented their developments, discussed possible difficulties and options for commercializing ideas.

Of particular interest was the inter-institutional seminar "AI Ethics in the Context of Applied Economic Problems in Services, Logistics, and Marketing," organized by the IPMEIT Higher School of Service and Trade jointly with the Higher School of Social Sciences of the Humanities Institute. The event featured an interdisciplinary discussion of current issues and the implications of the introduction of artificial intelligence into key areas of social and economic life.

Also worth noting is the poster exhibition "Russian and Russian Generalist Scientists—Drivers of Global Progress," currently taking place at the Institute of Mechanics, Economics, and Technology. The exhibition introduces students, postgraduates, and faculty to the legacy and scientific achievements of outstanding scientists whose discoveries have had a significant impact on the development of global science and practice.

For IPMEIT, science is the foundation for training specialists capable of addressing real-world economic and management challenges. We develop fundamental and applied research, closely aligning it with industry needs and modern technological challenges. Science Week demonstrated the breadth of the institute's research areas and our goal—to engage students in research, fostering their systems thinking and a willingness to create practical solutions," noted IPMEIT Director Vladimir Shchepinin.

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Influenza virus infection during pregnancy poses significant risks to the health of the mother and fetus and may contribute to adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes in the offspring. Epidemiological studies conducted over the years have linked influenza in pregnant women with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and cognitive deficits in the child later in life. A study by a team of St. Petersburg scientists demonstrated that the underlying cause is not the virus itself, but rather the mother's protective response. Understanding these mechanisms may help develop strategies to reduce the risks of neurodevelopmental impairment associated with prenatal infections. The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Health. The results were published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.

Seasonal influenza causes between 3 and 5 million severe cases of illness worldwide each year, and its danger to pregnant women is particularly high. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, for example, it was found that the infection could lead to premature births and low-birth-weight babies. Other adverse effects of influenza on pregnant mothers include preterm birth, low birth weight, increased risk of infant mortality, weakened respiratory immunity, and, in some cases, various neurodevelopmental disorders (including schizophrenia, psychotic or psychosis-like states, mood disorders, developmental delays, and bipolar disorder). Scientists worldwide are investigating the specific mechanisms underlying the development of such complications, but the detailed mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Most studies suggest that the influenza virus is generally unable to cross the placenta.

An interdisciplinary team of St. Petersburg scientists conducted a detailed study of the mechanism by which adverse effects on the fetus occur due to maternal influenza infection during pregnancy using an animal model of the infection. The study involved scientists from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, the A. A. Smorodintsev Influenza Research Institute, and the I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The scientists examined the effects of infection with two strains of the A(H1N1) influenza virus during pregnancy using an animal model (mice). Severe infection led to a sharp decrease in offspring survival—from the normal 92% to 20–46%. Even the surviving offspring showed significant disruptions in brain development. The primary focus of the study was the hippocampus, a brain region responsible for memory formation, learning, and emotional regulation. It is in the hippocampus that the process of new nerve cell formation—neurogenesis—actively occurs throughout the perinatal period and into adulthood.

The study found that the most serious adverse effects on the fetus were caused not by the influenza virus itself, but by the inflammatory response it triggered in the mother's body, which led to disruption of neurogenesis.

We found that inflammatory signals from the mother's body led to two critical consequences: suppression of neurogenesis and chronic activation of glial cells. The offspring of mice that had experienced an influenza infection during pregnancy had a decreased number of neuronal stem and progenitor cells, which potentially impacts nerve cell formation. At the same time, it was shown that glial cells, which normally perform protective and supportive functions, entered a constantly activated, "inflammatory" state in key areas of the hippocampus, creating an unfavorable environment for neuronal development. This may be one of the mechanisms for the development of potential serious neurocognitive disorders in the future, noted Anastasia Rakovskaya, a research engineer at the Molecular Neurodegeneration Research Laboratory at the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology at SPbPU.

The study not only explains the observed link between influenza infection during pregnancy and the development of possible neurological complications in the future, but also suggests specific ways to protect the health of future generations.

Of course, the results of studies obtained on laboratory animals cannot be directly transferred to humans. However, given the available clinical data and the results of our work, we can formulate clear practical conclusions: 1. Vaccination of pregnant women against influenza should be a mandatory and primary preventative measure. 2. In the event of illness, antiviral therapy should be initiated as early as possible to suppress viral replication and, consequently, reduce the severity of the inflammatory response. 3. The development of safe drugs capable of selectively blocking proinflammatory cytokines in pregnant women is necessary, which could open a new direction in the development of anti-inflammatory drugs, said Yana Zabrodskaya, PhD in Physics and Mathematics and Associate Professor at the Higher School of Biomedical Systems and Technologies at the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology at SPbPU.

