Category: Санкт-Петербургский политехнический университет Петра Великого

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Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University actively participated in the 15th anniversary A.N. Chilingarov International Forum "The Arctic: Present and Future." The forum, which traditionally brings together over 2,000 experts from Russia and abroad, is a key platform for summarizing the Arctic agenda and identifying development strategies for the Russian Arctic zone. The event was held with the support of the Federation Council, the State Duma, the State Commission for Arctic Development, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, and other relevant agencies.

The Polytechnic University was represented by Dmitry Tikhonov, Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education, as well as faculty and students from the Institute of Civil Engineering. The comprehensive business program included plenary sessions across eight thematic tracks and over 40 sessions featuring over 400 speakers.

The Institute of Civil Engineering was represented by Marina Petrochenko, Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering, Dmitry Sharapov and Vladimir Konyushkov, Associate Professors of the Higher School of Hydrotechnical Engineering and Economics, Maria Drebezgova and Elena Ladik, Associate Professors of the Higher School of Hydrotechnical Engineering and Economics, Liliya Talipova, Senior Lecturer of the Higher School of Hydrotechnical Engineering and Economics, and students from the programs "Hydraulic Engineering, Hydraulics, and Engineering Hydrology" and "Environmental Safety in Industry."

Dmitry Tikhonov presented the university's extensive experience in this field. In his presentation, he detailed practice-oriented projects for students in critically important Arctic areas such as logistics, robotics, IT, and drone development. Particular attention was paid to systematic work with schoolchildren and parents aimed at shaping a "vision of the future" and understanding promising professions in the region.

Dmitry Tikhonov also emphasized the importance of exporting educational technologies to Arctic regions, citing teacher training and master classes in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug as examples. The keynote of his presentation was a comprehensive model for attracting and retaining employees, which creates a sustainable talent pipeline for the Arctic. This model covers the entire process—from early career guidance for schoolchildren to practical training for students and their involvement in real-world projects.

"For the Polytechnic University, working on the Arctic agenda is a systematic effort with plans for years to come," Dmitry Vladimirovich emphasized. "Our educational programs and scientific developments are already in demand by industrial partners working in this strategic macro-region, and demand is constantly growing."

Elena Ladik and Maria Drebezgova spoke at the youth section "Meeting of Generations." It featured educational lectures, quests, quizzes, and other activities. The lecturers presented their professions to the students, shared their experiences working in harsh polar conditions, and discussed the development prospects of the Arctic and Antarctic. Polytechnic University specialists introduced the students to the traditional dwelling architecture of the indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic and Far North, the application of historical experience in modern design for innovative solutions for the architectural environment in the Arctic zone, and demonstrated conceptual designs for residential and tourist modules for harsh climates. Over 800 students participated in the event.

"I believe it was very important to discuss with the students the historical experience of designing residential environments in the Arctic and the Far North, as well as to draw the attention of the younger generation to the development prospects of Russia's northern territories," said Elena Ladik.

Students of the Civil Engineering Institute took part in the youth

The participants attended the session and visited the exhibition located in the ExpoForum pavilion. The future specialists were delighted to see specialized equipment, interact with representatives of Russia's nomadic peoples, and listen to a firsthand lecture about life in the Far North. The future builders were particularly intrigued by the presentation on the features of traditional Nenets tents.

Arctic development is a priority for our country, and the SPbPU Institute of Civil Engineering contributes to this by training personnel in Arctic construction and conducting research projects on Arctic development. "I consider educational outreach to schoolchildren, through which we share the opportunities that lie ahead in the Arctic, a special mission," noted Marina Petrochenko.

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The Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education held a seminar-meeting in Moscow with its subordinate universities, where the results of the year's work were summarized and plans for the next year were outlined.

At a session dedicated to best media practices in Russian universities, Marianna Dyakova, Head of the SPbPU Public Relations Department, presented a joint project with the Ministry of Education and Science video project "PRO-Rector". It was launched in April and 12 issues have been prepared.

At the conclusion of the seminar-meeting, an awards ceremony was held for media organizations that distinguished themselves with productive work during the past year. Polytechnic University received a letter of gratitude from the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Valery Falkov, for their high professionalism in covering the scientific and educational agenda.

