Category: Russian Universities

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On November 28, 1915, a journalist and playwright was born in Petrograd, whose fate would be determined by the Great Patriotic War. His parents named the boy Kirill, but the world came to know him as Konstantin. Simonov chose this name not as a literary pseudonym, but because of his childhood lisp: he had trouble pronouncing the "r" and "l" sounds and was shy.

War as a vocation

Simonov's father, a major general, went missing in action during World War I. The future classic of Soviet literature was raised by his stepfather, Alexander Grigoryevich Ivanishev, a former colonel in the Tsarist army who became a tactics instructor after the Revolution. He raised Konstantin with strict discipline and taught him not so much to fight as to serve faithfully and truly—to the Fatherland, the people, and the woman he loved.

Simonov spent his youth at the machine tool: first as a lathe operator at an aircraft factory, then in the machine shops of Mezhrabpomfilm. In 1934, excerpts from his poem "Belomorkanal"—his first attempt at writing, naive and opportunistic—appeared in the collection "Review of Forces." Five years later, he became a member of the Writers' Union, author of poems about Suvorov and the Battle on the Ice, and then went as a war correspondent to Khalkhin Gol. It was there, in the dusty Mongolian steppes, that the poet realized that the battlefield was his element.

A look from the inside

Konstantin Mikhailovich was at the front from the first day of the war, armed with a notebook, a camera, and a machine gun. He wrote from the trenches, and the map of the fighting until victory became his personal geography: from Odessa to Berlin, from Murmansk to Bucharest, from Stalingrad to Prague. He traversed it as a participant, and everything he saw, heard, and felt he transformed into heartfelt lines. Simonov never towered over the soldiers or harangued them from the podium—he was one of them. Therefore, "Wait for Me" became more than just a poem, but a hymn of hope for millions. Soldiers copied it, kept it in their tunic pockets, read it before attacks and at the bedsides of the wounded. In simple words, he spoke of fear, pain, and the desire to live—and for this honesty, he was loved.

The poem even made its way behind the front lines, being found in the uniforms of German soldiers. In 1942, it was translated into German and published in the anti-fascist publication "Young Austria." In 1943, the Berlin newspaper "Zarya," published by the Wehrmacht's Eastern Propaganda Department, reprinted the poem with the author's name.

But Simonov is more than just a lyricist; he is a chronicler of an era. His trilogy, "The Living and the Dead," conveys not the pathos of victory, but the truth of defeat, chaos, fear, and the difficult acquisition of resilience. His plays, "Russian People" and "A Guy from Our Town," offer not idealization, but human dignity in hellish conditions. His diaries reveal an internal dialogue with himself, his conscience, and the era.

Peace was only a dream

Konstantin Mikhailovich's personal life was not a peaceful one. His love for the legendary film actress Valentina Serova was intense and passionate: "Wait for Me" was written for her, but, alas, their marriage fell apart. He married several times, adopted children, and always remained a noble and devoted father.

After the war, Konstantin Simonov, winner of six Stalin Prizes and a Hero of Socialist Labor, became editor-in-chief of Novy Mir, secretary of the Writers' Union, and a deputy of the Supreme Soviet. He was, as they say, part of the system, which required compromise. He had to participate in campaigns against "cosmopolitans" and reject Doctor Zhivago. But later, as he lay dying, he wrote "Through the Eyes of a Man of My Generation"—an honest confession about the controversial policies and mistakes of Joseph Stalin.

The writer passed away on August 28, 1979, requesting to be buried at Buinichi Field near Mogilev, where he had escaped encirclement during the summer of the first year of the war. On this field stands the Simonovsky Stone—a red granite boulder bearing the inscriptions: "Konstantin Simonov. 1915–1979" and "…He remembered this 1941 battlefield all his life and asked that his ashes be scattered here."

Today, on the 110th anniversary of his birth, we once again read "Wait for Me" as a symbol of love and hope. Because Konstantin Simonov doesn't teach us how to fight. He reminds us: a person is a person first and foremost. Even in war, and especially in war. And therefore, his lines are not a relic, but a mirror. A mirror for a hero.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: November 28, 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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

At the end of November, a representative of SPbPU took part in the International Conference "Congress of Users of the SKIF Center for Collective Use: Advanced Research Using Synchrotron Radiation," held in Akademgorodok, Novosibirsk.