The implementation of the above measures will not only prevent long-term consequences for the child, but will also provide a significant economic effect, saving money on the treatment of possible mental and neurological disorders in the future.

All experiments were carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (state assignment No. FSEG-2023-0014), with the exception of measurements of the expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes, which were funded by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (state assignment No. 056-00025-25-01, topic No. 123021300165-6).

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The SPbPU Institute of Civil Engineering hosted a scientific seminar, "Hydraulics and Hydraulic Engineering. Sharing Experiences." It was dedicated to the memory of outstanding scientists and teachers, Professors Artur Girgidov and Mikhail Petrichenko. The event was part of SPbPU Science Week.

Artur Davidovich Girgidov (1939–2020) was an Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, and Professor. For over 20 years, he headed the Hydraulics Department of the Faculty of Hydrotechnical Engineering (since 1999, the Faculty of Civil Engineering). A graduate of the Faculty of Hydrotechnical Engineering of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute named after M. I. Kalinin, Artur Davidovich, already in the early 1960s, using the first electronic digital computers, calculated the fluctuations of water masses in a pressure system of a hydroelectric power station with a surge tank. Thus, he was a decade ahead of foreign research. Artur Girgidov's scientific contributions are vast: from the theoretical foundations of hydraulics and the theory of gravity-fed fluid flow to soil mechanics and mathematical models of human limb joints. Artur Davidovich developed training courses and trained generations of hydraulic engineers and construction specialists. As Deputy Chairman of the Scientific and Methodological Council for Hydraulics of the Russian Ministry of Education, he developed educational standards. He is the author of over 100 scientific papers and textbooks, as well as four inventions.

Mikhail Romanovich Petrichenko (1951–2021) — Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, Head of the Hydraulics Department at the Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering (since 1999, the Faculty of Civil Engineering). After graduating from the M. I. Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnic Institute in 1974, he worked at the Central Diesel Research Institute for over 20 years. He rose through the ranks from engineer to deputy head of department. Since 1995, his entire career has been associated with Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. He is the author of over 200 scientific papers, 21 inventions, textbooks, and monographs. Mikhail Romanovich combined in-depth interdisciplinary research in hydraulic engineering, construction, and mechanical engineering with active teaching and scientific-organizational work. Under his supervision, more than 10 PhD candidates were trained. He was awarded the title of "Honored Worker of Education of the Russian Federation."

The seminar featured 17 speakers, including representatives from the Civil Engineering Institute and the Physics and Mechanics Institute of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, Hydrotech LLC, and the Moscow Polytechnic University. The speakers included professors, associate professors, graduate students, and undergraduates, many of whom knew Artur Girgidov and Mikhail Petrichenko personally.

The presentation topics covered a wide range of relevant topics: current trends in the development of semi-empirical turbulence models, the influence of anthropogenic and climatic factors on floods, the study of hydraulic shock using strain gauges, experience in the design and operation of hydroelectric power plants under extreme conditions, the stability of sheet pile walls during construction, experience in three-dimensional numerical modeling of air distribution in ventilated spaces, issues of hydraulics in marine hydraulic engineering, and prospects for the development of the subjects "Hydraulics" and "Hydraulics of Hydraulic Structures."

The seminar concluded with a general discussion, during which participants shared memories of the personalities and scientific legacy of Professors Artur Girgidov and Mikhail Petrichenko. Following the seminar, a tour of the hydraulic laboratory of the Civil Engineering Institute was offered to all interested participants.

This seminar is a tribute to two outstanding scientists and educators, Artur Davidovich Girgidov and Mikhail Romanovich Petrichenko, whose scientific schools laid the foundation for the development of hydraulics at our university. "Artur Davidovich and Mikhail Romanovich were my teachers and academic advisors. Their clarity of thought, dedication to science, and desire to connect theory with practice remain a benchmark for us. Today's exchange of experience is a continuation of their work," noted Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Civil Engineering Institute.

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On February 6, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University hosted several important events dedicated to Russian Science Day. These included the general meeting of the University Big Data Research Consortium, the "Science Day at the Polytechnic University" gala, and the "Science is Beautiful" exhibition.

The day began with a meeting of the University Consortium. It unites 84 universities and research organizations from Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

The Big Data Consortium was established in 2017 and today is one of the largest associations of educational institutions in the CIS in the field of big data and artificial intelligence. The association collaborates with IT companies working in the fields of big data, AI, digital transformation, and cybersecurity, as well as with government organizations and institutions. Consortium members, together with their partners, conduct joint research and implement projects to train next-generation personnel and develop the digital economy.