“We are grateful to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for its informational support throughout the year and for the opportunity to implement additional projects this year,” commented Marianna Dyakova. “Of the university’s current media activities, it is the outstanding, large-scale, systemic projects such as Vice-Rector, "Dynasty", a joint project with the State Hermitage Museum Formula of Art, exhibitions at Pulkovo Airport, special projects with major federal and regional media outlets. They are what take Polytechnic to the next level and make it even more visible in the media landscape."

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A meeting of the Supervisory Board was held at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, chaired by Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center.

The meeting agenda included: a report by SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy on the university's performance in 2021–2025; a report on the implementation of the university's development program for 2025–2026; a conclusion on the university's financial and economic plan for 2025, the planning period of 2026 and 2027, taking into account amendments; and a recommendation to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for a candidate for the position of SPbPU Rector.

The meeting was attended by members of the Supervisory Board: President of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" M. V. Kovalchuk, Academic Secretary of SPbPU D. A. Karpov, Deputy Head of the Department of Regional Corporate Business – Senior Vice President of VTB Bank Yu. A. Levchenko, Scientific Director of the Institute of Regional Economy Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. V. Okrepilov, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. Ya. Panchenko, Head of the HR Directorate of SPbPU M. V. Pakhomova, Director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU A. A. Popovich, Deputy Head of the Interregional Territorial Administration of the Federal Agency for State Property Management in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region V. V. Gulyaevskaya.

Meeting participants were shown a film highlighting Polytechnic University's achievements in training next-level engineers to ensure the country's technological leadership, as well as scientific and engineering developments in recent years, and key events and activities related to developing partnerships with industrial partners and expanding international ties. In particular, significant progress in cooperation with Cuba, African, and Asian countries was noted, and emphasis was placed on the successful implementation of the development program for Polytechnic-supervised Slavic universities in Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

As part of its strategy and development program for 2030 and 2036, SPbPU focuses on three priority areas: systems digital engineering, new materials and production technologies, artificial intelligence, and the transformation of engineering education.

The university's multifaceted activities include the achievements of its creative teams and the successes of its athletes. Andrei Rudskoy particularly noted the Polytechnic students' volunteer work and their active civic engagement, particularly their support for veterans of the Soviet Military District and their families.

At the request of his colleagues, Andrei Ivanovich provided details of the large-scale project being implemented at the behest of the Russian President: the construction of the Technopolis "Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies at SPbPU."

Answering questions from Supervisory Board members, Andrey Rudskoy touched on the transition to a new national higher education system, the challenges of targeted training, and emphasized the importance of training teachers specifically for higher engineering universities. The Polytechnic University is currently discussing the idea of developing such a continuing professional education program. The rector also discussed the goals and objectives of the university's human resources policy and shared plans to establish a research and production association within the university to accelerate the implementation of breakthrough advanced manufacturing technologies in industry.

The Supervisory Board members noted the Polytechnic University's sustainable development, its adaptability and proactivity, and its rapid, sometimes proactive, response to challenges while maintaining core academic principles. Noting that this is largely due to the university's leader, the Supervisory Board members decided to recommend A. I. Rudskoy as the Rector of SPbPU to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

Andrei Ivanovich thanked his colleagues for their support and valuable recommendations for the university's further development.

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Students majoring in management and engineering at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have teamed up with a qualified client, Power Machines, to create comprehensive final qualifying theses. The work has the special status of "Project as a Final Qualifying Qualifying Thesis" and is being completed by students from the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials, and Transport. The creation of new formats for employer participation in the updated model of higher engineering education is being implemented with the support of the federal program "Priority 2030."

The main objective of the "Project as a Final Qualification Work Project" is to improve the operations of an industrial enterprise by optimizing technological and logistical processes. The project is being implemented by a team of students with both engineering and economic and managerial competencies. The team consists of six people from four areas of study: two students from the Higher School of Physics and Materials Engineering at IMMiT (Materials Science and Metallurgy), two students from the Higher School of Industrial Management at IPMEiT (Management), and two students from the Higher School of Service and Trade at IPMEiT (Trade).

Academic supervision on behalf of the Polytechnic University is provided by faculty from the Institute of Mechanics, Economics, and Technology and the Institute of Mechanics and Technology (IMMET). Student consulting on behalf of the qualified client is provided by employees of Power Machines.

Students focus on the comprehensive analysis and optimization of the company's production processes. Their primary focus is on exploring the potential use of current inventory for tooling production, as well as mathematical modeling of blank production processes from various alloys. Concurrently, work is underway to create a material interchangeability matrix and develop methods for more efficient use of slow-moving inventory.