The Siberian Ring Photon Source Shared Use Center (SKIF) is a generation 4 synchrotron radiation (SR) source being built in the Koltsovo science city near Novosibirsk. The SKIF accelerator complex consists of a 200 MeV electron linear accelerator, a 3 GeV booster synchrotron, and a storage ring. The 3 GeV relativistic electron storage ring, with a perimeter of 476 m and an ultra-low calculated horizontal emittance of 73.2 pcm rad, will deliver SR beams with a peak brightness in the range from 10 eV to 100 keV to 30 experimental stations. For photon energies of ~1.5 keV, the source emittance approaches the wave (diffraction) limit, ensuring a high degree of SR coherence, which expands the potential of the research complex. The SKIF Center for Collective Use's infrastructure will be used to conduct world-class research in various fields of physics, chemistry, materials science, molecular biology, medicine, and other disciplines, with an emphasis on the most breakthrough, economically and socially significant multidisciplinary tasks.

The congress provides a broad discussion platform and a meeting place for representatives of the SKIF Center for Collective Use, developers of unique scientific equipment, and future users. The congress program included plenary lectures, oral and poster presentations, and roundtable discussions on "SKIF Center for Collective Use Stations" and "Organizational Aspects of SKIF Center for Collective Use Work."

Professor of the Higher School of Engineering and Physics and Advisor to the Rector's Office of SPbPU Alexey Filimonov spoke at the round table "Organizational Aspects of the SKIF Center for Collective Use," where issues of organizing and planning work on the devices were discussed.

A few days earlier, Alexey Filimonov delivered a plenary talk at the international scientific conference "Instrument Engineering-2025" in Minsk, organized by the Belarusian National Technical University with the participation of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus. The topic of the talk, "The Effect of Electric Field on Phase Transitions in PZT Solid Solutions," was directly related to the theme of the SKIF congress, as the scientific results presented in it were obtained using synchrotron sources using the SR scattering method.

Antiferroelectrics, particularly lead zirconate and lead zirconate titanate-based solid solutions (PZT, PbZr(1-x)TixO3) with a low lead titanate content, are the best-known antiferroelectrics and are of interest in the development of fast capacitor-type electrical energy storage devices and electrocaloric cooling systems. The existence of so-called antiphase domain walls (APDWs) in pure lead zirconate has recently been experimentally demonstrated. APDWs in antiferroelectrics are flat domain walls several nanometers wide with nonzero polarization. These structures have proven to be of great interest as the basis for nonvolatile memory devices with ultrahigh data recording density. This paper examines the influence of electric fields on phase transitions in PZT and the possibility of controlling the domain structure of the antiferroelectric phase.

The conference brought together over 600 delegates from nine countries. Following successful negotiations with representatives of leading Belarusian universities (BSU, BNTU, and BSUIR), an agreement was reached to conduct joint research, and a draft proposal for a joint project was prepared.

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.

The 12th Patriotic Youth Forum, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the Year of Defender of the Fatherland, was held at the Museum of Naval Glory of Russia (Fort Island) in Kronstadt. Organized by the Committee for Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations of St. Petersburg, the event brought together over 400 participants, including public figures, leading experts in patriotic education, and government representatives.

The SPbPU Volunteer Project Center "Harmony" performed a creative act at the forum's opening ceremony and co-organized two key sections.

One of the forum's highlights was the panel discussion in the "Culture" section, moderated by the director of the "Harmony" Volunteer Project Center at SPbPU and associate professor at the Humanities Institute. Tatyana NamParticipants discussed the role of culture and creativity in shaping patriotic consciousness among young people, as well as the potential of creative industries for implementing socially significant projects.

The following speakers spoke at the section:

Tatyana Barabanova, Deputy Head of the Directorate of Cultural Programs and Youth Creativity at SPbPU; Ilya Zavatsky, laureate of international competitions, artist of the State Academic Capella, musician of the Chamber Orchestra of the Troitsky Cultural Center, concertmaster of the Russian-Chinese Orchestra, participant in the counter-terrorism operation in the North Caucasus; Maria Guner, member of the Union of Writers of Russia, head of the PolyNova authors' club at SPbPU; Yulia Skornyakova, designer, youth specialist at the Youth House of Primorsky District of St. Petersburg; Zakhar Kornev, veteran of the SVO, deputy chairman of the Youth Parliament of St. Petersburg, social coordinator of the Fatherland Defenders Fund; Alexey Matveyev, CEO of the St. Petersburg project office "Cultural Capital," head of the directorate of the Golden Pelican, the highest people's award of St. Petersburg, an expert of the Public Chamber of St. Petersburg, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, a social and creative producer, and a federal expert on grant competitions and educational programs in the creative sphere.

