Elena Sukhacheva: "The Dokuchaev’s Readings help to create Russian end-to-end environmental education system"

The Dokuchaev’s Youth Readings have been held annually since 1998 and are timed to coincide with the birthday of Vasily Dokuchaev, an outstanding naturalist, and founder of soil science. The conference traditionally serves to fulfil an urgent task: the formation of knowledge about soil from the origins of soil science to the present day. This year, the event is dedicated to the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia and the celebration of the 80^th anniversary of the nuclear industry.

The topic of the Dokuchaev’s Readings this year is "The information capacity of knowledge about soil".

Elena Sukhacheva is Professor in the Department of Soil Science and Soil Ecology at St Petersburg University and Director of the V.V. Dokuchaev Central Museum of Soil. She noted that issues that were considered at the Dokuchaev’s Youth Readings in 2025 are related to the chemical composition, properties and functions of soils, soil databases as the basis for soil and environmental monitoring, issues in accumulation of radionuclides and heavy metals in ecosystems, as well as digital soil mapping, and the use of geographical information systems in soil science.

"The Dokuchaev’s Youth Readings play an important role in discussing scientific issues, exchanging experiences between students, doctoral students, and early-career researchers, testing research materials, acquiring communication skills with the audience, and shaping the educational environment," Elena Sukhacheva emphasised.

She added that St Petersburg University is an important scientific centre for soil scientists all over the world. In the Assembly Hall of the Twelve Collegia building in 1883, Vasily Dokuchaev defended his doctoral thesis "The Russian chernozem".

Students from schools in St Petersburg and other Russian cities have traditionally become active participants in the Dokuchaev’s Readings. "The participation of school students in the conference is an element of the end-to-end environmental education system and contributes to the development of an ecological worldview, broadening horizons and professional orientation in the field of environmental studies and protection," Elena Sukhacheva said.

A special place in the conference was occupied by the school section "From school to science", where participants aged 11 to 16 were able to consolidate their knowledge of the basics of soil science, agricultural chemistry, and soil ecology.