By completing a comprehensive final qualifying work, students from various fields of study will, in addition to solving their core problems, be able to improve communication between engineering and management staff. This will allow them to more quickly adapt to the company upon employment and better understand the tasks and terminology of various departments, says Zoya Simakova, the project's lead investigator and Associate Professor at the Higher School of Industrial Management.

The goal of this comprehensive thesis is to improve the company's operational efficiency by addressing two key objectives. First, a plan will be developed for integrating slowly used inventory into production—either by using it in new projects or by modifying its technological properties. Second, the thesis will determine the economic feasibility and propose specific steps for establishing in-house production of some tooling equipment at Power Machines.

"Adding metallurgical and process analysis to the final qualifying thesis will not only allow for the economic justification of proposed management decisions but also the development of specific engineering solutions for materials processing and tooling production. This will enhance the practical value of the thesis and its applicability to JSC Power Machines," comments Pavel Kovalev, Deputy Director for Educational Activities at IMMiT.

It's worth noting that this project has significant practical and methodological implications: over the course of three years, students completed comprehensive final theses commissioned by Power Machines, with the Graduate School of Industrial Management serving as the responsible executor on behalf of the university. In 2023, students from the Graduate School of Industrial Management, the Graduate School of Engineering and Economics, and the Graduate School of Service and Trade completed final theses as part of the project "Harmonization of Production Needs with the Provision of Components and Materials." by order of the Electrosila plantIn 2024, the "interschool" student project focused on transforming the purchasing activities of an industrial enterprise to reduce slow-moving inventory. for the Leningrad Metal Plant, and last year, students successfully defended a project for LMZ on solving real production and management problems.

The comprehensive final qualifying project, completed by students majoring in management and engineering, is of strategic importance for our city in the context of technological independence, economic sustainability, and social development. The proposed project aims to address challenges related to the development and implementation of new material properties through additional technological processing of slow-moving inventory, the selection and economic justification of alternative materials for tooling, reducing dependence on foreign technologies when analyzing the feasibility of tooling insourcing, optimizing warehouse processes, and developing human resources for solving multidisciplinary problems, says Anna Chernikova, project manager and IPMEIT Deputy Director for Academic and Methodological Work.

An important aspect of the project is the presentation of the final result of the comprehensive final qualifying work at a meeting of the Unified State Examination Committee chaired by the management of Power Machines. The members of the SEC are representatives of the qualified client and faculty from the Institute of Mechanics and Electronics and the Institute of Metallurgy and Metallurgy. The defense will take place in June 2026 at the Leningrad Metal Plant.

For JSC Power Machines, integrating education and production is a strategic priority, and participating in the integrated final qualifying work in the "Project as a Final Qualification Thesis" format allows us to identify talented students before they begin their professional careers and assess their competencies in a real-world production environment. We highly value the Polytechnic University's systematic approach: teamwork among students from various fields of study, support from academic supervisors, and a focus on results that are meaningful to the company. Such initiatives are a significant contribution to technological independence and sustainable industrial development," commented Evgeniya Khmel, Director of General Supplier Development at JSC Power Machines, on the significance of the joint project.

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At the finals of the All-Russian "Russian Student Spring" festival, held in Kazan, third-year IPMEiT student Ekaterina Pautova took first place in the "Beatbox" vocal category. She represented Polytechnic University in the 26-member St. Petersburg delegation this year.

This is Ekaterina's debut appearance in the finals of the "Student Spring" competition, but she has considerable creative experience under her belt. She is a Russian beatbox champion and performs under the stage name K-PAU. In 2024, her talent was recognized at her home university, in the 17th season of the "Star of Polytechnic" competition. She took third place and received the Audience Award. Ekaterina has been beatboxing for nine years and even teaches it herself.

The Polytechnic University student's performance was one of the most striking and talked-about at the competition. She presented her own interpretation of The White Stripes' world-famous hit "Seven Nation Army," combining virtuoso beatboxing with melodic vocals. This creative fusion not only showcased her technical mastery but also created a truly musical, emotional composition that captivated the judges and audience.

"I thoroughly enjoyed participating. Thank you to our wonderful team for the supportive and inspiring atmosphere. It was especially exciting to perform in two different capacities: as a solo artist and as part of the regional program "Rock Fairytale," revealing a new, unexpected side of St. Petersburg," she shared.

