6 February 2023 Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

Minutes of the Rector’s Meeting

№ 558
от 06.02.2023

    The semifinal of the Legal Marathon contest for tax officials held at St Petersburg University

    The semifinal of the Legal Marathon was organised by the Federal Tax Service together with St Petersburg University. Experts from 14 regions of Russia have competed for the title of the best team: St Petersburg, Moscow, the Republic of Karelia, the Republic of Crimea, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, the Kemerovo Region, the Kirov Region, and the Volgograd Region.

    Welcoming the marathon participants, Daniil Yegorov, Head of the Federal Tax Service, stressed that the development of the tax service today is based on the principle of digitalisation, the search for new solutions in interaction with citizens and market participants and, at the same time, the formation of new social rules. Daniil Yegorov called the Legal Marathon a foundation for the formation of the right legal framework and the development of the service in order to ensure the competitiveness of the Russian economy in terms of the tax system.

    Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University and Corresponding, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that St Petersburg University implements similar ideas: it conducts research into preventive justice, examines Russian legislation, and analyses law enforcement practice. That is why the principle laid down in the Legal Marathon − the search for alternative solutions to legal issues − is very close to the University.

    As part of the contest, the teams had to develop a project − a new perspective on solving practical challenges faced by employees of the Federal Tax Service in their work. As a result of the two contest days, teams from Krasnoyarsk Krai and the Tula Region reached the final.

    The work of teams was evaluated by experts from: the Central Office of the Tax Service; the Arbitration Court of the Northwestern Federal District; and the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. Among those who took part in preparing the contest and evaluating the projects submitted by the teams were experts from St Petersburg University, lecturers in the master’s programme "Tax Law and Tax Advice": Professor Nataliia Sheveleva; Associate Professor Sergei Ovsiannikov; and Associate Professor Sergei Sosnovskii (The semifinal of the Legal Marathon contest for tax officials held at St Petersburg University).

    During the visit of Daniil Yegorov, Head of the Federal Tax Service, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, discussed with him the University’s cooperation with the Federal Tax Service.

    Organisation of the teaching and learning process

    Over the past week, 33 enquiries were addressed to the Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities. The majority of enquiries relate to: preparation of various documents on studies; granting deferred tuition fees; and granting an academic leave.

    Students are on holiday from 30 January to 10 February. Assessment tests have been completed for applicants for reinstatement to St Petersburg University, transfer to the University from other educational institutions, change of the academic programme, and change of the form of study. All assessment tests have been conducted in the online mode using ICT.

    Results of the qualifying round of the St Petersburg University Olympiad for Schoolchildren

    The qualifying round of the St Petersburg University School Olympiad of the 2022/2023 academic year has come to an end. More than 105,000 people took part in the first stage of the intellectual contest. Among them were students from 87 regions of Russia and from more than 20 foreign countries.

    This academic year the Olympiad is conducted in 22 subjects (interest areas), including new ones: "Mathematical Modelling and Artificial Intelligence"; "International Relations"; "Political Science"; "Psychology"; and "Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Studies".

    Winners and prize-winners of the St Petersburg University School Olympiad for Schoolchildren are granted special rights for admission to universities in Russia, including St Petersburg University (they can be enrolled without taking admission tests or they can be presented with the certificate from the Unified State Exam with the highest score (100/100) in the relevant subject). The contests are included in the list of the olympiads for schoolchildren approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Results of the qualifying round of the St Petersburg University Olympiad for Schoolchildren published).

    The final stage of the contest will be held from 10 to 28 February. The final results and the names of the winners and awardees will be announced on 1 April. Detailed information and rules are available on the Olympiad website.

    Five researchers from St Petersburg University win the contest for grants

    The results of the competitive selection in 2022 for grants from St Petersburg in the field of research and technical activities have been summed up. Among the winners are five University scientists who will receive subsidies for research in the fields of applied chemistry and physics; medicine; information technology; and the creation of new materials.

