Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting | St Petersburg University

Meeting of the Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University

A meeting of the Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University (GSOM SPbU) has been held in Moscow. The members of the Advisory Board reviewed the year’s results for 2024, approved the primary areas of the business school’s strategy for 2025, and laid the groundwork for the development of the new GSOM SPbU Strategy 2030.

In his opening address, Sergei Ivanov, a graduate of St Petersburg University, Chairman of the Advisory Board of GSOM SPbU, Member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University, and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport, commended the business school’s achievements in 2024. ‘The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University confidently maintains its status as one of the leading business schools both nationally and globally. This is evidenced by the top positions of its academic programmes in the Forbes Education, EdUniversal, and RAEX rankings. "The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University continues to deliver high-quality education, a fact attested to by both graduates and employers. We proudly hold our 'triple crown' of international accreditations. The business school sets a high standard for the entire business education system in the country, not only producing top-tier specialists but also implementing large-scale projects focused on the sustainable development of territories."

Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev underlined that the high rankings of the Graduate School of Management in global lists are a testament to the outstanding work of the University’s academic community. "We are proud of this success and believe that the best practices of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University should be applied to advance business education nationwide. Today, many practices first implemented at GSOM SPbU have been integrated into the University academic departments and are actively used to enhance the teaching and learning process. One notable practice is the methodology for creating a universal configuration of hybrid classrooms, which we share with other Russian universities. This contributes to the spread of a digital educational environment across the country’s higher education institutions. The approach enables St Petersburg University to meet the current demands of the state," shared Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University.

In her progress report, Olga Dergunova, Deputy President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board and Director of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University, highlighted that the year 2024 marked another significant milestone for GSOM SPbU in achieving its Strategy 2025. The business school showed progress in meeting its strategic goals, with a particular focus on sustainable development, digitalisation, alumni support, and the expansion of international cooperation.

The proportion of academic disciplines incorporating sustainable development topics surpassed 40%, demonstrating the deep integration of these values into the business school’s degree programmes. The increase in the number of graduates to 14,300 people (+56% compared to 2023) indicates that the educational initiatives of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University are highly sought after in the Russian education market. At the same time, we achieved key milestones in the digitalisation of academic programmes and in engaging alumni in GSOM SPbU activities.

In 2024, the number of graduates from GSOM SPbU’s academic programmes reached 14,300, marking a 56% increase from 2023. A total of 170 students were admitted to master’s programmes — the highest figure in the past six years — with 63% of first-year master’s students having a specialised academic background. Concurrently, the quality of admissions to bachelor’s programmes also improved; the average Unified State Examination score of enrolled applicants increased by four points compared to 2023, reaching 227.

One of the year’s standout achievements was the 100% employment rate of graduates in their major fields of specialisation, made possible by integrating real-world business experiences into the teaching and learning process. St Petersburg University graduates are highly sought after across various sectors, including culture, education, and science, with many receiving job offers even before completing their studies. This is made possible by the University’s close collaboration with partner companies. Currently, St Petersburg University has over 1,000 partnership agreements, and employer representatives are included in the councils of academic programmes. They actively participate not only in the development and implementation of these programmes but also propose topics for students’ graduation projects.

In 2024, the Teaching Excellence Lab in Business Education at the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University made significant strides: its audience reach increased by 30% compared to 2023, with over 1,000 people completing the Lab’s academic programmes in 2024. Thus, over 230 higher education institutions across the country gained access to the latest teaching methods.

In 2024, the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University was recognised as the flagship among Russia’s leading business schools with the highest global prestige by Forbes Education. It also secured the top position among business schools in Russia, receiving five palmes of excellence from the EdUniversal evaluation agency. Additionally, in the past year, the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University took the top place in the People’s Ranking of Russian business schools, according to a survey of MBA and Executive MBA graduates conducted by MBA.SU.

Concurrently, several of the University’s management training programmes gained recognition and topped the EdUniverse rankings. Notably, the Master in Business Analytics and Big Data programme secured the 14^th position among similar programmes offered by business schools globally. The Master in Management and Master in Corporate Finance programmes were recognised among the top 5 business school programmes in Eastern Europe. Additionally, the non-degree programme ‘Management Essentials’ received the Crystal Pyramid Award for the Best Online Learning Programme in the Higher Education Institution — Educational Service Provider category.

The integration of VR/AR technologies and gamification elements became a significant step in transforming the educational experience. Throughout 2024, the VR/AR format was incorporated into the degree programmes, with over 1,400 students participating in training using augmented reality simulators. Digital tools and gamification tools were also employed to engage with the University’s applicants. In collaboration with PJSC Gazprom, the University’s experts developed and conducted a geological Minecraft quest for school students.