Ekaterina Pautova's victory was part of a triumph for the entire St. Petersburg delegation. In 2025, the city team won the prestigious "Breakthrough of the Year" award for the first time, taking home more than half of all possible awards from the total number of submitted applications. This result eloquently testifies to the exceptional level of creative preparation and the diversity of talent among St. Petersburg's students.

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Dmitry Fedorov, head of educational projects at Positive Technologies (Positive Education), gave a lecture at the Polytechnic University. The topic was "Cybersecurity Specialist in Modern Conditions."

Dmitry Yuryevich spoke to students of the Higher School of Cybersecurity and the Higher School of Artificial Intelligence Technologies, who are studying in top-level educational programs, about the profession of "cybersecurity specialist," the specifics of such a specialist's thinking, and the application of artificial intelligence technologies in solving applied problems in cybersecurity.

Guest lectures expand the standard academic program, providing students with the opportunity to gain unique practical experience and insight from industry experts, helping them better understand the real prospects of their future careers. Interacting with practicing experts can inspire new ideas and encourage further exploration of the topic, emphasized Vasily Krundyshev, head of the educational program.

During the final session, first-year students had the opportunity to personally ask the speaker their questions and receive advice on getting started in their careers. Those who asked the best questions received gifts.

We fully support the Ministry of Digital Development's initiatives, which force the higher education system to step out of its "comfort zone" and begin training cybersecurity specialists not only in accordance with formal standards (regulations, sample curricula), but also those truly in demand in the labor market. Positive Technologies has extensive practical experience in information security and IT, and we are ready to openly share this with aspiring specialists," noted Dmitry Fedorov, head of educational projects at Positive Technologies (Positive Education).

Also, the heads of the educational programs V. M. Krundyshev (10.03.01_06 "Computer Systems Security (Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Cybersecurity)"), A. A. Lukashin (02.03.01_03 "Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technologies") and V. A. Mulyukha (02.03.03_02 "Data Mining Technologies") discussed with D. Yu. Fedorov the issues of expanding cooperation between FSAEI VO "SPbPU" and JSC "Positive Technologies", including the opening of an R&D center, providing access to training simulators, organizing internships and practical training for students at production and research sites, as well as attracting leading specialists from the company in the field as mentors, tutors and experts.

The lecture is part of a project to train top specialists in artificial intelligence, implemented at the initiative of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media with the participation of the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation as part of the federal projects "Artificial Intelligence" and "Personnel for Digital Transformation" of the national project "Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State."

Detailed information about the Polytechnic University's training of top specialists in artificial intelligence available at the link.

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A delegation from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, led by Vladimir Shchepinin, Director of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade, paid a working visit to its Chinese partner universities. The delegation also included Dmitry Rodionov, Director of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics, and Ekaterina Burova and Tatyana Mokeeva, Associate Professors at the Higher School of Economics and Management. The visit combined historical remembrance with strategic discussions on the future of Russian-Chinese academic partnership.

To understand the full symbolism of the visit, one must return to the late 1930s. Following the onset of full-scale Japanese aggression in 1937, China found itself in a critical situation. Its coastal regions were captured or blockaded by enemy naval forces, cutting off its main supply routes. The only artery linking China to the outside world was the overland "Northwest Corridor." Its final destination was Lanzhou in Gansu Province. Beginning in October 1937, an unprecedented operation to ferry Soviet military equipment began along this arduous route from Alma-Ata to Lanzhou. China received I-15 and I-16 fighters, SB bombers, tanks, artillery, fuel, and medical supplies.

But equipment without people is nothing. Following the aircraft, Soviet volunteer pilots set out for China. Formed in strict secrecy, the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Air Groups engaged in fierce battles with the Japanese air force, which dominated the skies. Their primary mission was to protect Lanzhou itself—the heart of the "air bridge"—from aerial destruction.

It was a war of attrition. The Japanese launched massive air raids, attempting to cripple the logistics hub. Soviet pilots, flying worn-out aircraft in challenging mountainous conditions and without any knowledge of the language, held back the onslaught. They not only defended the skies but also trained their Chinese colleagues. More than 200 Soviet pilots died in battles over Lanzhou and on the dangerous ferry route. Many of them are buried in the memorial cemetery in the Zilin district. Their heroism defined for decades to come the Chinese people's attitude toward Russia as a brother nation that came to their aid in their darkest hour.

It was at this memorial, erected in the 1950s and a symbol of unbreakable friendship, that the SPbPU delegation laid a wreath and fresh flowers. Representing the Chinese partners, the ceremony was attended by Li Qiong, Director of the Institute of International Programs, and Cai Leiyue, Deputy Director.