    Maya Trofimova, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics at St Petersburg University, won a grant for the work "A new generation fumigant: development of fundamental aspects of energy-efficient synthesis technology". It focuses on the development of the thermodynamic foundations of energy- and resource-saving technologies for the synthesis of industrially important esters.

    Sergey Galyamin, Associate Professor in the Department of Radiophysics at St Petersburg University, is working on the creation of a controlled source of terahertz radiation based on a multilayer waveguide structure excited by an electron bunch. The scope of his research interests includes the theoretical study of electromagnetic fields generated by moving charged particles and their bunches when interacting with material media or with various inhomogeneous structures.

    Among the winners of the contest is Evgeny Nazarchuk, Associate Professor in the Department of Crystallography at St Petersburg University. He submitted a project ‘New materials for the sorption of uranium and lead’. For many years, he has been focusing on the problem of the safe disposal of radioactive waste and the processes that occur when radioactive waste changes in a geological repository.

    Professor Aleksandr Krylatov, Head of the Department of Mathematical Theory of Decision Making in Economy at St Petersburg University, was awarded a grant for the development of intelligent tools for autonomous regulation of flows in networks. Previously, he acted as the head of grant projects to optimise the structure of the street and road network of a large city and to develop methodological tools for the distribution and optimisation of traffic flows to create intelligent transport systems. By order of the Department of Transport of the city of Omsk, he was engaged in improving the route network of public passenger transport.

    Evgenii Kanov, a researcher at the Laboratory of Neuroscience and Molecular Pharmacology at St Petersburg University, received a grant for the project "Studying the possible antiproliferative effect of trace amine receptor type 1 (TAAR1) ligands on cancer cells". As part of the research team, he works on fundamental research aimed at developing new models of experimental human diseases; studying pathological processes; and identifying new molecular targets for the treatment of these diseases (Five researchers at St Petersburg University win the contest for grants).

    St Petersburg scientists improve the efficiency of synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to the body

    Scientists from St Petersburg University and St Petersburg Electrotechnical University ‘LETI’ have proposed a method for synthesising the most promising modification of iron oxide, whose particles can be used in high-precision medicine and the development of memory cells for computer technology. The research findings are published in the scholarly journal Scientific Reports. Iron (III) oxide − Fe2O3 − is one of the widely occurring in nature compounds that is easy enough to synthesise artificially. Iron (III) oxide is used extensively in various industries. For example, it is used: as a catalyst in the chemical industry; in the manufacture of ceramics; and as a food colouring agent. Of all the polymorphs, ε-Fe2O3 (the epsilon modification) is characterised by a combination of unique magnetic properties: it is rather difficult to demagnetise, the compound has high stability and small particle size. However, this form of iron (III) oxide is extremely rare in nature. Its active use therefore requires the development of industrial technology to produce the substance. As explained by Andrei Kosterov, a contributor to the study, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Physics at St Petersburg University, the researchers were able to obtain X-ray diffraction images of the composites at the Resource Centre for X-ray Diffraction Studies at the St Petersburg University Research Park. That made it possible to determine the relative content of the different iron (III) oxide modifications in the sample. The synthesis method used in this work can produce composites containing up to 70% of epsilon iron oxide. To date, these are the best results obtained in Russia. The synthesised samples look like nanoparticles up to 100 nanometres (0.0001 mm) in size. The magnetic properties of the resulting compounds are promising materials for creating computer memory cells or means of targeting delivery of drugs under the influence of a magnetic field (St Petersburg scientists improve the efficiency of synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to the body).

    6th International Scientific and Practical Conference "Protection of Competition under Global Economic and Social Changes"

    On 3 February, St Petersburg University hosted the 6th International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Protection of Competition under Global Economic and Social Changes’. The conference was organised by: the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation; St Petersburg University; Jurist Publishing Group; and the Griboyedov Institute of International Law and Economics. The conference focused on what changes had been introduced in antimonopoly regulation in Russia last year and why it is important that methodology and research should underpin any legislative innovations.

