Dmitry Medvedev opens a gala concert at the Mariinsky Theatre in honour of the 300th anniversary of SPbU

In his message to the students, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a 1975 graduate of the Zhdanov LSU and a former employee of the University, emphasised that the history of one of the oldest higher education institutions in Russia is closely linked to important stages in the development of Russian scientific thought and to the names of outstanding scientists, teachers and mentors.

It is pleasing to note that today, as in centuries past, the University maintains an atmosphere of creativity and scientific inquiry, while also fostering strong traditions of student fraternity and camaraderie. I am convinced that by maintaining a strong link between times and generations and remaining open to new and advanced ideas, SPbU will continue to attract energetic, talented, and purposeful young people who strive to do good for the Motherland.

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, 1975 graduate of the Leningrad State University named after A.A. Zhdanov

The students and faculty of the University were congratulated by Mikhail Mishustin, the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation. In his address, he noted that the University is now one of the largest international scientific and educational centres and the leading higher education institution in the country. It occupies a prominent position in training professionals with the most relevant knowledge and skills required in the current labour market. Its cutting-edge laboratories conduct basic research, and its researchers make groundbreaking discoveries and innovative developments that contribute to the country’s technological independence.

Teachers, students and alumni of St Petersburg State University! You are making a great contribution to the development of domestic science and the achievement of national goals.

Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SPbU, a 1987 graduate of LSU, delivered a welcome address to the gala attendees. In his speech, he thanked the University to which he had dedicated 17 years of his life, for giving him the opportunity to fulfil himself both as a lawyer and as a politician.

St Petersburg University is celebrating its 300th anniversary. I am proud to be a graduate of our University, one of the strongest higher education institutions in Russia. Happy anniversary, alma mater!

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SPbU, 1987 graduate of LSU

Congratulations to the University were sent by Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, member of the SPbU Board of Trustees, Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, Professor of SPbU, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Konstantin Chuichenko, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation, member of the SPbU Board of Trustees, SPbU alumnus, Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, Gennady Krasnikov, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Viktor Sadovnichy, Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Talia Khabrieva, Director of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honorary Doctor of SPbU, and others. 

To celebrate the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, the university students were treated to a gala concert featuring soloists from the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theatre. 

On the same day, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, member of the SPbU Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the preparation and celebration of the 300th anniversary of SPbU, met with young researchers of St Petersburg University. The meeting was attended by Nikolay Kropachev, the Rector of SPbU, the Mikhail Kovalchuk President of SIC ’Kurchatov Institute’, the Dean of the Physics Faculty of SPbU, and Sergey Mikushev, the Vice-Rector for Research of SPbU. The meeting was attended by SPbU Professor Anton Nizhnikov (Department of Genetics and Biotechnology), Irina Timofeeva (Department of Analytical Chemistry), Associate Professors Lyudmila Gorelova (Department of Crystallography), Maria Vetrova (Department of Business Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation), Ekaterina Chebykina (Department of Applied Ecology), Elena Tupikina (Department of Physical Organic Chemistry), Svetlana Morozova (Department of Russian Politics), Alexander Malyshev (Department of Media Linguistics) and Olga Yakubovich (Department of Geochemistry), leading researcher Kirill Antonets (Department of Cytology and Histology) and senior researcher Rodion Reznik (Laboratory of New Semiconductor Materials for Quantum Informatics and Telecommunications, SPbU).

As part of the 300th anniversary celebrations, the University is participating in the international exhibition forum "Russia". Visitors to the St Petersburg stand can learn about the groundbreaking research being carried out at SPbU and see the achievements of its leading scientists. You can vote for the best exhibit to support St Petersburg. To cast your vote, follow the link and choose one of the 11 categories provided. One of the categories, ’Progress and Innovation’, highlights the scientific achievements of the regions.

Laureates and nominees for the Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists discussed their scientific activities, the prospects for the development of various scientific fields, and made proposals for supporting fundamental and applied research. For instance, young scientists have highlighted the necessity of improving accessibility to modern scientific equipment for their peers in scientific and educatioThis will allow for conducting research at a more sophisticated level.nal institutions. This will allow for conducting research at a more sophisticated level. 

The young scientists explained how SPbU is tackling the problem of access to modern scientific equipment. To achieve its scientific goals and conduct research, the University has created the Research Park, a public centre with equipment and technological capabilities that are unique in Russia and, in some areas, in the world. The facility houses over 1400 units of scientific, educational and auxiliary equipment, including more than 130 measuring complexes worth over 10 million roubles each.