"We stand here not only as representatives of the university, but also as heirs to that great generation," said Vladimir Shchepinin, Director of the Institute of Mechanics and Technology. "They defended the future. And our mission is to create the future. The trust built by their heroism today forms the foundation for our professional dialogue with our Chinese colleagues. We must live up to this memory by infusing Russian-Chinese cooperation with breakthrough projects in education and science."

"The historical truth is that our countries have endured trials together," VIES Director Dmitry Rodionov echoed his colleague. "And today, when discussing joint educational programs or research, we continue to build that same 'bridge'—only now a bridge of knowledge, technology, and human connections. This is the best tribute to the memory of the fallen."

The delegation visited two key partner universities, which occupy leading positions in their regions:

Lanzhou University of Finance and Economics (LUFE) is a leading university in economics and finance in Northwest China; Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics (IMUFE) is the main financial and economic university in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Polytechnic University's collaboration with its Chinese partners in financial education began in 2020. Since then, two successful joint programs have been implemented:

Joint international bachelor's degree program in Finance with LUFE (first cohort in 2021, 89 students enrolled); Joint international bachelor's degree program in International Finance (since 2022, joint program with LUFE and IMUFE, 63 students enrolled).

At the same time, the number of applicants is growing, despite the general trend of declining interest in some international programs.

A key event was a meeting with the new LUFE Vice President, Professor Huang Hengzhong. The parties praised the long-standing fruitful cooperation not only in education but also in research. In October 2025, Professor Huang Hengzhong participated in the opening ceremony of the SPbPU IDE 2025 international conference, organized by VIES.

The main outcome of the negotiations was the agreement to develop a detailed roadmap for cooperation for 2026-2030. The document will include both educational initiatives (expanding existing programs, launching new ones) and scientific projects.

"The partnership with Chinese universities creates a favorable environment for developing long-term research projects focused on fundamental, educational, and applied problems. Our strategic cooperation creates expanded conditions for implementing major inter-university initiatives, developing customized educational pathways, and strengthening the scientific and pedagogical school of engineering economics through joint technology programs. The format we are developing facilitates the creation of integrated digital solutions and strengthens the participants' positions in international cooperation," noted Vladimir Shchepinin.

During negotiations with IMUFE management, an agreement was reached to form joint research teams focused on research into current issues in financial economics and sustainable development principles. This collaboration includes holding regular international roundtables and a series of educational and scientific events.

Russian-Chinese university partnerships are creating a knowledge transfer architecture, where joint research laboratories and interdisciplinary programs enhance academic exchange. "The synergy between our academic schools leads to a broader range of competencies and accelerates technological innovation through the integration of approaches from two high-tech academic cultures focused on the long-term development of engineering, economics, and research," noted Dmitry Rodionov.

Following the mission, memorandums of understanding were developed with both universities. Implementation of the new agreements will begin in the first half of 2026. The SPbPU delegation not only held a series of successful meetings, but also embarked on a symbolic journey from a shared heroic past to a shared strategic future, cementing the university's role as an important link in Russian-Chinese relations.

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Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute," Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SPbPU, and Honorary Doctor of the Polytechnic University, delivered a lecture entitled "Nuclear Energy for Space" to students and scientists in the White Hall.

Mikhail Kovalchuk discussed the early days of space exploration in the USSR, the Buran orbital spacecraft, the development of space nuclear energy, priority technological trends, innovative nuclear energy technologies, rocket engines, space materials science, and much more.

At the beginning of his speech, Mikhail Valentinovich emphasized how the USSR began the space era by launching the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957. He also noted such Soviet achievements as the first human spaceflight; the first woman in space; the first human spacewalk; the first docking of two unmanned spacecraft; the first soft landing on the surface of another planet; the first manned orbital space station, Salyut 1; the joint manned flight of the Soviet Soyuz 19 and American Apollo spacecraft; the first multi-module long-term orbital station, Mir; and the first automatic landing of the reusable Buran transport spacecraft.

"Our greatest achievement was the development of a completely unique system: 38 years ago, our spacecraft flew into space completely automatically. Unmanned, it orbited the Earth several times and then entered the runway where the commission was stationed. But suddenly, the spacecraft veered off course. It turned out that its system had detected excessively strong crosswinds, and it automatically changed its approach trajectory and landed," noted Mikhail Kovalchuk.

