Category: Russian Universities

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A cross-university examination has begun at the Polytechnic University.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

A cross-university review session, initiated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, has opened at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The goal of this event, which will be held annually at all universities participating in the Priority 2030 program, is to evaluate the universities' implementation of development programs, highlight successful practices and problem areas, identify areas for growth, and prepare useful recommendations for the development of universities across the country.

Over the course of two days, intensive work is taking place at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, involving university leadership, institute directors, heads of research laboratories, faculty, and industry representatives.

Experts from the Federal State Autonomous Institution "Sociocentre"—the operator of the largest state development programs in science and higher education in the Russian Federation—will assess SPbPU's development prospects:

Dmitry Shabalkin, Vice-Rector for Innovative Development and Digital Transformation at Ulyanovsk State University; Evgeny Pogrebnyak, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Polina Shelupanova, Associate Professor at Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics and Head of the Department of Economic Security at TUSUR; and Sergey Sedykh, Research Fellow at the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The events are held in the format of a strategic session with working groups in the following areas: "Management System for Achieving Technological Leadership. Development Team," "Research and Development as the Basis for Competitive Technological Solutions," "Engineering Education," and "Strategic Technological Projects."

On the first day of the cross-university assessment, SPbPU First Vice-Rector Vitaly Sergeev addressed all participants with a welcoming address: "The assessment represents a comprehensive university evaluation system and also gives us the opportunity to formulate elements of tactics and strategy for addressing the challenges facing the university. On behalf of the university, I would like to thank the experts. I am confident that the recommendations resulting from the assessment will be useful and will be implemented."

Vitaly Vladimirovich noted that, in order to achieve technological leadership, in accordance with the approved University Development Strategy and Program, SPbPU will focus its efforts on three key scientific and technological areas (KNTD), as well as on transforming engineering education. The speaker also emphasized the prospects and importance of developing a qualified partnership model.

Next, Dmitry Shabalkin, an expert from the Sociocenter, took the floor and outlined the main goal of the cross-university assessment: "To understand the university's stakes in achieving technological leadership, as well as what internal changes need to be made and whether they are worthwhile."

The speaker proposed considering the technologies for implementing all three key scientific and technological areas (KSTAs) from the perspective of their scalability to other university structures.

Yuri Fomin, Vice-Rector for Research and Chief Designer of the Scientific and Technical Conference No. 3, "Artificial Intelligence for Solving Cross-Industry Problems," presented a report in which he outlined three hypotheses for transforming SPbPU's research activities. He reiterated the principles used to define SPbPU's key scientific and technological development areas. He also noted that the market economy is pushing universities to compete for resources and highly qualified specialists.

"We need to move to a space of different economic models for the university's departments. We have identified three economic models for ourselves: educational, scientific and educational, and scientific and industrial," the speaker noted, presenting options for distributing SPbPU institutes and research teams according to these three models.

Vice Rector for Educational Affairs Lyudmila Pankova noted that the main task now is the transition to a new model of engineering education: "Our goal is to take the best of what has been used in education previously and build a new system of engineering education. We are currently focusing on single-cycle higher education, specialized higher education as an alternative to retraining programs, and postgraduate studies, including industrial ones."

Next, Alexey Borovkov, Chief Designer of the KNTN-1 "System Digital Engineering" and Director of the "Digital Engineering" School, took the floor. He began his presentation by presenting a unique development from St. Petersburg Polytechnic University—the CML-Bench®️ Digital Platform for the Development and Application of Digital Twins—which enables the rapid design and production of competitive high-tech products for various industries to ensure technological leadership within the framework of the National Digital Twin Program (NTP). The platform is unparalleled in Russia and the world in terms of the volume of integrated domestic and foreign software and the number of digital and design solutions presented on it—more than 375,000.

Then the floor was given to the director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU, chief designer of KNTN-2 "Materials, Technologies, Production" Anatoly Popovich.

He noted that materials, technology, and production are an inseparable triad: “The concept is that we don’t move from left to right, but rather first develop a product using a specific technology, and then we develop the necessary material for it.”