During the meeting, the Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University highlighted key initiatives for the coming year. These include: developing innovative teaching methods and digital solutions based on artificial intelligence; strengthening cooperation with Donetsk State University; continuing projects in Krasnoyarsk Krai; and scaling up successful initiatives of the St Petersburg University Career Centre. The primary objective for the coming year will be to develop the new GSOM SPbU Strategy 2030, which will outline further trajectories of growth and enhancing the business school’s international influence. The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University remains at the forefront of Russian business education, poised for new challenges and achievements.

A session of the international discussion platform "Baltic Platform" held at St Petersburg University

St Petersburg University has hosted a session of the international discussion platform "Baltic Platform", focusing on humanitarian cooperation and the restoration of social and cultural ties amidst confrontation. The session brought together experts from: Russia; Belarus; Hungary; Serbia; Latvia; Egypt; India; Indonesia; Italy; Sweden; Poland; and other countries.

Rector of St Petersburg University, Professor Nikolay Kropachev welcomed the discussion participants at Russia’s oldest higher education institution, whose history is inextricably linked with the study and development of the Baltic region. He noted that, regrettably, through no fault of Russia, this area has become a hotspot of intense confrontation with the collective West, leading to a tense and unpredictable geopolitical situation around the Baltic Sea.

"When analysing interaction within the region, it is crucial to consider the shifts stemming from the identification of new external threats and challenges to security. The rise of xenophobia and Russophobia in Europe, attempts to glorify Nazism, and the erosion of the regional security architecture have resulted in the collapse of long-established cooperation mechanisms. Today, Russia is not only fighting for its right to exist but also for the freedom and dignity of all peoples worldwide who aspire to sovereign development. We are open to cooperation, but only on the basis of equal rights and mutual respect," Nikolay Kropachev emphasised.

The Baltic Platform is an international discussion platform established in July 2023 at the initiative of Russian scholars. Its purpose is to address the global issues of significance to the Baltic-Scandinavian region, welcoming all interested experts regardless of their citizenship, religious and national affiliation, or political and scientific views. The topics for the platform’s events are selected based on their relevance and the enduring nature of the problems they address, with the focus on fundamental issues in the humanities and social sciences. Participants in these discussions have included representatives from academic communities in Finland; Denmark; Germany; Belarus; India; China; Sweden; Switzerland; Latvia; Estonia; and Russia. The platform’s main partners in Russia are: the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences; St Petersburg University; MGIMO University; and Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.

One of the objectives of the Baltic Platform is to identify points of contact within the scientific, cultural, and educational spheres. These connections could serve as the foundation for building a new system of interaction between the East and the West, as well as the South and the North.

During the plenary session, moderated by Professor Irina Novikova, Dean of the School of International Relations at St Petersburg University, participants explored new formats of cooperation and the prospects for renewing contacts in the scientific, educational, and cultural spheres.

As part of the Baltic Platform panel discussions, presentations were delivered by: Gábor Hamza, Full Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Professor Emeritus of Eötvös Loránd University; Prashant Kumar, President of the Bar Association of India; Mateusz Piskorski, Polish politician, lecturer and publicist, Member of the Fifth Sejm; Jose Maria Kenny, Director of the Microplastics Research Centre at Yaroslav-the Wise Novgorod State University; professors Časlav Koprivica and Irina Deretić from the University of Belgrade; and other scholars and public figures.

John Laughland, a British journalist, scholar, and Director of Studies at the Institute for Democracy and Cooperation in Paris, delivered a talk on globalism as an instrument of repression. He highlighted that Russia has been proactive in developing international legislation for many years. Notably, Russia initiated the St Petersburg Declaration of 1868 and the First Hague Conference of 1899. In the 1930s, the USSR attempted to establish a system of collective security in Europe, and in 1975, the Helsinki Accords were concluded to reduce international tensions.

For instance, in 2008, Dmitry Medvedev, then President of the Russian Federation and an alumnus of St Petersburg University, proposed an initiative to develop a European Security Treaty. However, this project did not gain support from international organisations and EU countries at the time. According to John Laughland, Europe is currently dominated by a totalitarian and destructive liberal ideology that aims to dismantle states, undermine the institution of the family, and erode individuality. Russia, which diligently preserves its values and historical memory, has become a symbol of resistance against this way of thinking.

The plenary was also addressed by: Connie Bakrie, Professor of St Petersburg University, Executive Director of the Institute of Defence and Security Studies (Indonesia); Igor Zhukovsky, Senior Research Associate in the Centre for the Study of Strategic Planning at the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO RAS); Kirill Babaev, Director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Andrei Rusakovich, Professor of Belarusian State University; Gregory Simons, Associate Professor of Turiba University (Latvia); and other international experts.