The main event of the meeting was the signing of an agreement on Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University's accession to the "University Consortium of Big Data Researchers" Association, with the goal of developing and implementing cutting-edge scientific research and development in the field of collecting, processing, and analyzing large amounts of data.

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University's accession to the University Consortium of Big Data Researchers strengthens SPbPU's position in the field of artificial intelligence and data analysis and opens up additional opportunities for our scientists and students to engage in network projects and collaborative research, noted SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy.

For Polytechnic University, joining the consortium means more joint projects with leading universities in Russia and the CIS, access to strong research teams, and a lively exchange of big data practices—from science and education to industry and urban development. Importantly, Polytechnic University is joining the consortium not only for opportunities but also with its own engineering case studies, ambitions, and AI projects. For students, postgraduates, and young scientists, this means access to schools of applied data analysis, educational programs in data-driven management, and participation in inter-university teams.

As Vyacheslav Goiko, CEO of the Big Data Consortium, noted, Polytechnic's accession to the Association will provide impetus for the development of projects based on big data and artificial intelligence for engineering training.

In our country, engineering has always been a key profession. Today, it's crucial for these specialists to be proficient in artificial intelligence and big data analytics technologies, as these tools are being actively implemented in manufacturing, energy, construction, and other sectors. Technological sovereignty and economic growth depend on engineers with digital competencies, commented Vyacheslav Goiko.

We are gathering in anticipation of February 8th. In 1724, Peter the Great signed a decree establishing the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. This is very symbolic for us, as our rector, Andrei Rudskoy, is the chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Furthermore, our university is named after Peter the Great. I congratulate everyone on the upcoming holiday. Of course, this is important to us—scientists, people who help advance science and popularize science. They are the backbone of a modern university. Certainly, one of the key development areas for Polytechnic University is artificial intelligence and machine learning methods, so we are very pleased to have been invited to join the consortium. We believe that such platforms where we can share our ideas and trusted data, which we can use to train various models, are extremely important. The more such platforms there are, the further our intellectual resources will be able to advance this national frontier," Yuri Fomin, SPbPU Vice Rector for Research, addressed the meeting participants.

Ivanovo State University, TISBI University of Management, and the Russian State Social University also joined the consortium that day.

The Technopolis Polytech Research Center's lobby is currently hosting the exhibition "Science is Beautiful," featuring posters, visualizations, and photographs by the university's research teams. The exhibition aims to demonstrate how engineering, natural science, and humanities research are shaping a new visual language for modern science.

Russian Science Day, celebrated on February 8, concludes the extensive program of SPbPU Science Week, which included more than a dozen events for students, graduate students, young researchers, and the university's partners. Key events included the 23rd School of Innovation and Quality, the city seminar "Current Issues in Tribology," the Scientific Debates of the SPbPU, GUAP, and SPbSTI (TU) Student Scientific Society, the St. Petersburg Youth School-Conference of Engineering Teachers, a lecture course and conference on road construction, and seminars on hydraulics, biomedical systems, applied machine learning, and the creative economy.

A separate section of the program was dedicated to popular science formats: a scientific stand-up comedy show "PRO Management: Unconventional Solutions for Business," open lectures on the Soviet mathematician and economist Leonid Kantorovich, one of the founders of linear programming, industrial science at LPI, and probabilistic thinking for programmers.

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Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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Russian scientists have developed a method for detecting agricultural plant diseases at an early, asymptomatic stage. The approach is based on the analysis of hyperspectral data using artificial intelligence. The proposed approach has demonstrated the feasibility of detecting wheat stem rust, one of the most dangerous crop diseases affecting plant stems and leaves. This technology paves the way for the development of satellite and drone monitoring systems for preventive crop protection. The results of the study were published in the international scientific journal Frontiers in Plant Science. The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation.

Wheat is one of the world's key grain crops, producing over 770 million tons of grain annually. Many varieties are susceptible to stem rust, which can cause significant yield losses. The situation is further complicated by the rapid interregional spread of aggressive pathogens. The challenge for agricultural sustainability lies in the fact that the effectiveness of protective measures is largely determined by the ability to detect infection before visually discernible symptoms appear. Typically, visually discernible symptoms appear only 6–10 days after infection. The objective of this study was to develop approaches for the early detection of plant diseases, enabling rapid localization of the infestation and minimizing losses for agricultural producers.

Scientists from the Advanced Engineering School "Digital Engineering" at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection have proposed a method for the early detection of agricultural plant diseases. It is based on the use of artificial intelligence to process hyperspectral imaging data. This technology records light reflection in tens and hundreds of narrow spectral bands, enabling the detection of early physiological changes in plants even before the disease becomes visible.