    The key topics of the conference were:

    • competition as a strategic element of the market system of economy management
    • the concept, principles and conditions of competition in sectoral product markets
    • economic and legal approaches to evaluating product and industry competitiveness
    • legal mechanisms for balancing the interests of production and consumption
    • compulsory sale of goods on the stock exchange: objectives and implications of the regulatory impact
    • price as an indicator of a balanced commodity market; and
    • antimonopoly complex as a competition support tool

    The conference was attended by: representatives of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation and the business community; leading researchers and academics; and practicing lawyers. The conference brought together representatives of: the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation; the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation; the State Duma; the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; the Court of the Eurasian Economic Union; the Arbitration Court of the Northwestern District; and other institutions, including foreign ones. Maksim Shaskolsky, Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, underlined that methodological justification must underpin any changes in legislation. Research, the world’s best practices, and education in the field of competition development are therefore very high priority with the Federal Antimonopoly Service. He noted the significant role of St Petersburg University experts in competition protection issues.

    The cooperation between the University and the Federal Antimonopoly Service is unique, said Marina Lavrikova, Senior Vice-Rector for Academic Activities at St Petersburg University. In September 2017, St Petersburg University and the Federal Antimonopoly Service opened the Department of Legal Protection of Economic Competition at St Petersburg University. Later, it was transformed into the Institute for Competition Development and Antimonopoly Regulation. A year later, St Petersburg University and the Federal Antimonopoly Service signed an agreement on cooperation in expert evaluation, research, and education. The agreement included the implementation of the National Competition Promotion Plan that was approved by the Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation (Beneficial competition: St Petersburg University discusses the changes in antimonopoly regulation).

    On the eve of the scientific and practical conference, St Petersburg University held an extended meeting of the Scientific and Methodological Council of Educational Institutions; Departments of Competition Law and Antimonopoly Regulation of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia; and the Committee on Competition Law and Improvement of Antimonopoly Legislation of the Association of Lawyers of Russia.

    In this regard, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, noted that competition in higher education should be limited to the interests of the state. The directors and deans were instructed to submit proposals to research and address the issues of counteracting unfair competition in education.

    Interpreters and translators from 23 countries meet at the International School on Translation and Interpreting held at St Petersburg University

    The 4th Winter School on Translation and Interpreting has been held at St Petersburg University. In brought together over 1,200 professional interpreters and translators, representatives of large translation companies, members of trade unions and associations, as well as academics and students specialising in translation studies and linguistics.

    Svetlana Rubtsova, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages at St Petersburg University, noted in her welcoming address that educational events such as that are absolutely necessary. It is for good reason that the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin famously called translators "the post-horses of enlightenment". Not only do they impart knowledge, but they never stop learning. The importance of interpreting and translation and the role of interpreters and translators in the new reality cannot be overestimated. Indeed, it is the expertise of professionals in the field of translation that helps to achieve mutual understanding between peoples. Hence, it is essential that interpreters and translators continually update their skills and knowledge and develop professionally.

    The range of languages covered by the School on Translation and Interpreting at St Petersburg University is continuously expanding. This year, the organisers offered sessions in: English; Arabic; Spanish; Italian; Chinese; Korean; German; Portuguese; Turkish; French; Serbian; and Croatian. Additionally, the 2023 Winter School was the first to include sessions in Czech, Yiddish, and Hebrew.

    The speakers and session moderators were leading translators, interpreters and translation theorists. Among them were: Pavel Palazhchenko, the world-renowned translator and the official interpreter of Mikhail Gorbachev and Eduard Shevardnadze; Konstantin Ioseliani, President and CEO of Janus Worldwide translation company; Maxim Berendyaev, Director for Technology and Quality at AKM-West; Aleksey Kozulyaev, CEO of RuFilms LLC and one the leading authorities on audiovisual translation; Fedor Kondratovich, CEO of the LinguaKontakt translation agency; and other experts.