As part of the Baltic Platform session, three panel discussions were held to address a wide range of issues. In the session titled "Humanitarian Dialogue Between the West and the East in the Conditions of Global Turbulence", participants explored the possibilities of establishing a dialogue on humanitarian issues and potential avenues for its development. The discussion was moderated by Feodor Voitolovsky, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

At the panel titled "Ethical and Moral Dimensions in Modern Law: International and National Aspects", speakers discussed the evolution of ‘good morals’ as foundational principles in civil and international law. They explored how shifts in morality and ethics drive the transformation of law, including international law, and examined how political interpretations of international humanitarian law contribute to the degradation of international legal frameworks. The panel session was moderated by Professor Anton Rudokvas, Doctor of Law, Acting Head of the Department of Civil Law and Director of the Gabriele Crespi Reghizzi Centre for Comparative Law at St Petersburg University.

The panel session titled ‘Preserving the Common Heritage: Renaissance and Enlightenment Models vs Postmodernist and Metamodernist Concepts’ was moderated by Professor Dmitrii Shmonin, Doctor of Science (Philosophy), Director of the Institute of Theology at St Petersburg University, Editor-in-Chief of the journal ‘Issues of Theology’, and a member of the Committee for the Development of Theological, Religious, and Spiritual-Moral Education of the Council for Coordination with Religious Organisations under the President of the Russian Federation.

Textbooks "Artificial Intelligence", edited by Professor Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy

The first Russian textbooks on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for schoolchildren in grades 5–9 has been published. The textbooks were prepared by the Prosveshcheniye Publishing House in collaboration with the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence. They were scientifically edited by Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, and Doctor of Pedagogy. The authors of the textbooks include over 30 leading Russian developers of artificial intelligence technologies, representing organisations such as Sber, Yandex, T Bank, MTS, and Gazprom Neft.

The textbooks align with the federal syllabus for the extracurricular course of the same name. The textbooks aim to provide children with a realistic understanding of what artificial intelligence is. They explain how and for which tasks professionals in diverse fields — such as science, education, healthcare, ecology, and industry — use artificial intelligence, while also addressing its digital security concerns. The developers emphasised their core message: AI is neither an enemy nor a miracle, but a useful tool in human hands.

The textbooks also feature a digital supplement that incorporates generative AI services such as GigaChat and Kandinsky. This enables schoolchildren to experiment with AI by learning to create texts and illustrations using neural networks (Elena Kazakova becomes scientific editor of the first textbook on artificial intelligence for schoolchildren).

At the Rector’s meeting, Professor Kazakova highlighted that this is the world’s first officially approved textbook on artificial intelligence for schoolchildren, having successfully passed all evaluations by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. It is engagingly organised, with numerous exercises and comics. Acknowledging concerns about the rapid development of AI potentially making the textbook outdated, Elena Kazakova reassured that the authoring team, which includes four scientists from St Petersburg University, is prepared to revise and improve it as needed.

Organisation of the teaching and learning process

Over the past week, nine enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to preparation of various documents and transfer to the University. Classes and interim assessments are held in due order according to the timetable.

Over the past week, meetings were held with student activists: group heads, and representatives of student councils and student scientific societies to name just a few. They discussed issues with organising the teaching and learning process. The meetings were held at: the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication; the Institute of Philosophy; the Faculty of Foreign Languages; the School of International Relations; the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes; the Faculty of Psychology; the Faculty of Sociology; the Faculty of Physics; the Faculty of Philology; and the College of Physical Training and Sports, Economics and Technology.

Opening of the interactive classroom "Future University Student" at St Petersburg University

St Petersburg University held a grand opening ceremony of the interactive classroom "Future University Student", which was created for schoolchildren and applicants who dream of career success. The event was held as part of the opening of the second season of the educational marathon of school teams "Twelve Collegia". The classroom is the result of the joint work of St Petersburg University and Severstal, i.e. an official partner of the project.

The project "Future University Student" is not only an educational platform, but also a bridge that connects schoolchildren to gain opportunities for personal growth and professional self-expression. The creation of such spaces helps young people see real career prospects and get acquainted with professions that will be in demand in future. These are the words addressed to the young guests who are participants of the first marathon by Aleksandr Babich, Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Admissions at St Petersburg University. In his welcoming speech, he talked about the importance of supporting such projects aimed at developing school education. This multifunctional space will be used not only for career guidance events for applicants, but also for the work of the University volunteer centre and the headquarters of student teams.

Severstal and St Petersburg University have been successfully cooperating for many years in the sphere of scientific and educational initiatives, said Zakhar Azarov, Advisor to the General Director for Sustainable Development at Severstal. The company has established partnership relations with the Smart Sustainable Development Laboratory, i.e. a scientific and educational centre at the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University. Students at the University do internships at enterprises, and after completing their studies, they become employees of the company.