The speaker presented five projects included in KNTN-2, focusing specifically on the project "Scientific and Technological Foundations for the Development of Science-Intensive Production, Repair, and Manufacture of Power Engineering Parts for Civil and Special Purpose Needs." The chief designer of KNTN-2 explained that the project has already successfully completed testing, and pilot batches are currently being manufactured. He demonstrated a product created using additive technologies to the cross-industry review participants.

Yuri Fomin, Chief Designer of KNTN-3, added: "As part of KNTN-3, we plan to create a platform for working with multimodal data to solve engineering problems. Here, we plan to leverage Polytechnic University's competitive advantage—a global portfolio of qualified customers who share verified engineering data with us—as well as the extreme diversity of our partners."

Each speaker's presentation was followed by a lively professional discussion. Throughout the day, participants in the cross-university review also interacted in working groups. In interactive formats, university representatives, institute heads, partners, and experts discussed how the university should be structured; how the university's structure differs from its desired future; which operational tools require significant changes, which new operational tools are missing, and what can be done about them. The first day concluded with a tour of SPbPU's facilities.

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.

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Students from five universities discussed current issues in modern construction in English.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Elena Selezneva, Victoria Sherstennikova, and Elena Chirkova open the meeting.

On October 28, 2025, as part of the 88th National (All-Russian) Scientific and Practical Conference of Students, Postgraduates, and Young Scientists "Current Issues in Modern Construction," which traditionally takes place at our university, a section of the Department of Intercultural Communication was held. Students from SPbGASU, St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University, St. Petersburg State Forest Engineering University, and Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering presented their research findings in English.

Elena Selezneva, Head of the Department of Intercultural Communication, emphasized that the section traditionally provides a platform for young researchers from various universities to discuss scientific progress and share discoveries, ideas, and new approaches in a foreign language.

Elena Chirkova, professor at the Department of Intercultural Communication, presented a virtual cloud where any participant in a foreign-language discussion can add new elements—words, concepts, and notions related to scientific fields.

The section moderator, Victoria Sherstennikova, a first-year undergraduate student in the Faculty of Architecture at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, said she was inspired by the students' presentations. The students' research topics covered modern achievements and technologies in construction, architecture, transportation, and economics.

Participants in the section noted that knowledge of foreign languages opens access to a large number of lectures and scientific articles and increases competitiveness in the labor market.

Fyodor Romanchuk, a first-year master's student at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, presented a paper entitled "Advantages and Disadvantages of Concrete Houses Using 3D Printing."

"3D concrete printing technology has both potential applications and limitations due to the specifics of production. I discussed this in my presentation. I'm interested in participating in events like this: I think that, regardless of the topic, everyone can share something interesting or new.

"I've used foreign languages in practice many times—for example, translating documentation into Russian and writing my thesis. I believe that today, knowledge of a foreign language opens up enormous opportunities for career advancement in any industry," Fedor shared.

Kuzma Varaksin, a first-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Architecture at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, explored the prospects and trends for urban mobility, emphasizing the role of urban infrastructure and analyzing its current state for ensuring the rapid and safe movement of vehicles and various population groups.

Fourth-year undergraduate students from the Faculty of Architecture at the Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Dilyara Akhanova and Anastasia Zhikhareva, emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in the creation of modern projects and generative images, which help architects work more efficiently using modern technologies.

Third-year undergraduate students Anastasia Alekseenko and Olesya Alekseenko from the Institute of Forestry Business and Innovation at the St. Petersburg State Forest Engineering University presented the results of a statistical analysis of wooden housing construction in Russia and examined its development prospects.

Second- and third-year undergraduate students from the Saint Petersburg State Marine Technical University, Natalia Rudenko and Valeria Aleinikova from the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, presented an overview of the various factors that lead to employee burnout and analyzed ways to increase motivation and productivity by creating comfortable working conditions, flexible schedules, a positive psychological climate, and organizing extracurricular activities and joint sports.

Viktor Malevany, a first-year master's student at the Faculty of Automobile and Highway Engineering at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, prepared a report entitled "Using Automotive Service Center Capacities for Vehicle Modification."

"The topic of this report overlaps with my final thesis, 'Reconstruction of a Service Station with the Implementation of a Vehicle Customization Section.' I raise the question of the possibility of combining the operation of a service station with the parallel improvement of vehicles, both cosmetic and technical.