    Olga Ivanova, President of the Union of Translators of Russia, proposed to address the issue of the relationship between information technologies and the translation industry. According to Olga Ivanova, any technologies, including artificial intelligence, are secondary as they are objective products of human activity. The progress of civilisation is only possible if human capacities, including intelligence, are continuously developed and improved.

    Kseniia Anisimova, Director of the School of Translation and Foreign Languages at St Petersburg University, announced educational projects that are scheduled to start soon. These include three professional development programmes: "Modern Trends in Teaching Translation"; "Simultaneous Interpreting"; and "Translator in the Field of Professional Communication". Another educational project presented to the audience was a modular programme "Simultaneous Interpreting and Intercultural Communication", targeted at those who want to try their hand at simultaneous interpreting. The programme was first launched in the summer of 2020 in an online format. It is aimed at students and graduates specialising in relevant fields of study. Also, the programme may be of interest to translators and language teachers who want to develop the skill of simultaneous interpreting. The course is currently available in eight language pairs (Interpreters and translators from 23 countries meet at the International School on Translation and Interpreting held at St Petersburg University).

    International activities

    According to Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University, the following events have recently been held.

    Scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 73rd anniversary of Việt Nam-Russia diplomatic relations

    On 30 January, St Petersburg University held a scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 73rd anniversary of Việt Nam-Russia diplomatic relations. The conference brought together Đặng Minh Khôi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Việt-Nam to the Russian Federation; Nguyen Thi Hoang Van, Senior Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations in Việt Nam; Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam; Gennady Bezdetko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Việt Nam; Evgeny Grigoriev, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St Petersburg; and heads of leading Vietnamese and Russian organisations. The event was highly appreciated by representatives of the Vietnamese and Russian sides.

    Meeting with representatives of Liszt University

    On 1 February, a delegation from the Hungarian Cultural Centre in Moscow — Liszt University visited St Petersburg University (Hungarian studies discussed at St Petersburg University in terms of development). The meeting brought together Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University; Mikhail Koryshev, Dean of the Faculty of Philology at St Petersburg University; and Galina Zhukova, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Arts. They discussed the issues in relation to joint events to study the Hungarian language and culture. The representatives of the Hungarian side also talked to students in Hungarian studies at St Petersburg University. The students explained why they had begun to study the Hungarian language.

    Event at the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain

    On 2 February, the St Petersburg University Representative Office in Spain held an online lecture by Nadezhda Moroshkina, Candidate of Psychology and Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Cognitive Studies at St Petersburg University. The lecture focused on one of the phenomena of thinking, i.e. insight (Insight in the laboratory and in real life: unsolved mysteries).

    Visit of the Ambassador of the United Mexican States to the Russian Federation to St Petersburg University

    On 3 February, Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, met with Eduardo Villegas Megías, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Mexican States to the Russian Federation, and his wife. They discussed plans for the implementation of new academic programmes with a Mexican (Spanish) component; the opening of a Mexican office at St Petersburg University; prospects for developing cooperation between St Petersburg University and organisations (including educational and research organisations) in Mexico; a meeting between representatives of the University and representatives of leading universities in Mexico; and approaches to intensification of academic mobility.

    During the negotiations, the Rector offered the Ambassador to head the council of the new academic programme "Foreign Languages in Global Communications". After receiving his consent, a relevant order was signed.

    At the Rector’s meeting, Nikolay Kropachev noted the importance of developing cooperation between researchers at St Petersburg University and colleagues from Mexican universities. Directors and deans were instructed to submit proposals on this issue.

    The All-Russian Award for Fidelity to Science

    During the Rector’s meeting on 31 October 2022, the results of the expert evaluation of applications submitted for the All-Russian award "For Fidelity to Science — 2022" were discussed (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting held on 31 October 2022). According to Anastasia Yarmosh, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Partnership at St Petersburg University, the University has prepared seven project applications in six categories.