Zakhar Azarov added that in the current conditions of personnel shortage and shortage of specialists, the company is interested in preparing future employees, starting from school. According to him, it is important for modern employers not only to use relevant tools, but also to develop long-term relationships with young people. Interaction with schoolchildren can help them form the interests and knowledge necessary for choosing a future profession, and the creation of favourable conditions for learning will allow students to stay in the educational institution and continue their education.

The classroom "Future University Student" is equipped with modern technological solutions: interactive boards, multimedia equipment and software for conducting classes in natural sciences, mathematics, humanities and information technology. In the new classroom, educational conference, workshops, and creative events will be held.

During the ceremony, the results of the first educational marathon of school teams "Twelve Collegia" were summed up. The marathon was dedicated to the 300^th anniversary of St Petersburg University and implemented thanks to the support of Severstal. In 2024, over 400 children from 50 schools in different regions of Russia took part in the contest. The results of the work were announced by Andrei Ivasko, Deputy Head of the Admissions Office — Head of the Career Guidance Office at St Petersburg University.

The start of the second educational marathon of school teams "Twelve Collegia" was given by Elena Kazakova, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy at St Petersburg University, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education. As part of the presentation of the second season of the intellectual marathon "Twelve Collegia", the organisers announced not only updated tasks for the participants, but also a new tradition to integrate the marathon into the everyday life of schools, that is a marathon shelf in each educational institution. The idea is to gradually form a separate marathon library, which will be replenished with both publications presented by the organisers and books that will appear thanks to the marathon participants themselves. As the first steps towards the implementation of this initiative, those present were given three books from the St Petersburg University Publishing House, which will take pride of place on the shelf. Among them were the following: "Three centuries of St Petersburg University"; "A trap for a genius (Essays on Dmitri Mendeleev)"; and "Nabokov’s house". The choice is symbolic, as the University is one of the main guardians of the city’s historical heritage.

The marathon "Twelve Collegia" is aimed at popularising the scientific and technological achievements of the University and at forming a value-based attitude towards its historical, cultural and scientific heritage. An important objective of the contest is to develop the personal and team potential of the participants, to ensure their professional guidance and preparation for a future career. Participants develop systemic thinking, creative skills and learn to look for non-trivial solutions under the guidance of experienced mentors from St Petersburg University and get acquainted with various areas of scientific knowledge, scientists at St Petersburg University and their outstanding discoveries. The marathon will be held from December 2024 to 1 April 2025.

Victory of a student at St Petersburg University in the Artificial Intelligence International Junior Contest

More than eight thousand schoolchildren and first-year students from 65 countries took part in the AI Challenge. The contest was organised by Sber together with the AI Alliance. The winner of the team contest was the team, which included St Petersburg University student Aleksandr Astafurov.

The contestants competed for victory in three tracks. Among the contest tracks are two tracks in the format of individual participation (Beginners and Creators) and one track in the format of participation in a team of two to five people (Researchers). The participants were asked to solve technological and business cases that affected a wide range of economic areas: from metallurgy and agriculture to investments and creativity. The solution developed by Aleksandr Astafurov, a first-year student in Mathematics and Computer Science at St Petersburg State University, and Andrei Khlopotnykh, a pupil at Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No 30, was recognised as the best in the direction "Large Language Model".

They were tasked with creating a model architecture that could effectively generate and interpret texts, extract the main idea from the material, and generate answers based on the image using information from the graph. This method looks promising and was tested for the first time.

This is not the first time that Aleksandr Astafurov has won the AI Challenge. In 2023, his work in the category "Image and Video Analysis" also received the highest score from the jury. Aleksandr Astafurov is confident that if you want to win, "the main thing is to set yourself up for productive work and concentrate on the project".

In addition to the cash prize, the aspiring mathematicians were given the opportunity to complete an academic programme developed by the AI Alliance. Based on the results of the training, a Russian school team will be formed to participate in the international Olympiad on artificial intelligence in China.

Victory of the team of students at St Petersburg University at the All-Russian Inter-University Multidisciplinary Olympiad named after Nikolay Pirogov

The team at St Petersburg University won the main contest and the video contest and won two gold medals at the 3^rd All-Russian Inter-University Multidisciplinary Olympiad named after Nikolay Pirogov in Moscow.

The team included students Arsenii Zabezhinskii, Kseniia Shman, Ilia Gorokhov, Aleksandr Shumkov, Natalia Gurysheva, Ekaterina Lukashova, Ekaterina Krasnoperova, Vladimir Skvortsov, Rostislav Ianin, Alina Shegai, Mariia Osipova, Anna Leliuk, Olga Lemeshevskaia, Andrei Gorokhov, and Daria Rozhnova. The University was also represented by the team’s mentors: Oleg Soloviev, Iia Chkhaidze, Valeriia Kamalova, Viacheslav Vetoshkin, and Natalia Boiko. The mentors’ responsibilities included preparing the team for the Olympiad and supporting the students during the contests.