"I decided to speak out of curiosity; previously, I'd only participated as a photographer and an audience member. "A foreign language in Russia can be used to research work experience and the organization of work among foreign colleagues, to study educational materials and research papers in the foreign language, and to communicate and coordinate with foreign partners. This is quite sufficient for successfully running and developing a business in my field," Viktor believes.

The section meeting was constructive, with participants raising pressing issues and presenting the results of their research aimed at finding new solutions.

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.

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Physics students won the volleyball tournament

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The competition counts toward the Spartakiad among faculties, institutes, the Specialized Scientific Center, and the Higher Institute of Culture (VKI) and was held using the Olympic system. Pairs were determined by drawing lots and taking into account the previous year's results. The losers were immediately eliminated, while the winners advanced to the next round and then to the semifinals.

In the final, the places were distributed as follows:

1st place — Faculty of Physics: Daria Kiryanova, Elizaveta Karlova, Elizaveta Kirchanova, Alexandra Kopysova, Daria Litvinova, Alena Mikhailova, Daria Lisyutenko and Alisa Ilinykh.

2nd place — Institute of Philosophy and Law: Sofia Volkova, Maria Dukhina, Alena Zagorodnikova, Sofia Kolmagorova, Polina Krivoshey, Ekaterina Petrova, Lada Sizova, Valeria Sitnikova and Daria Stepanova.

3rd place — Faculty of Economics: Anna Remus, Anastasia Turaeva, Darima Bayartueva, Daria Efimova, Sofia Nechaeva, Svetlana Ushakova, Ksenia Rekunova, Maria Kuminova, Sofia Rodenko and Elizaveta Karshakevich.

The Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics took 4th place. From there, places were determined by goal difference.

We congratulate the winners and wish the Physics Department team good luck and success at the upcoming Faculty Festival among universities in the Novosibirsk Region!

We thank KafFV teachers Svetlana and Vladimir Krylov for the excellent organization of the tournament.

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.

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NSU faculty and students took part in a crystallography seminar in Shanghai

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Faculty and students of the Department of Solid State Chemistry Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS) of NSU participated in the International University of California, Santa Cruz, High Pressure Workshop on High-Pressure Crystallography (IUCr High Pressure Workshop). The workshop was held in Shanghai, China, from September 21 to 26.

The seminar program included presentations on various areas of high-pressure crystallography: from geological research and the analysis of superconducting materials to technical aspects such as the design of synchrotron and neutron stations. The event brought together high-pressure crystallography specialists from around the world, with 169 participants. A competition was held among the young scientists' submissions.

Elena Boldyreva, Professor of the Department of Solid State Chemistry at the NSU Department of Natural Sciences, presented an invited talk online. Poster presentations were presented by Nikita Bogdanov, Senior Lecturer in the Department; Svetlana Sharaya and Polina Kalinina, PhD students; and Grigory Zhdankin, Master's student at the Moscow Institute of Physical Chemistry and Physics. Nikita Bogdanov and Polina Kalinina's work was awarded prizes for the best work in the Young Scientists Competition and for the best talk. The talks presented research results, including those from Russian Science Foundation projects being implemented at NSU: "The Relationship Between Crystal Structure and Photoisomerization of Cobalt Pentaammine with Various Anions" (No. 24-22-00293) and "Structural Aspects of Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Phase Transitions in Organic Crystals under High Pressure and Low Temperature Conditions" (No. 24-23-00410).

The conference included a tour of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, where participants were able to see the experimental stations designed for studying substances under high pressure. They also visited the HPSTAR Center for Advanced High-Pressure Science and Technology.

The participant shared their impressions:

Grigory Zhdankin, a second-year student of the master's program "Methodological Support for Physicochemical Studies of Condensed Phases" at the Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, NSU:

I really enjoyed the diversity of the oral and poster presentations at the conference: from projects for synchrotron radiation stations designed to study substances under extreme conditions to research in mineralogy and the synthesis of new substances at high pressures (over two million atmospheres). I had the opportunity to interact in person with a large number of interesting people whom I had previously only known through their articles. This gave me a huge boost of motivation to continue my scientific work.