    The application for the nomination "Scientific press service of the year" was formed by the Marketing and Media Communication Department. It provided the information about: unique formats of the press service, i.e. science-lunch; rating publications about the University; and their key topics. Ekaterina Zaikina and Evgeniia Orlova were nominated in the nomination ‘Science journalist of the year’. The University students and staff highly appreciate their articles and interviews about the research of St Petersburg University scholars in various fields of research: from history and psychology to biochemistry and astrophysics.

    In the nomination "Science is fashionable", the University presented young researchers Kamilla Nigmatullina and Ivan Kuzmin. They are actively involved in research and educational activities. According to the results of the expert evaluation of applications, Ivan Kuzmin, Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at St Petersburg University, is among the top 5 finalists in this nomination ("For Fidelity to Science — 2022").

    In the nomination "Science as art", St Petersburg University nominated the exhibition project "The itinerants or another life of insects". The project includes a collection of butterflies by the writer, literary critic and entomologist Vladimir Nabokov; a collection of beetles by the St Petersburg writer Pavel Krusanov; a collection of vintage jewellery by Oksana Ostrovskaya; and jewellery by 26 jewellery artists from Moscow, St Petersburg and Kaliningrad.

    In the nomination "Protection of historical truth", the Centre of E-learning Development at St Petersburg University presented the author’s online course "Ukraine: Morphology and Mythology" by Professor Nikolai Mezhevich and Associate Professor Artem Barynkin.

    In the nomination in the field of biogenetic and environmental education, the University nominated the projects of the Environmental Clinic. Among them are the following: development of an nature trail and recommendations for carp farming in the Borovichsky Region; environmental education of residents of St Petersburg; Porokhovye Municipal Okrug (questionnaires, and video content); conducting guided tours in specially protected natural areas of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region (Sergievka park, Sestroretskoe Swamp Nature Reserve, and Shchuchye Lake Nature Reserve to name just a few) for schoolchildren of the Faddeev Academic Gymnasium at St Petersburg University and secondary school № 263 in the Admiralteysky District in St Petersburg.

    Unfortunately, no projects submitted by St Petersburg University have become a winner. Taking into account the growing role of scientific communication and the need to popularise research achievements and to support the prestige of research activity in the Russian Federation, it is necessary to update information on the educational and popularisation activities of the University’s academic staff and to systematise the processes of selecting candidates and preparing applications. Anastasia Yarmosh asked the heads of the academic and research subdivisions to submit proposals on the organisation of accounting of and the form and criteria for evaluating the educational and popularisation activities of the St Petersburg University academic staff. They should also submit proposals on organisational formats for preparing applications for the All-Russian award "For Fidelity to Science" and similar awards.

    Cultural events at St Petersburg University from 6 to 12 February

    Elena Lebedkina, Head of the Main Department for Exhibitions, Museum, Library and Publishing Activities, presented a digest of cultural events from 6 to 12 February at the University.

    Exhibition "Ivan Razumov. Exhibition dedicated to the Book Giving Day"

    The Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University opened the exhibition "Ivan Razumov. Exhibition for the Book Giving Day". The artist is well known for his drawings for the works of Alexander Pushkin, Vladimir Mayakovsky, and medieval Japanese literature.

    Online stroll along the famous Corridor of the Collegia of Peter the Great

    On 8 February, the St Petersburg University History Museum offered an online stroll along the famous Corridor of the Collegia of Peter the Great. The 12th lecture of the cycle is dedicated to the birthday of the University.