Participants in the Olympiad competed in therapy, surgery, endoscopy, travel medicine, gynaecology and other disciplines. The tests were different: from endoscopic interventions and routine examinations to the presentation of scientific reports and the provision of emergency medical care. The advantage of the Olympiad is the demonstration of effective teamwork of doctors in modern medicine.

For the jury’s assessment of the Olympiad, the team of the Institute of Medicine at St Petersburg University presented a video about metabolic syndrome in cinema. As a main character of the video, the students chose one of the heroes of Astrid Lindgren’s books, i.e. Karlsson. This sweet tooth is, without a doubt, a favourite of children and adults. The students managed to shoot a humorous video that captivated the audience and raised the spirits of the participants.

St Petersburg University students take part in the Olympiad for the third year in a row. In 2022, the team of surgical students took second place, and the team of therapists brought the University bronze. Last year, the team of the St Petersburg University Medical Institute beat 17 medical universities and won gold.

Joint grant contests in the field of science by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and organisations of China, Vietnam and Cuba

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation has announced three competitive selections for the provision of grants in the field of science in the form of subsidies from the federal budget to ensure that Russian scientific organisations and (or) higher education organisations conduct scientific research jointly with organisations of the People’s Republic of China, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Cuba as part of ensuring the implementation of the programme of bilateral and multilateral scientific and technological cooperation. The size of the grant provided to the winning organisation for a maximum period of three years is no more than ten million roubles per year.

As Acting Vice-Rector for Research Sergey Mikushev explained, a distinctive feature of these selections is the mandatory presence of an industrial partner as a specific consumer of the results of the project. It is necessary to sign an agreement with the industrial partner on the use of the results of the project. The agreement is included in the package of documents for the application for the competitive selection.

For all competitive selections, a selection participant (St Petersburg University) has the right to submit no more than one application for each of the areas for which competitions have been announced. Applications from an organisation are submitted on the website for providing financial state support measures.

Applications for the competitive selection with Cuba are accepted until 13 January 2025. Completion dates: 2025 to 2027.

The project should be aimed at conducting applied scientific research in the agreed areas:

energy
food production
biotechnology
medical and health technologies, including pharmaceuticals and radiation medicine
climate change and environmental protection
astronomy
palaeontology

In order to collect applications and to avoid "competition in the areas", it was necessary to notify the Research Projects Department about preparations for submitting an application for the contest before 26 December.

Applications for the competitive selection from the PRC will be accepted until 15 January 2025. Completion dates: 2025 to 2027.

The project should be aimed at conducting applied scientific research in the agreed areas:

advanced materials and precision chemical industry, including preparation and study of properties of inorganic materials, crystals, metallic materials, polymeric materials and nanomaterials
information and communication technologies, including microelectronics and quantum sciences
artificial intelligence technologies and their applications
new transport systems
aviation and astronautics
energy storage systems
low carbon technologies
rational use of natural resources and environmental protection
medicine and biotechnology
agricultural technology, food science
polar and marine research

Applications for the competitive selection with Vietnam are accepted until 7 February 2025. Completion dates: 2026 to 2028.

The project should be aimed at conducting applied scientific research in the agreed areas:

Marine science: marine natural resource research; marine biodiversity research; marine cleanup, especially microplastics treatment in the marine environment
energy technologies: advanced technologies in the use of renewable energy sources, clean energy (solar, wind, ocean waves, biomass, green hydrogen, ammonia); energy storage technologies and equipment
new materials and nanotechnology: technology for the production of intelligent materials and their application in high-tech industry; technology for the production of modern functional materials on a large scale and for industrial production; nanotechnology and nanomaterials applied in industrial production
high-tech agriculture, precision agriculture: the application of new generation biotechnology/nanotechnology in high-tech agriculture aimed at improving the quality and productivity of agricultural products; the application of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technologies in precision agriculture to control the quality of agricultural products
automation and information technology: technology for automatic control of a group of drones; artificial intelligence technology for image and face analysis and recognition
social and humanities: international economic relations and international integration, especially economic cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, between Vietnam, Russia and third countries; development of cooperation with the Russian Far East

In order to collect applications and to avoid "competition in the areas", it is necessary to notify the Research Projects Department about preparations for submitting an application for the competition before 10 January 2025.

The Research Projects Department at Petersburg University sent emails to the relevant heads of the academic and research subdivisions (in accordance with the areas in which the selections are being held). Sergey Mikushev asked to carefully read these information mailings, take into account the information provided and the deadlines for successful submission of applications.

Awarding the Nesmeyanov Prize of the Russian Academy of Sciences to Vadim Kukushkin, Honorary Professor of St Petersburg University, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Vadim Kukushkin, Honorary Professor of St Petersburg University, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was awarded the Nesmeyanov Prize of the Russian Academy of Sciences ‘For outstanding work in the field of chemistry of organoelement compounds’. This is the first time this award has been presented to a scientist from St Petersburg.