The researchers conducted experiments on wheat plants grown under laboratory conditions similar to field conditions. The experimental datasets were acquired using a hyperspectral camera. A total of 864 hyperspectral images were collected, including both healthy and infected plants.

The main drawback of currently available remote sensing methods for plant assessment is that the resulting images do not always provide researchers with comprehensive data for analysis. Therefore, scientists from St. Petersburg have developed a method that relies primarily on the controlled collection and processing of primary visual information in real, challenging agricultural crop conditions, regardless of external factors.

When developing the new methodology, we took into account key challenges of plant remote sensing encountered in real agricultural conditions, including uneven lighting, overlapping vegetation structures, environmental humidity, background noise, and daily variability in data acquisition conditions, commented Anton Terentyev, a researcher at the All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection.

A key element of the developed methodology was the creation of an algorithm for sequential preprocessing of hyperspectral data that is robust to distortions arising during the acquisition process. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, an algorithm with formalized stages, relationships, and reproducible procedures was developed. The most important quality criteria for the algorithm were the reliability of the experimental hyperspectral data processing results and high processing speed. The published scientific article demonstrates that properly organized data preprocessing plays a key role in improving classification quality and the stability of results, regardless of the model used.

The key factor in the method's effectiveness was not the model complexity, but rather the correct data preprocessing, which allows machine learning algorithms to reliably distinguish between healthy and diseased plants under various noise conditions. "We deliberately emphasized the interpretability of the AI models' decisions, since without understanding the basis on which these models make decisions, the risk of errors increases," emphasized Alexander Fedotov, leading researcher at the Advanced Engineering School's "Digital Engineering" laboratory.

The authors note that the developed method can be practically implemented in remote monitoring systems for agricultural land, including unmanned and satellite platforms, for the early detection of other diseases and stress conditions in agricultural plants.

The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant no. 25-21-00444).

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

As part of a joint R&D project, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Power Machines developed a technology and produced the largest printed part in Russia using electric arc deposition.

The steam turbine seal blank weighs over 750 kg, setting an absolute national record. The work was conducted at the Lightweight Materials and Structures Laboratory of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials, and Transport at SPbPU.

The main goal of the R&D project is to create a robotic arc-growth system and develop a technology for manufacturing blanks for the turbine production of Power Machines. The primary materials for this type of product are high-strength, low-alloy, heat-resistant steels.

The technology behind electric arc deposition from metal wire is based on the layer-by-layer transfer of molten metal. The metal is melted using the energy of an electric arc. All movements are performed by an industrial robot, which follows a specially developed program. Specialists program the movements, taking into account the influence of wire feed speed, arc power, wire metal composition, and other factors on the characteristics of the future part. To print the part, the print layer width was increased to 201 millimeters. Such a massive layer inevitably leads to significant deformations of the product relative to the 3D model. Engineers developed a special printing approach to compensate for this.

During the development of the electric arc growth technology for such workpieces, a huge amount of data was collected through a series of experiments. These experiments included the development of metal transfer modes during growth, material behavior studies, the development of growth control programs, and many other parameters. This project opens up the prospect of producing even larger parts, effectively pushing the limits of additive manufacturing capabilities for industry. Crucially, in addition to developing the growth technology itself, the Polytechnic University is manufacturing electric arc growth equipment for JSC Power Machines as part of the joint project. "Domestic science ensures technological leadership for the domestic industry," noted Oleg Panchenko, Head of the Lightweight Materials and Structures Laboratory.

The implementation of innovative manufacturing methods is a key focus of Power Machines' capacity development program. Additive manufacturing helps us implement new engineering solutions, ensure the efficiency and reliability of our generating equipment for the Russian energy sector, and reduce manufacturing lead times and costs. After launching the robotic complex and fine-tuning the technology, we are potentially considering expanding this manufacturing method to critical steam turbine cylinder blanks, said Alexander Ivanovsky, First Deputy General Director and Chief Designer of Power Machines.

It's worth noting that St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is a recognized leader in additive manufacturing in Russia. The Laboratory of Lightweight Materials and Structures has been continuously modernizing and developing electric arc deposition technology since 2015. Engineers have extensive experience in the electric arc deposition of a wide range of materials, including high-strength steels, austenitic and austenitic-martensitic stainless steels, ultra-high-strength steels, and aluminum-, copper-, nickel-, titanium-, and magnesium-based alloys. Electric arc deposition is a process related to welding and surfacing, placing high demands on specialists. Knowledge in materials science, industrial robotics, and programming are essential. All this allows us not only to fulfill orders for industrial partners but also to develop the most advanced tools and manufacturing technologies.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.