    Opening of the exhibition "History in feathers"

    At 2pm on 8 February, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University opened an exhibition "History in feathers". The exhibition is held in the exhibition hall at St Petersburg University (7-9 Universitetskaya Embankment). For the first time, rare editions from the book collection are presented. Among them are: the copies of Russian copybooks and rules of cursive writing of the second half of the 19th century; palaeographic albums and tables of handwriting; alphabets; inscripts; and lithographs from handwritten originals of lectures by the University professors of the late 19th − early 20th centuries. There are autographs of famous scholars and figures of Russian science, whose names are inextricably linked with the University. Among them are: Konstantin Bestuzhev-Ryumin, the historian and the first director of the Higher Courses for Women; and Vladimir Steklov, a mathematician and the first director of the Institute of Physics and Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences to name just a few. A significant exhibit of the exhibition is "The alphabet of the civil with moralising. With the marks of Peter the Great".

    Of a special interest in the exhibition are the objects from the collection of metal pens from the Wolfson Book Gallery. It is a private museum. The collection is one of the largest in the world and the largest in Russia. The central place in the exposition is occupied by a metal pen named after Peter the Great that was made in 1910. On the opening day, Vadim Wolfson, Director of the Museum, will talk about the features of rare pens for writing and about the development of the culture of writing with a metal pen.

    During the exposition, workshops will be organised for schoolchildren. They will focus on the types of handwritten writing. You can register for the tour and workshops on the St Petersburg University website.

    Series of exhibitions dedicated to great scholars 

    To mark the Day of Russian Science and the Birthday of the University, the M Gorky Scientific Library at St Petersburg University held a series of exhibitions dedicated to great scholars. Among them are:

    • "The genius of Russian science: Mikhail Lomonosov and his contribution to the development of chemistry" (Branch Department of the Russian Chemical Society, 7—9C, Universitetskaya Embankment)
    • "To the 140th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Fersman and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad" (Department in the areas: Geography, Geoecology and Soil Science, 41 Sredny Prospect)
    • "Vladimir Vernadsky, a scientist and a thinker" (Geology Department, 16 Dekabristov Lane)
    • "In honour of the 85th anniversary of St Petersburg University Professor Vladimir Gagen-Torn" (Mathematics and Mechanics Department, 28 Universitetskii Prospect)
    • "To the 90th anniversary of Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Natochin" (Medicine Department, 8a 21st Line, Vasilyevsky Island)
    • "Honorary Professors of St Petersburg University" (Department in the areas: international relations, sociology and political science, 1/3 Smolnogo Street)
    • "Aleksandr Lyapunov — Russian mathematician and mechanic" (Department of Applied Mathematics and Control Processes, 35 Universitetskii Prospect)
    • "115 years since the birth of Lev Landau" (Physics Department, 3 Ulianovskaia Street)
    • "Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Anatoly Rusanov" (Chemistry Department, 26 Universitetskii Prospect)
    • "Trends in Russian economic science: from the past to the future" (Economics Department, 62 Chaikovskogo Street)
    • "Academicians in the service of the University" (Law Department, 7 22nd Line, Vasilyevsky Island)
    • "Nikolai Lovelius. The versatility of personality: a scientist, a creator, an athlete" (Department of programmes of secondary and non-university level education, 16a Kamskaya Street)

    Lecture "Periodic law of Dmitri Mendeleev and its development at St Petersburg University"

    At 1.30 pm on 8 February, the Dmitri Mendeleev Museum and Archives held a lecture "Periodic law of Dmitri Mendeleev and its development at St Petersburg University". It was delivered by Aleksei Timoshkin, Professor in the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry at St Petersburg University.

    Presentation of the excursion and research programme for schoolchildren "Micro-World"

    At 4pm on 8 February, the Mineralogical Museum of St Petersburg University held a presentation of the excursion and research programme ‘Micro-World’ for schoolchildren. The first part of this programme is "Macro-World". You can learn about subject of "Crystal Morphology" as part of the exposition of the Mineralogical Museum.