Academician Vadim Kukushkin noted that this event was recognition of his fundamental research in the field of organoelement chemistry of stable carbenes that are amazing chemical compounds that were long considered too unstable. Thanks to the work of scientists, in particular Vadim Kukushkin and his scientific group, carbenes are widely used in modern chemistry.

Carbenes are molecules containing a carbon atom that is bonded to only two other atoms instead of the usual four. This makes carbenes very reactive. They are literally "eager" to react with anything to fill their empty electron orbitals. For a long time, carbenes were considered too short-lived to be isolated and studied. However, chemists have found ways to stabilise these "elusive" particles, for example, by binding carbenes to metal ions.

The research of Vadim Kukushkin and his research team made a significant contribution to understanding the mechanisms of carbene catalysts. They studied how the addition of carbene to metal changes its properties and reactivity. The scientists’ work shows how fundamental research in chemistry can lead to practical results. The study of seemingly exotic and unstable particles, i.e. carbenes, led to the creation of powerful tools for modern chemical synthesis. These achievements help to synthesise new drugs, materials and technologies that improve our lives.

Science popularisation in the media

St Petersburg University has announced its annual results in science popularisation and named its leading voices in the media environment. At the forefront are the University scholars whose news about their research garnered most attention, sparked discussions, and were widely cited across media outlets and social platforms. The awarding ceremony was held in the Petrovsky Hall as part of the Science Lunch Event "St Petersburg University ScienceCom Award 2024".

Polina Ogorodnikova, Acting Head of the Marketing and Media Communication Department at St Petersburg University, reported that in 2024, the University’s Press Service produced an unprecedented number of popular science articles. Over 100 articles highlighting the research and developments of St Petersburg University’s scholars were published on the University website in 2024.

In the 300th anniversary year of St Petersburg University, the popular science podcast Heinrich Teraherz, dedicated to the work of the University’s researchers, was launched. Over the year, 23 episodes were released, covering topics ranging from information security and GMOs to crocodylomorphs and nuclear physics.

Another University initiative is the portal "St Petersburg University in action" (vdele.spbu.ru), an information resource dedicated to the most promising applied research, developments, inventions, and projects by St Petersburg University experts, scholars, students, and graduates in the most rapidly growing sectors of the Russian economy. The portal was recognised as one of the best projects popularising the work of Russian researchers, becoming a winner of the 10th All-Russian Award "For Fidelity to Science".

Young St Petersburg University scholars most actively engaged with the media over the past year include: Rodion Reznik, Head of the Laboratory of New Semiconductor Materials for Quantum Informatics and Telecommunications at St Petersburg University; Anna Samsonova, an engineering researcher in the Laboratory of Crystal Photonics at St Petersburg University; Mikhail Kinzhalov, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Organic Chemistry at St Petersburg University; and Andrei Shishov, Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at St Petersburg University. The researchers shared news about their research work in the media, provided expert reviews and participated in popular science programmes.

Professor Andrei Shishov, a winner of the 2022 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists, is developing environmentally-friendly sustainable eutectic solvents. Rodion Reznik, together with colleagues from the Laboratory of New Semiconductor Materials for Quantum Informatics and Telecommunications at St Petersburg University, continues to advance quantum technologies for microelectronics, a research field pioneered by Alexey Ekimov, a notable alumnus of the University and laureate of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Researchers from the Laboratory of Crystal Photonics at St Petersburg University, including Anna Samsonova, successfully measured the refractive index dispersion of the MAPbI3 perovskite — a promising semiconductor for diode and laser applications — at temperatures close to absolute zero. A team of chemists led by Associate Professor Mikhail Kinzhalov is developing new catalysts as part of a research project supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

Media materials featuring Kirill Antonets, Leading Research Associate in the Department of Cytology and Histology at St Petersburg University, generated significant media attention and expert discussion, becoming the most discussed and cited. In 2021, Kirill Antonets and Anton Nizhnikov, Head of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University, were awarded the Russian President’s Prize for Young Scientists for their discovery of amyloid proteins in plants and symbiotic bacteria.

Pavel Skrelin, Head of the Department of Phonetics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at St Petersburg University, was recognised for his appearance in the most listened-to episode of the Heinrich Terahertz podcast. The conversation with Pavel Skrelin on language and its variability garnered over 2,000 listeners.