It's tough for creativity right now, especially for young people. How can you create something new when it seems the old can't be surpassed? It was difficult after Shakespeare, Mozart, and Botticelli, but nevertheless, Pushkin, Rachmaninoff, and Vrubel emerged. Now it's our turn to add names from our era to this list. The further we go, the harder it is to conquer the peaks, but this is an incentive, not a barrier. What does it take to turn an obstacle into a ladder? Respect for what has already been created, reliance on eternal values and one's own vision, one's own ideas, one's own thoughts. I believe that creativity is an everlasting beacon in the difficult waters of life, and it should show the right path, shared Maria Guner.

The "Service" section featured an open dialogue on values, responsibility, spiritual development, moral education, and the role of youth in modern society. The essence of service lies in a willingness to be there, to help, and to support. It takes various forms, but integrity and humanity always remain key. To reflect the diversity of approaches and opinions, the speakers included representatives from various sectors of public life.

The following took part in the discussion:

Nazar Dolitsky (call sign "Varyag"), a veteran of the SVO and member of the Night Wolves motorcycle club; Kirill Motovilov, a SVO participant, medic in an assault company, and head of the patriotic education department at the Primorsky District Youth Center; Priest Viktor Matyashov, a cleric of Smolny Cathedral and director of the Pokrov Interuniversity Association for the Spiritual and Moral Education of Teachers and Students of St. Petersburg; and Maxim Smirnov, an internet marketing specialist at the Humanities Institute of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, a youth mentor at the Dobro.Harmony Center at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, and director of the All-Russian Online School of Media Volunteers, MediaVOL.

The discussion participants agreed on the need for comprehensive educational work to preserve and develop national identity. Positive influence on young people is essential, both within the family and close social circles, and through the institution of the church, creative communities, authoritative leaders, and modern digital technologies.

Preserving the spiritual and cultural heritage of our history will always be the primary mission of our people. We must take responsibility for where we live through service to memory and society. Young Russian citizens are actively involved in volunteering, where they learn how to truly do so and contribute to their homeland," noted Zakhar Kornev.

The 12th Patriotic Youth Forum became an important platform for exchanging experiences between representatives of government agencies, public organizations, veterans, and active youth. The participation of the Dobro.Center "Harmony" in organizing the sections underscores the university's significant role in developing patriotic education and civic engagement among St. Petersburg students.

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.

The 11th International Arctic Legal Forum, "Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Arctic: Legal Aspects," was held in St. Petersburg. The forum, dedicated to the fundamental challenges of legal support for Arctic development, brought together senators, deputies, government representatives, business leaders, academics, lawyers, and students.

Andrey Rudskoy, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, delivered a welcoming address at the plenary session. He noted the historical significance of the Arctic for Russia and proposed making the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences a permanent venue for the forum.

The forum paid special attention to young people. The Arctic Legal Hack, a student hackathon, was held at the historic Zifergauz. Five teams from universities in St. Petersburg and Tyumen worked on a pressing issue: "How to organize solid municipal waste management in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the Arctic?"

A jury, headed by Sergey Karasev, Deputy Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, evaluated the submitted project initiatives. The winning team was the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University team, which included first-year master's students from the Graduate School of Public Administration, Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade: Ekaterina Suleimanova, Danil Neustroev, Artem Yemelyanov, Maxim Svilpov, Marina Korlyakova, and Valeria Listova, a student from the Graduate School of Service and Trade. Natalia Putintseva, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration, and Sergey Timofeev, Senior Lecturer, served as consultants.

Participating in the hackathon allowed us to demonstrate our management skills and approach the situation comprehensively, taking into account a number of constraints. The topic of solid municipal waste management in the harsh Arctic conditions was challenging, but interesting to explore. A wide variety of ideas emerged during the process. We thank our mentors for their support and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug representative office in St. Petersburg for the opportunity to participate in such an event and influence the resolution of a relevant and real-world case, noted Ekaterina Suleimanova.