    Open lecture "Iurii Filipchenko and his entourage"

    At 5pm on 8 February, the St Petersburg University Publishing House will hold the open lecture "Iurii Filipchenko and his entourage". Ilya Zakharov-Gesekhus, Doctor of Biology, and Sergei Fokin, Doctor of Biology, will talk about the formation of the Department of Genetics and Experimental Zoology at Petrograd University. It was the first department of this type in Russian universities. The lecture presents their book "Iurii Filipchenko and his entourage". The book is the winner in the nomination "The best popular science book about the life of scientists and the logic of the development of science" of the 2022 contest of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the best works on the popularisation of science (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 16 January 2023).

    Meeting "Art and NFT" with the artist and philosopher Alek Borisov

    At 6pm on 8 February, the Diaghilev Museum of Modern Art at St Petersburg University will hold a meeting "Art and NFT" with Alek Borisov. He is an artist, a philosopher, and a Web3 researcher. Web3 is a decentralised Internet of blockchains to develop cryptographic technologies to create, transmit, and store information. The main areas of his work are: computer graphics; network art; noise ontology; and cryptoculture. Yon can join online via the link.

    Open lecture "The first Russian amethyst: history and geology"

    At 6pm on 10 February, there is an open lecture "The first Russian amethyst: history and geology". Director of the Museum of Amethyst Nikolai Frishman talks about the archaeological finds of this stone in Russia during excavations in Moscow, Tver, Veliky Novgorod, and other cities. 

    Publication of a scientific and practical commentary to the Federal Law "On Education in the Russian Federation"

    The St Petersburg University Publishing House has published a scientific and practical commentary to the Federal Law "On Education in the Russian Federation". The commentary was prepared by a team of authors. The scientific editor is Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    The book analyses how Federal Law № 273-FZ "On Education in the Russian Federation" dated 29 December 2012 has been implemented for a ten-year period. The authors consider the effect of the norms of the law that define new or updated institutions. Among them are: a tiered approach to education; uniform status of the student; division of subjects into educational organisations and organisations engaged in educational activities; and the procedure for exercising state control and supervision in the field of education to name just a few. It particularly focuses on e-learning and new distance learning technologies.

    The conclusions of the authors are based on the analysis of normative legal acts and clarifications of state authorities, court decisions, and the practice of St Petersburg University. 

    Results of the voting dedicated to the issuance of bank cards for the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University

    The University has completed voting for the best design for VTB and Sber bank cards to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University. The University staff, students, and alumni will be able to have their cards issued with a special design for the anniversary of the University as early as September this year (The University staff, students, and alumni choos the design of bank cards for the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University).

    The voting was held from 17 to 23 January on the CryptoVeche blockchain platform. The University staff, students, and alumni could choose between several design options for Sberbank and VTB cards. They had to choose one for each bank (Minutes of the Rector’s meeting dated 23 January 2023). Voting results are available on the CryptoVeche website.

    Conviction against Viacheslav Greit

    On 1 February, the Kuibyshevsky District Court of St Petersburg upheld the guilty verdict issued on 7 November 2022. The verdict was issued by the justice of the peace at St Petersburg court district № 204. It was against Viacheslav Greit, a former student of St Petersburg University in the main field of study 40.04.01 "Law".

    As told by Dmitry Gryaznov, Vice-Rector for Security, according to the verdict that has entered into force, Viacheslav Greit was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud) with the imposition of a sentence of 100 hours of compulsory work. Due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, in accordance with Article 78 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Viacheslav Greit was released from criminal liability.

    The court fully confirmed the arguments of the investigating authorities about the deliberate submission of the forged documents by Viacheslav Greit to the scholarship committee of St Petersburg University in the period from April 2019 to January 2020. As a result of the consideration by the committee, he was awarded an increased state academic scholarship.

    The verdict, which has entered into force, also satisfied the civil claim of St Petersburg University for the recovery of pecuniary damage caused to St Petersburg University in the amount of 26,862.52 roubles, which were unreasonably paid to Viacheslav Greit as an increased scholarship. 

    Changes in human resources

    Daniil Engelke, who worked as the head of construction companies for many large objects in St Petersburg, was appointed Vice-Rector for Capital Construction.