Shanghai itself turned out to be quite an interesting city for tourism. Between listening to presentations, we managed to visit several interesting places: Yuyuan Garden, the Shanghai Aquarium, Nanjing Road, and People's Square.

Polina Kalinina, first-year PhD student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences:

It was fascinating to interact with various scientists, both leading experts in high-pressure crystallography and emerging young researchers. It was also helpful to see firsthand how high pressures are applied in various fields of research—it broadens your horizons and inspires new research beyond your own. For example, I was particularly interested in the work investigating the composition of the Earth's mantle, as well as the work aimed at producing hexagonal diamond—lonsdaleite. It was gratifying to see the conference participants' interest in my work and that of my colleagues; there were many positive wishes and encouragement. I am very motivated when my work is interesting to people who are seeing it for the first time.

Svetlana Sharaya, 3rd year PhD student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences:

A huge number of presentations at the conference were devoted to synchrotron topics and the use of synchrotron radiation for high-pressure crystallography research. It was very interesting to hear the experiences of colleagues from China and other countries in setting up stations and conducting experiments using synchrotron radiation. This was useful for us, as the knowledge gained can be applied at the SKIF facility currently under construction in Koltsovo.

Furthermore, the conference featured presentations that weren't directly related to crystal study methods, but focused on the fundamentals of mathematical crystallography. This was useful for me as a budding scientist. I particularly remember the presentation on predicting crystal symmetry before and after a phase transition, taking into account the structure and properties based on group theory.

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.

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Russia's Best Welder: The All-Russian Competition Finals Kick Off at the Polytechnic University

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The finals of the All-Russian NAKS professional skills competition "Best Welder of Russia" opened at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. For several days, the entire city on the Neva River became the country's premier venue for showcasing the highest levels of professionalism in welding technology. The event brought together over 500 leading welding specialists from across the country.

"This competition is a clear demonstration of how highly professionalism is valued in our country. Welding is more than just a technology; it is, in many ways, an art form that requires deep knowledge, skill, and creativity. It is especially symbolic that this competition is supported by the National Agency for Welding Control, an organization that has long been a leading authority in the welding industry. The long-standing partnership between Polytechnic University and NAKS guarantees the high level of the event and its significance for the professional community. We are proud to contribute to the development of professional education and the support of talented professionals. SPbPU has always strived to be at the forefront of educational innovation, and supporting such events is an important part of our mission," noted Lyudmila Pankova, SPbPU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.

The All-Russian NAKS Professional Skills Competition "Best Welder of Russia" is the premier professional competition for industry professionals. Qualifying rounds were held in 67 regions of the Russian Federation, with over 1,300 welders vying for the title. Approximately 200 of the strongest competitors, demonstrating the best results at regional venues, earned the right to participate in the finals.

The competition is taking place at two high-tech production sites of member organizations of the SRO Association "NAKS" in St. Petersburg.

LLC "SZ ANTTS "Energomontazh" – nominations "Manual argon-arc welding" and "Mechanized welding" LLC "RSZ MATs" – nominations "Manual arc welding" and "Welding with a hot tool"

Participants will perform complex practical tasks involving welding test specimens under strict regulations and time controls. Weld quality will be assessed using visual inspection, radiography, and ultrasonic testing.

The competition received high praise and support from the Government of St. Petersburg. The awards ceremony and closing ceremony will take place on October 31 at ExpoForum. On that day, the names of the country's best welders will be announced. Winners and runners-up in each of the four categories will receive diplomas, valuable prizes, and cash awards. The total prize fund for all four categories is 4 million rubles.

Based on the results of the final competition, the Russian Federation National Team, the Russia NAKS Team, will be formed to prepare for and participate in the prestigious Arc Cup International Welding Competition. This has already achieved success: in 2017, 2019, and 2023, the Russian team, prepared by NAKS, took first place at the championship in China, beating competitors from 57 countries.

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.

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Establishment of an international scientific center: strengthening the partnership between the Polytechnic University and the Russian-Armenian University

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

A delegation from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, led by Professor Sergey Makarov, Scientific Director of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications, paid an official visit to its strategic partner, the Russian-Armenian University.