After this story, our guest even showed a video of the ship's landing, and also emphasized other advantages of the Buran.

Mikhail Kovalchuk then moved on to the topic of space nuclear energy. The symbolic beginning of this era is considered to be the meeting of the "Three Ks" at the Atomic Energy Institute: Mstislav Keldysh, Sergei Korolev, and Igor Kurchatov. By the 1950s, the main advantages of nuclear power plants had already been identified.

Recently, by decision of the Military-Industrial Commission, Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, was appointed head of the priority technology area "Technologies for Direct Conversion of Thermal Energy into Electrical Energy and Electric Propulsion Based on Superconductivity." Direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy is the process of directly converting heat into electricity without an intermediate mechanical process. Our guest elaborated on this topic: "A nuclear power plant has nothing in common with nuclear nuclear technology. A nuclear reactor is simply a 'stove.' It produces temperature, heat. And we use that heat to generate electricity."

Nuclear power plants are the best way to generate electricity in space. That's why, as early as 1964, the Kurchatov Institute created the world's first space power plant with direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy—the Romashka converter reactor.

The Selena unmanned, self-regulating nuclear power station, based on direct energy conversion principles, is currently being developed. Adapting the SNPP principles to lunar conditions will allow for the creation of stationary lunar energy sources. Similar low-power nuclear power stations are also extremely important and in demand in the north and remote areas. They can operate independently, without human intervention, for up to 40 years.

Furthermore, Mikhail Kovalchuk explained that all new developments for use in space conditions at the Kurchatov Institute now undergo special testing under loads and at temperatures as close as possible to those in space.

At the end of his speech, Mikhail Kovalchuk answered all questions from the audience.

Federal and regional media also reported on Mikhail Kovalchuk's lecture at the Polytechnic University:

Channel Five"News"REN TV

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The Higher School of Biotechnology and Food Production of the Institute of Biotechnology and Biotechnology (IBBS) held a case tournament "Applied Biotechnology" for school and college students.

During the lectures, which were held remotely, students learned about modern trends in biotechnology research. They were able to visit media labs, explore both traditional and cutting-edge equipment, and learn how to operate it. This was necessary because many schools lack such labs, and adhering to safety regulations is crucial when conducting research and working with chemicals.

Eleven teams participated in the laboratory workshop of the case tournament, including not only 10th- and 11th-grade students from specialized schools in our city, but also students from the SPbPU Natural Sciences Lyceum, and students from the Talent Academy and the Center for Environmental Education.

Participants completed tasks on one of two topics: “Activity of metabolites of probiotic microorganisms Lactobacillus and Streptococcus” and “Bioconversion of agricultural waste to obtain sorbents”.

The assignments and lectures were developed by HSE School of Business and Public Policy associate professors Elena Belokurova and Ilona Pankina, senior lecturer Anna Sevastyanova, and Master of Science in Plant Biotechnology Alexandra Klyubina.

Students are always involved in the preparation of career guidance events at the Higher School of Business and Public Administration, and this time they served as mentors for schoolchildren.

While working on the case study "Studying the Activity of Metabolites of Probiotic Microorganisms Lactobacillus and Streptococcus," the students learned about the morphology of probiotic microorganisms in a fixed, stained preparation. While studying probiotic activity, they mastered microscopy and biochemical analysis techniques. They examined bacterial morphology, assessed metabolite accumulation in milk, and determined enzymatic activity using an indirect method based on the accumulation of organic acids, as well as the presence of flavoring substances. As a result of their studies, the participants were able to determine which probiotic microorganisms are more active acidifiers and determine whether homofermentative and heterofermentative fermentation processes occur.

Working on the case study "Bioconversion of Agricultural Waste to Produce Sorbents," schoolchildren explored the potential of converting organic agricultural waste into biosorbents capable of effectively purifying water and soil contaminants. They mastered methods for analyzing the effectiveness of the resulting biosorbents and deepened their knowledge of biotechnology, ecology, and chemistry.

Anna Sevastyanova, senior lecturer and developer of the case study, commented: "The production of biosorbents from lignocellulosic raw materials is a relevant area of environmental biotechnology, as it offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for purifying aquatic environments from hazardous pollutants, while using renewable and affordable raw materials—agricultural waste." These technologies are consistent with the principles of a circular economy, transforming waste into a valuable product, helping to reduce environmental impacts, and responding to the global trend toward the implementation of "green" and zero-waste technologies.