The most popular content discussed on social media platforms was materials featuring Evgeny Abakumov, Acting Head of the Department of Applied Ecology at St Petersburg University, and Uliana Kochetkova, Associate Professor in the Department of Phonetics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at St Petersburg University. The post about the development of a method for recognising irony by artificial intelligence, created with the participation of Uliana Kochetkova, garnered over 5,000 views on St Petersburg University’s popular science Telegram channel "Landau will call". Additionally, the master’s programme "Artificial Intelligence in Speech Technologies", developed under the supervision of Uliana Kochetkova, Pavel Skrelin, and Vera Evdokimova, Associate Professor in the Department of Phonetics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at St Petersburg University, received an award from the Government of St Petersburg.

Media content about Evgeny Abakumov’s research was cited more than 300 times on social media platforms. Evgeny Abakumov, together with his colleagues from the world-class scientific centre "Agrotechnologies of the Future", which includes St Petersburg University, developed a cow dung-based superabsorbent polymer to combat moisture deficit in agricultural soils.

Among the most media-proactive scholars of 2024 were named: Raul Gainetdinov, Director of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University, Academic Supervisor of the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies of St Petersburg University, laureate of the first national award in the field of future technologies "Vyzov" ("Challenge"); Vadim Kukushkin, Professor in the Department of Physical Organic Chemistry at St Petersburg University, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Professor Pavel Skutschas, Head of the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at St Petersburg University; and Yana Virolainen, Research Associate in the mega-grant Ozone Layer and Upper Atmosphere Research Laboratory at St Petersburg University.

Raul Gainetdinov and Vadim Kukushkin are amongthe top 2% of scientists whose works are most in demand and frequently cited by the scientific community. Their research and developments consistently attract media attention. Materials about Pavel Skutschas’ palaeontological research have received at least 50 citations in popular science and federal media outlets.

Among the scholars whose applied research and developments resonated with business partners were Sergey Ermakov, Acting Head of the Department of Physical Organic Chemistry at St Petersburg University; Mayya Uspenskaya, Professor in the Laboratory of Biohybrid Technologies at St Petersburg University; and Olga Yakubovich, Professor in the Department of Geochemistry at St Petersburg University. The Science Lunch event focused on the development of edible coatings for fruits and vegetables received the most media feedback. The histamine sensor developed under the supervision of Sergey Ermakov also garnered significant media attention. Olga Yakubovich’s method for determining the age of minerals based on helium concentration received the Russian President’s Prize for Young Scientists and attracted the interest of both Russian and international business partners.

Additionally, Alexey Tikhonov, Professor in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at St Petersburg University, and Anton Nizhnikov, Head of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University, were recognised for their productive collaboration with the popular science magazine St Petersburg University and the portal "St Petersburg University in action" (spbu.vdele.ru).

Winners in the special category "Scientific Photo" became: Associate Professor Andrey Giljov and Senior Research Associate Karina Karenina, both from the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at St Petersburg University. The researchers were recognised for high-quality photographs of flora and fauna, taken during expeditions. Oleg Vereshchagin, Associate Professor in the Department of Mineralogy at St Petersburg University, and Liudmila Gorelova, Associate Professor in the Department of Crystallography at St Petersburg University, were also recognised in this category for their science photography, which was widely used in the media.

Participation of University staff and students in the all-Russian action "Christmas wish tree"

On the eve of the New Year, St Petersburg University took part in the all-Russian campaign "Christmas wish tree". Once again, University staff and students play the role of good wizards and give a miracle to those who need it most now. On the Christmas tree in the gallery of the Twelve Collegia building, 63 cards with children’s wishes appeared. University staff and students were asked to choose any of them to fulfil someone’s dream during the holidays. According to the tradition, the campaign was launched at the University by Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev, vice-rectors, deans of faculties and directors of institutes.

Nikolay Kropachev noted that the University has been participating in the "Christmas wish tree" for several years and invited everyone to join. "As part of the campaign, several hundred thousand children received gifts. Of course, they want them not only for the New Year, the children need us to help them always. I know examples at our University when colleagues, having met children as part of the campaign, continue to communicate and care for them to this day. I would like to wish all of us and the children whose wishes are presented on the Christmas tree that the New Year will be happy. When the lights are lit in honour of our country’s victory over the enemy, it will become much brighter around."

The goal of the campaign "Christmas wish tree" is to give New Year’s gifts to children who find themselves in a difficult life situation. Applications can be submitted by children aged 3 to 17 with disabilities or left without parental care. Children of participants in the special military operation living and registered in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporozhye Region, and the Kherson Region, children from families permanently residing in the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions, who suffered or were forced to leave their place of residence due to shelling can take part in the campaign. The goal of the campaign "Christmas wish tree" is not just to give a gift, but to pay attention to children and support them.