The parties summarized the progress of the current SPbPU-RAU Roadmap, which expires in 2025, and began planning joint projects for the subsequent period. The key event was the signing of a memorandum, which marks a new stage in the partnership—the creation of a joint international research center, RAU-SPbPU. The center's activities will focus on cutting-edge research in telecommunications systems. The universities also agreed to launch a number of new projects in related promising fields: nanostructure physics and microwave electronics.

The visit included not only business negotiations but also an active educational program. Maxim Vinnichenko, Deputy Director of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications at SPbPU, gave an open lecture for RAU undergraduate and graduate students on the course "Optical Properties of Semiconductors and Nanostructures." The presentation, dedicated to the connection between fundamental research and practical applications in the development of modern photodetectors and sensors, sparked a lively discussion.

A separate meeting was held to organize the 27th All-Russian Youth Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors and Nanostructures, Semiconductor Opto- and Nanoelectronics, which will take place later this year. A working group and program committee have been formed to review the papers, and a list of invited experts has been agreed upon.

The partners discussed the successful experience of conducting dissertation defenses in a joint dissertation council and planned the next defense for the end of 2025.

Joint activities of the SPbPU and RAU research groups are being implemented, among other things, within the framework of the state project "Implementation of a set of measures to improve the efficiency of the Russian-Armenian and Belarusian-Russian universities in training professional personnel for the digital economy through the development of research programs, continuing education programs, and advanced training for students and young academic staff, including the use of modern distance learning technologies."

The project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and aims to develop cooperation between SPbPU and two Slavic universities.

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.

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A permanent exhibition of fossilized lake inhabitants of the unique freshwater biota of the Cretaceous period has opened at NSU.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The permanent exhibition "Mesozoic: Continental Flora and Fauna" has been expanded with a new display case featuring specimens of Cretaceous lake fauna—remains of bony fish, insects, and crustaceans. These specimens were collected by staff from the "Evolution of the Earth" Scientific and Educational Center. Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of Novosibirsk State University and the A.A. Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics (IPGG) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences during expeditions to the Trans-Baikal Territory. The exhibition also includes finds from China, provided by Igor Kosenko, Associate Professor of the Department of Historical Geology and Paleontology at NSU's GGG. The uniqueness of all the specimens lies in their excellent preservation—the structure of these prehistoric creatures can be seen in exquisite detail, even with the naked eye.

The new display case presents animals belonging to the Jehol fauna. These are the fossil remains of feathered dinosaurs, birds, mammals, and plants, found in large numbers in the Lower Cretaceous deposits of northeastern China. Such localities are called lagerstätten. This is a special type of fossil burial that preserves not only the hard parts of skeletal forms but also impressions of soft tissue. Lower Cretaceous deposits containing the remains of the Jehol biota are very widespread—from Transbaikalia, Russia, in the north and Japan in the east, to Guangdong Province, China, in the south and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Deposits characterized by typical representatives of the Jehol biota are widespread in Transbaikalia. These include the remains of crustaceans (Eosestheria conchostracans), insects (Ephemeropsis mayfly larvae), and bony fishes (Lycoptera). All of these prehistoric lake animals are on display in a new display case, said Vsevolod Efremenko, an engineer at the Evolution of the Earth Research Center and a junior researcher at the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics (IPGG SB RAS).

The Jehol Biota is a distinct lake fauna and flora characteristic of Asia. It encompasses China, Mongolia, the Transbaikal Territory, and parts of Korea. This fauna has been known for some time and was first described from finds made in the Transbaikal Territory. However, it gained notoriety and its current name after the discovery of feathered dinosaur footprints in China. Scientists from the Novosibirsk State University Geological and Geophysical Institute and the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics (IPGG SB RAS) have been studying the Jehol Biota in the Transbaikal Territory since 2021. An expeditionary team for paleontological research in the Transbaikal Territory was formed four times—in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. The materials presented in the exhibition were collected during the 2021 and 2024 expeditions. A new expedition is planned for 2026.