After completing the practical part, all teams had one day to analyze their results and prepare a presentation to defend their assignments.

On the final day of the tournament, each team performed in front of all participants and a panel of experts, which included teachers and student mentors.

The winners commented on their participation: "The Applied Biotechnology Case Tournament left us with nothing but positive emotions. Working in a team with peers from other schools united by a common goal was one of the most memorable experiences. In the practical part of the project, we determined the differences between the proposed probiotic microorganisms in terms of their accumulation of metabolic products and identified which probiotics were the most active acid formers. It was the perfect balance of a complex intellectual challenge, a friendly atmosphere, and professional growth."

Ilona Pankina, Head of Career Guidance at the Higher School of Business and Applied Sciences, shared: This year marked the seventh "Applied Biotechnology" case tournament. Students from numerous St. Petersburg educational institutions participated, necessitating a competitive selection process. This allowed us to bring together the strongest, most prepared, and most motivated students, and collaboration with them is invariably particularly engaging, contributing to the development of new approaches and methods of education that take into account modern trends. It's particularly important that the winners and runners-up of the case tournament received a unique opportunity to earn an additional five points toward their Unified State Exam scores for admission to SPbPU. It's especially gratifying to realize that over the course of the event, we've already secured a number of educational institutions as our regular partners. And, of course, it's important to note that our efforts are not in vain: statistics show that many case tournament participants successfully enroll at the Polytechnic University.

Elena Belokurova, the developer of one of the case assignments, also shared her impressions: "Schoolchildren don't study Microbiology, so I was worried that the case participants would encounter certain difficulties. But I was pleased to see that many of the team members are active students and participate in numerous events held by supplementary education centers, so they resolutely tackled the practical portion and completed it successfully. Many participants studied not only domestic literature but also articles by international authors and presented very well at their defenses. My student mentors and I were very pleased with this, and we would like to see our case participants among the applicants and students of the Higher School of Business and Applied Mathematics.

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 –

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Yuting Wang, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University's Institute of Civil Engineering and Design, majoring in Industrial Design, won the IX National Alexander Yezhevsky Prize competition in the Industrial Design category.

The jury highly praised the original concept, technical sophistication, and practical significance of the thesis, "Design Project for a Beach Cleaning Robot," completed under the supervision of Semyon Shchur, Associate Professor at the ISI Higher School of Design and Architecture.

The project is a concept for an intelligent device designed to autonomously clean coastal areas of household and natural waste. The robot is equipped with sensors, navigation, and waste recognition systems, enabling it to autonomously plan a route, avoid obstacles, and sort and collect waste. The design includes waste collection and compression modules, a highly maneuverable tracked/wheeled chassis, and an autonomous power supply based on solar panels, enabling it to operate on challenging terrain. Its modular architecture allows the device to be adapted for both daily beach maintenance and emergency response.

The A. A. Ezhevsky Prize was established by the Russian Association of Manufacturers of Specialized Machinery and Equipment (Rosspetsmash Association) to support talented young people, strengthen cooperation between universities and enterprises, and develop scientific and engineering potential in the domestic agricultural machinery industry. The Industrial Design category is awarded to full-time undergraduate, specialist, and master's students for outstanding academic achievement and research related to industrial design.

The awards ceremony for the competition winners will be held in December at the ALMAZ plant (Altai Machine-Building Plants) in Barnaul.

Another graduate of the Institute of Civil Engineering contributed to the Polar Explorer Day project's victory in the finals of the 14th International Russian Event Awards 2025 in the category "Best Popular Science Event." Maria Dracheva, a graduate of the Higher School of Design and Architecture of the Institute of Civil Engineering at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, developed the festival's design concept. The project's scientific supervisor is Tatyana Diodorova, Associate Professor at the Institute of Civil Engineering and Design.

Polar Explorer Day was held on May 24, 2025, in the Kalininsky District of St. Petersburg, on the banks of the Murinsky Stream. The event was organized by the Kalininsky District Administration, the Severny Municipal District, the St. Petersburg Project Office "Cultural Capital," and the St. Petersburg Committee for Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations. The event was attended by Mikhail Astashkevich, Head of the Kalininsky District Administration, and the heads of municipal entities.

The Polytechnic University graduate's project was presented by the New Media Workshop and the State Design Workshop and was recognized as one of the best municipal branding cases in a metropolitan city in 2025.

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.