At the XI International Arctic Legal Forum in St. Petersburg, our team successfully presented a solution to an interesting and useful case. We put in a lot of effort, so we're very pleased that our project was noticed and appreciated! added Marina Korlyakova.

Following the forum, recommendations will be prepared for the Russian Government that could influence actual legislation.

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.

In the summer of 2025, the team from the SPbPU "Adapters" public institute won a grant from the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs for 1,276,120 rubles to implement a mentoring project. Active work had already begun then, but the first events only began in the fall, when the institutes' heads and deputies, as well as deputy heads, were replaced.

The first event was a problem-solving session. At it, the outgoing team discussed the challenges they had faced over the past year and analyzed possible solutions. After the names of the new leaders were announced, training began. This included a networking session to introduce the team members to each other, as well as lectures, which are mandatory for those taking on new positions.

At the end of November, a trip took place, marking the culmination of the Rosmolodezh grant. The event brought together the current and previous management teams, providing a unique opportunity to share experiences, transfer knowledge, and gain a deeper understanding of the specifics of leadership. The trip program included lectures, business and educational games, master classes, and joint activities aimed at strengthening professional knowledge.

One of the key events was a lecture by Dmitry Agranovsky and Alexander Potalov, the 2024 and 2023 Adapters Olympic Games leaders, respectively. Participants discussed modern approaches to team management, personal responsibility of a leader, and interaction within the student community. A business simulation was organized for the new team, where participants experienced the leadership journey, from their first days on the job to the end of the season. This allowed them to become familiar with real-life challenges, understand the structure of the work, and appreciate the importance of a mentor's role.

A special program was prepared for members of the institute's previous teams: an economic game, an immersive quest, a master class, and other events. Participants reminisced about their journeys and looked at the community's development from a mentoring perspective. Particular attention was paid to joint events. These became a platform for successors and their predecessors to exchange views, find common solutions, and develop a unified vision for the future of the Adapters Olympic Games. The events clearly demonstrated the principle of continuity.

The trip was not only an educational event but also an important step in strengthening a social institution, where each participant is part of a shared history and the foundation of future projects. The outcome of this work was the creation of a methodological framework for developing a mentoring program within the "Adapters" initiative. It aims to engage and retain student community leaders in the life of the university and in addressing youth policy issues. Its goal is to develop the institution of mentoring within the activities of other student communities. The program has demonstrated significant effectiveness, with 600 students participating.

The project was implemented with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh). The organizing team earned gratitude for their work and for creating an environment in which interaction, development, and continuity are the key principles of communication.

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.

A team from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, consisting of fourth-year students Alexander Kolosov and Daniil Milyutin, majoring in "Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures" at the Civil Engineering Institute, won the finals of the Alabuga BIM competition in information modeling technology.

The "Alabuga BIM" competition aims to identify and support future professionals capable of applying advanced BIM technologies to the design of modern infrastructure. Fifty talented students from 14 Russian regions competed for the title of best BIM designer.

The competition was organized by Alabuga Development and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Lilia Talipova, a senior lecturer at the Higher School of Pedagogics and Design, served as the expert and developer of the SPbPU competition task.

The competition task required participants to design a miniature special economic zone (SEZ) and accommodate three residents. Each team was assigned a development site with specific technical requirements.

The result of the work was a detailed visualization of the adopted design solutions and a project defense before an expert committee.

Following the competition, the SPbPU team, led by Alexander Mitin, assistant professor at the Higher School of Industrial, Civil, and Road Construction of the Civil Engineering Institute, took first place.

"The experience of participating in this competition was extremely positive. During the in-person stage, we were given a fairly extensive task, which required us to almost completely redesign our original models. Thanks to a well-thought-out plan and coordinated teamwork, we were able to fully complete the task. It was very interesting to work on the concept of our own SEZ during the remote stage, and equally exciting to accommodate new residents during the in-person stage," noted Daniil Milyutin.

"Participating in the Alabuga BIM Championship is an invaluable experience, offering the opportunity to test your knowledge and skills under time constraints. It's especially gratifying to win for the second year in a row. The competition's updated project format allowed us to demonstrate not only our technical capabilities but also to showcase an example of a well-designed SEZ concept with compelling architectural and design solutions," commented Alexander Kolosov.

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.