300 Years of Service to the Fatherland: The State Duma commemorates St Petersburg University’s anniversary with a new exhibition

Sergey Kabyshev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education (A Just Russia — For Truth faction), delivered the welcoming address.

Established by Peter the Great in 1724, St Petersburg University has emerged as a symbol of Russian enlightenment and education. The professionalism and integrity of its academics is recognised globally, and the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, along with the entire State Duma, values the professional opinion of St Petersburg University representatives. This enables us to develop effective legislative solutions.

Sergey Kabyshev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education (A Just Russia — For Truth faction)

Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, emphasised that the University’s history is intrinsically linked with the history of the state, the formation of the national scientific school, the establishment of academic university education, and the economic development of the regions. 

"We take pride in our students, graduates, and lecturers, many of whom have made and continue to make groundbreaking discoveries, become national leaders, create artistic masterpieces, win international competitions, and significantly contribute to our country’s development. Among St Petersburg University’s distinguished alumni are Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University, alongside other notable state and public figures renowned worldwide. Over three centuries, the University has evolved into not merely a forge of sought-after specialists, but also a preeminent research and expert centre for our nation. Today, St Petersburg University cultivates not just professionals, but socially and spiritually developed leaders capable of critical thinking and effective decision-making — worthy citizens of our great country," stressed Nikolay Kropachev. 

The event was also addressed by: Boris Chernyshov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia faction); Gennady Zyuganov, Head of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation faction; Sergei Mironov, Head of the A Just Russia — For Truth party faction; Vyacheslav Makarov, First Deputy Head of the United Russia party faction; and Marina Kim, a deputy of the State Duma (A Just Russia — For Truth party faction).

The opening ceremony of the anniversary exhibition was attended by St Petersburg University alumni: Elena Panova, Chief of Staff of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection; Yevgeny Marchenko, Member of the State Duma Committee on Family Protection, Issues of Fatherhood, Motherhood and Childhood; Oleg Nilov, First Deputy Head of the ‘A Just Russia — For Truth’ faction; and Anatoly Greshnevikov, a deputy of the State Duma (A Just Russia — For Truth faction). The exhibition opening was also attended by: Oleg Matveychev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Informational Policy, Technologies and Communications (the United Russia party faction); Alexander Mazhuga, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education; and other guests.

The exhibition ‘St Petersburg University: 300 Years of Service to the Fatherland’ showcases the University’s major achievements that contribute to the development of the Russian Federation. Notably, St Petersburg University conducts expert assessments of Russian legislation to align it with Presidential Decrees No 809 and No 400. In collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, St Petersburg University implements the Monitoring Law Enforcement project, collecting and summarising data on the practical application of legal norms by courts and other public authorities across Russia. 

Rector of St Petersburg University Nikolay Kropachev underlined that the University has a unique shared-use infrastructure — the St Petersburg University Research Park. These state-of-the-art facilities, unparalleled in the Russian Federation and exceptional in several areas of study globally, are open to scientists from all research organisations. To ensure the efficient operation of the Research Park, the University developed and implemented the Research Infrastructure Management System (Research IMS SPbU) in 2014. This system manages research equipment, load, consumables, projects, and routines, enhancing the overall efficiency and automating accounting and control processes. 

Among the University’s digital projects is a decentralised interbank messaging system recommended for adoption within BRICS countries. The system’s architecture was developed at The Distributed Ledger Technologies Centre of St Petersburg University (DLTC SPbU). 

The exhibition showcases a prototype of a novel, hacker-resistant quadcopter, equipped with a security module developed by St Petersburg University researchers to mitigate cyber threats. This prototype has featured in engineering contests focused on cyber autonomy. Additionally, the exhibition presented an ultralight carbon-composite truss sample, created by the University’s physicists for experiments within the NICA mega-science project at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia.

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The exhibition also features a smart bracelet and a mobile cardiograph, co-developed by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at St Petersburg University and Healbe for the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation. Currently, the intelligent ecosystem created with the involvement of the University’s researchers is utilised by over 75,000 people worldwide. 

Additionally, visitors can explore innovative products developed by St Petersburg University students as part of the SPbU Start-up contest of science-intensive business projects, supported by the St Petersburg University Endowment Fund. Among the exhibits are: a large-scale aerodynamic model of a modular platform based on a convertiplane; a laboratory sample of mushroom chitin material for eco-packaging, and a prototype of an immediate haemostatic agent. 

The educational section of the exhibition presents the clinical approach to education, a unique teaching methodology pioneered at St Petersburg University. Visitors can discover more about the University’s own diplomas. Since 2016, all St Petersburg University degree certificates have featured a special QR code, enabling employers to access additional information about a graduate’s academic performance, interests, and learning outcomes.

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Special attention is given to St Petersburg University’s international projects. Thus, the University has been implementing the Representative Office of St Petersburg University project. Currently, 120 Russian language centres operate in 50 countries worldwide, and a joint campus of St Petersburg University and Harbin Institute of Technology will soon be fully operational. 

The second part of the exhibition, commemorating the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, guides visitors through major milestones in the University’s history, its publishing and museum activities, and the biographies and professional journeys of outstanding academics and alumni who have made significant contributions to Russia’s development. 

Today, the M. Gorky Scientific Library of St Petersburg University houses over 7 million printed books and manuscripts, including rare editions found nowhere else. The University’s museums boast rich collections with approximately 3 million exhibits, accessible to all visitors. The exhibition also features books published by the St Petersburg University Publishing House, including works on pressing state agenda topics, some of which have earned awards in book competitions. 

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Visitors to the exhibition can learn about the biographies, university life, and careers of notable St Petersburg University alumni, including numerous statesmen from the Russian Empire, the USSR, and the Russian Federation. Throughout its 300-year history, the University has educated leaders such as Pyotr Stolypin, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire; Alexander Kerensky, Member of the Russian Provisional Government; Vladimir Lenin, Founder of the Soviet Union; and two presidents of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev. 

The exhibition "St Petersburg University: 300 Years of Service to the Fatherland" is on display in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation until 2 November 2024.