The conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean — 2023" brings together early-career researchers from 23 cities in Russia

In 2023, the number of applications to the conference grew to a record number, with 287 abstracts of reports accepted for participation. In St Petersburg, the conference was face-to-face and brought together almost 250 young oceanographers from 23 cities in Russia (from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad) and 21 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

‘Last time, St Petersburg University hosted the conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean" in 2018. During these five years, the scientists who took part in the conference in 2018 have grown professionally. Some of the them have defended their candidate theses, some have headed a research laboratory or become supervisors, some have developed their project to a national scale, and some have even already defended their doctoral thesis! Looking at the participants of the conference in 2023, I see that the conference has become considerably younger. This is very pleasing. From the very beginning, the slogan of the conference has been "Young for young". In other words, young scientists organise a conference, taking into account the needs and priorities of their generation,’ said Polina Lobanova, Associate Professor in the Department of Oceanology at St Petersburg University and the conference organiser.

The conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean" is a platform that inspires new ideas for development and growth. According to Polina Lobanova, the participants discussed some ideas that later are implemented on the national level. For example, St Petersburg University hosted the winter school of the project "Floating university". Another example is the all-Russian round table on marine carbon landfills, which was held as part of the conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean — 2023". It brought together representatives of all Russian marine landfills.

Polina Lobanova is sure that for young scientists the conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean" is a start-up to gain success in science.

St Petersburg University plays an important role in the comprehensive research of the world ocean, said Evgenii Zakharchuk, Head of the Department of Oceanology at St Petersburg University, Professor at St Petersburg University, and Chairperson of the Programme Committee of the conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean — 2023". According to Evgenii Zakharchuk, lecturers, doctoral students, and students at the Department of Oceanology at St Petersburg University are actively engaged in both fundamental and applied research in various areas of oceanography.

‘Our research projects are based on the analysis of shipboard observations of oceanological processes, various satellite information, meteorological and hydrophysical reanalysis data and the results of mathematical modelling. Our research projects focus on various types of wave movements in the oceans and seas; eddy formations; tides; storm surges; changes in the thermohaline structure of sea basins; marine ice; interaction of the ocean, atmosphere and ice cover; oceanological processes in global and regional climate changes; the impact of oceanological processes on the biological and commercial productivity of the oceans and seas,’ said Evgenii Zakharchuk.

During the last two years, scientists from the Department of Oceanology at St Petersburg University have been heading and conducting several research projects. Among them are the following: three grants from the Russian Science Foundation; five grants from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research; and one grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, said Evgenii Zakharchuk. Last year, they published 35 scientific articles in the journals in Scopus and Web of Science and took part in 29 conferences.

‘This is the second time we have held the conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean" at St Petersburg University. All participants were looking forward to the 2023 conference. St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia, creates a very special atmosphere. Here, you can feel the history and the spirit of the ambitiousness of Peter the Great,’ said Polina Lobanova.

In my opinion, being able to host the conference ‘Comprehensive research of the world ocean — 2023’ is important for the University. By doing so, the University can attract students for master’s programmes and doctoral programmes. In 2023, the conference brought together 95 students and 98 young scientists without a degree, who could potentially defend their theses under the new rules of St Petersburg University.

Polina Lobanova, Associate Professor in the Department of Oceanology at St Petersburg University

She added that young scientists come up with new ambitious ideas and such events contributes to the development of the University.

The conference "Comprehensive research of the world ocean" was held with the support of the Department for Youth Affairs at St Petersburg University and the Technopol Company. The partners of the event were the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society in St Petersburg and the Association of Young Oceanologists in St Petersburg.