This year, the participants in the campaign asked for bicycles, snow scooters, skates, hoverboards, kick scooters, light tables for sand painting, construction sets, educational kits, telescopes, musical instruments and smart speakers. The children also wished a wall bars, a toy train set, a ski suit, sneakers, an action camera, a quadcopter, a karaoke system and a smart watch. As part of the campaign, the children will be congratulated on the New Year by Marina Lavrikova, Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University; Elena Chernova, Academic Secretary of St Petersburg University, Deputy Chairperson of the Academic Council of St Petersburg University; Laura Useinova, Vice-Rector for Human Resources; Sergey Andryushin, Acting Vice-Rector for International Affairs; Piotr Yablonsky, Vice-Rector for Medical Activities; Polina Ogorodnikova, Acting Head of the Marketing and Media Communications Department; and Vladimir Savinov, Vice-Rector for Educational Activity to name just a few.

Opening of the exhibition "In the name of science, for the benefit of the Fatherland"

The grand opening of the exhibition "In the name of science, for the benefit of the Fatherland" took place at St Petersburg University. It is dedicated to life and work of outstanding academicians of St Petersburg, many of whom studied and worked at the University. The opening ceremony brought together Faina Nedbai, Director of the Central State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation of St Petersburg; Marina Lavrikova, Acting Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University; and Nikolai Shtykov, Head of the Archive Centre at St Petersburg University, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Regional Studies at the University to name just a few. The exhibition is dedicated to the celebration of the 300^th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the University, created by a decree of Peter the Great on 8 February 1724.

The exhibition features portraits of scientists who played an important role in the development of Russian scientific thought in the first half of the 20^th century and their archival documents, many of which are being exhibited for the first time. The exhibition is based on collections from research institutions, associations and centres in the Northern Capital of Russia.

The life and work of many of the scientists presented is closely connected with St Petersburg University, the oldest higher educational institution in Russia. Among them are the following: Vladimir Vernadsky, a mineralogist, a founder of geochemistry and an outstanding natural scientist; Abram Ioffe, a founder of the unique physical school; Nikolai Semenov, one of the founders of chemical physics, an author of the theory of chain reactions, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry to name just a few.

The exhibition "In the name of science, for the benefit of the Fatherland" is organised by the Central State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation of St Petersburg with the support of the Archive Committee of St Petersburg. The exhibition uses materials from the Central State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents of St Petersburg and the Central State Archive of Historical and Political Documents of St Petersburg. The exhibition is located in the corridor of the Twelve Collegia building and is open to all guests of the University until 25 December.

The ceremony also included the signing of an agreement between St Petersburg University and the Central State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation of St Petersburg.

The cooperation will allow students at St Petersburg University to undergo in-depth practice and internships at the Central State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation of St Petersburg, including as part of the activities of the St Petersburg University Archive Centre and to receive and adopt experience in working with archival materials of the city from specialists of the Central State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation of St Petersburg. The Central State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation of St Petersburg also invites all young scientists, students, and postgraduates to come to the archive to select materials and documents that are necessary for conducting scientific research and for preparing dissertations and graduation projects. The agreement provides for the organisation and holding of joint events with the participation of experts from the University and the archive.

As part of the ceremony, Faina Nedbai presented the M. Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University with a guidebook album containing information about all seven city archives, which was prepared for the 100^th anniversary of the Archival Service of St Petersburg.

Christmas Exhibition at St Petersburg University

The exhibition hall of the Twelve Collegia building presents works of painting, graphics, sculpture, decorative and applied art, and art objects and animations by educators and students in the academic programmes "Graphic Design", "Easel Painting", "Film and Television Artist" and "Environmental Design".

Professor Ivan Uralov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts at St Petersburg University, opened the exhibition. The Great Christmas Exhibition continues anniversary projects planned for the 25th anniversary of art education at St Petersburg University, which will be celebrated next year, he noted.

Professor Uralov said: "This exhibition has been holding for the seventh time since 2018, bringing together all of our programmes related to fine arts. What is especially pleasing is that the authors never repeat themselves, be it the plot, techniques, materials, or forms. Absolutely all of the works are unique and easily recognisable. The education that we pass on to the new generation is evident."

Chermen Gugkaev, Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at St Petersburg University, depicted a landscape of a Christmas street in oil on canvas. Anna Zyrianova, Associate Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University, made a series of sketches of winter Pyaozero with felt-tip pens. Ivan Diakov, Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at St Petersburg University, used hot enamel technology to create a triptych on the theme of the first snow.

The unifying theme of the exhibition is Christmas, which is interpreted in each of the paintings in its own unique way. Exhibits representing the author’s view of the main New Year symbol, i.e. the Christmas tree, have already become a traditional attribute. From year to year, decorative objects are created by first-year students under the supervision of Tamara Levandovskaia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University. The trees are made of the most unusual materials: denim, walnuts, felt, massage balls, buttons, cotton pads and sticks, and blown glass.

The multimedia part of the exhibition was made up of Christmas short cartoons, which were prepared especially for the exhibition by students under the guidance of Iliana Makhovikova, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at St Petersburg University.