The new display case features specimens of Jehol lake fauna from Transbaikal and China. The most striking, of course, are the fish. Among them is an ancient paddlefish—a sturgeon-like fish called Protopsephurus, which appeared in the Mesozoic era and spread across the planet. Also on display is a remarkably well-preserved bony fish called Lycoptera, quite common in the Mesozoic era. The specimen clearly displays scales that have retained their original position. For this reason, even the lateral line—a sensory organ that runs along the body—is visible on the fish's body. It senses the movement and vibrations of the water, helping the fish navigate, navigate obstacles, move in a school, and avoid predators.

Fishes of the genus Lycoptera were widespread across Asia approximately 120 million years ago, and paleontologists encounter such finds quite frequently. However, many specimens often have scales that are displaced and the lateral line is destroyed. Here, however, it is clearly visible. This means that the scales remained in place from the moment of death until burial, and the fish itself was preserved in ideal conditions. Thanks to these conditions, another specimen was also perfectly preserved—the largest fish skeleton on display. This is an Irenichthys, with a body length of approximately 15-18 cm. This is the largest complete skeleton of this species we have found—these fish typically do not grow to such a size. All the bones of the skeleton and scales are clearly visible, and the structure of the skull is clearly visible. A detailed description of the entire species could be compiled from this specimen. This specimen, like the previous one, was preserved in ideal conditions, which is why it is so beautifully preserved. But other fish of the same species, whose imprints are on display, were less fortunate—they are slightly deformed, their scales damaged. "It's likely that optimal conditions were periodically disrupted in the places where they were preserved," explained Vsevolod Efremenko.

In addition to Cretaceous fish, the exhibition also features crustaceans and insects: shield bugs, mayfly larvae, and beetles. They are as well preserved as the fish—all body segments, legs, tiny claws of small crustaceans, and antennae are clearly visible. Some insects even retain egg clutches and the internal structure of their bodies. A magnifying glass is sufficient to fully appreciate such fine details, but they are also visible to the naked eye. The silhouettes of mayflies with their triple tails are slightly less distinct on the stone slabs. On some specimens, the outlines of small fish can be seen among the numerous crustaceans.

— Locations where creatures that lived for tens or hundreds of millions of years have been preserved in ideal conditions and in wide diversity are called lagerstätt. For paleontologists, these are real treasure troves. There are several of them in Transbaikalia, and we worked at these locations. It should be noted that the lakes themselves are no longer preserved; we are working with the fossilized sediments of these paleolakes. In one such ancient reservoir, a large variety of fish was preserved in abundance, while in another, for some reason, they were not found, but many shieldfish and insects were found. To ensure such preservation for living beings and “preserve” them for many tens of millions of years, a number of conditions must be met. The animal must end up on the muddy bottom of the reservoir in an oxygen-free environment. An important condition is the absence of predators or scavengers who would eat the remains of a dead animal. In these places there should be no currents or other hydrodynamics that could disrupt the integrity of the remains. In addition, they should be gradually covered with sediment to protect them from adverse environmental influences. It is in such places that today one can study the ecology, paleobiology, food chains, and lifestyle of the lake inhabitants of the Mesozoic. Lagerstätts are also valuable because such unique specimens, which are presented in our exhibition, can be found by paleontologists without much difficulty, whereas at ordinary excavation sites the search for ancient creatures is a rather labor-intensive, lengthy task and does not guarantee success. The number of exhibits on our new showcase will be replenished, as we plan to continue to participate in excavations in the Transbaikal region,” said Vsevolod Efremenko.

The exhibition dedicated to the continental flora and fauna of the Mesozoic was recently supplemented by an installation of fragments of fossilized tree trunks. It aims to reflect the Mesozoic era as the kingdom of gymnosperms, which then reached its peak of biodiversity and distribution. Modern conifers are a well-known example of such plants. However, by the mid-Cretaceous, the first flowering plants appeared, which, by geological standards, began to displace their competitors quite quickly. Therefore, the diet of herbivorous dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous was already radically different from that of their Jurassic predecessors.

"When assembling the installation, we used more ancient, late Paleozoic fragments of fossilized cordaite trunks (Cordaitales) from Kuzbass, approximately 300 million years old, as the Evolution of the Earth Research Center has accumulated a large number of similar specimens, collected over the years by staff from the Geological and Geophysical Faculty of NSU. Cordaites are also gymnosperms, specifically primitive conifers. These were mighty trees, as tall as modern pines and cedars, but with large, lanceolate leaves that were shed seasonally," explained Alexander Igolnikov, head of the Evolution of the Earth Research Center.

Material prepared by: Elena Panfilo, NSU press service

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.

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A top manager from VTB Auto gave a lecture at the State University of Management on parallel imports and auto market trends.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

VTB Auto Development Director Boris Shkitin recently brought economic theory to life for students in the International Manufacturing Business program. The lecture consisted almost entirely of real-life case studies and concrete figures.

The speaker discussed the dynamics of parallel imports from Asia, using examples of cooperation with Chinese automobile companies Haval, Great Wall, and Chery Group. He explained how adapting to new foreign trade conditions helps not only maintain market share but also develop new export and import avenues.

The VTB top manager also discussed market changes influenced by global geopolitics in recent years and emphasized that modern business requires flexibility, knowledge of international law, and constant monitoring of current trends in interstate relations.

Additionally, future manufacturers learned about new distribution channels, digital tools for analyzing e-commerce statistics, and integrating technologies for product selection. A separate section of the masterclass was dedicated to specific tips on analyzing new markets, participating in startups, and developing their own projects using up-to-date knowledge of parallel imports.

Concluding the meeting, Boris Shkitin noted that success in business is impossible without the ability to analyze large volumes of information, make quick decisions, and be open to new experiences.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: October 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.

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Many Nations, One Country: The Anniversary Ethnodictation will test knowledge of Russian cultures.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

From November 1 to 8, 2025, the international educational event "The Great Ethnographic Dictation" will take place for the tenth time. This annual event is designed for those who want to discover the diversity of our country's national cultures.

The Ethnodictation was first held in 2016 at the initiative of the Ministry of National Policy of the Udmurt Republic and the region's youth. Inspired by the format of the "Total Dictation" in Russian, activists created their own cultural competition. Since then, the initiative has grown into a large-scale event, bringing together millions of participants both in Russia and abroad. Anyone can participate, regardless of age, education, or citizenship.

The main idea is to test our knowledge of the peoples living in our country and assess the overall level of ethnocultural literacy. The anniversary event is included in the program of the International Festival "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" and is being held with the support of President Vladimir Putin under the auspices of the Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs (FANA RF). Igor Barinov, head of FANA RF, notes: "The Great Ethnographic Dictation has become an important tradition, uniting millions of people across Russia and beyond in their quest to better understand and appreciate the unique cultural heritage of our multinational country."

Participating is easy: from November 1st to 8th, visit the Ethnodictation website and take a 30-question test. You must answer it in 45 minutes to score a maximum of 100 points. As a result, you'll receive an online or offline certificate, depending on your participation format, and, more importantly, you'll fill in the ethnographic gaps in your personal map of Russian knowledge.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: October 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.

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Game Selection: GUU Chess Players in the Top 3 of the Country's Main Student Cup

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Last weekend, the team from the State University of Management confidently made a name for itself in the qualifying round of the All-Russian Cup of the National Student Chess League.

The Rapid Chess Championship brought together 66 teams from Moscow universities and became a tense intellectual marathon, where every game could decide the outcome. Our masters passed the test with flying colors and took a respectable second place in the Moscow tournament standings, behind only athletes from Moscow State University. As a result, the current top three is: Moscow State University, State University of Management, and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

It should be noted that the following true chess aces played for the State University of Management:

Danila Pavlov (IUPSIBK), Honored Master of Sports of Russia and FIDE International Grandmaster in chess composition solving, has seven wins and two draws. Sofia Ershova (IEF) has seven wins, one draw, and one loss. Leonid Malina (IIS) has four wins and one draw.

The final of the competition, supported by the Russian Student Sports Union (RSSU) and the Russian Chess Federation (RCF), will take place on November 15 and 16, 2025, at the Central House of Chess in Moscow. This is where the strongest team will be determined to win the country's premier student cup.

Congratulations to the guys on their success in the intermediate stage, and the whole university continues to root for our team—the fight for the chess crown is still ahead, let's go win!

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: October 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.