On May 13-17, Saint-Petersburg Mining University (Russia) held the XV International Forum-Contest of Young Researchers “Topical Issues of Rational Use of Natural Resources” under the auspices of UNESCO. The forum was dedicated to the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements.
The forum was held in English and more than 420 students and junior researchers from over 30 countries, 85 Russian and foreign universities and companies participated in it. Over 340 reports were presented at the forum.
The following young researchers from Polotsk State University couldn’t but take part in the forum:
- Petr Rezkin, PhD in Economics, Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Finance and Economics, Associate Professor at the Department of Economics, Head of the Young Researchers Council;
- Yulia Bulavka, PhD in Engineering, Associate Professor at the Department of Technology and Equipment of Oil and Gas Processing, Deputy-Head of the Young Researchers Council;
- Elena Bogdanova, a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Finance and Economics;
- Egor Trambitsky, an assistant at the Department of Construction Industry;
- Victoria Lyakhovich, a graduate student, Faculty of Mechanics and Technology;
- Pavel Grishin, a 4th-year student specializing in “Chemical Technology of Natural Energy Sources and Carbon Materials”, Faculty of Mechanics and Technology;
- Tatiana Lebedeva, a 3rd-year student specializing in “Chemical Technology of Natural Energy Sources and Carbon Materials”, Faculty of Mechanics and Technology.
During a solemn opening, Vladimir Litviyenko, Rector of Saint-Petersburg Mining University, delivered a welcome speech noting that the forum is the platform for junior researchers to communicate, maintain interest in science, move forward and gain new knowledge about the main development trends of the sector. Vladimir Litviyenko also added that the technologies are developing rapidly and thus the new challenges and risks appear. Therefore, it is vital to improve one’s competencies to be competitive in the labour market regardless of the country one lives in.
Scientific interests were very diverse: from technologies of integrated processing of mineral hydrocarbon and technogenic raw materials with further production of the materials with unique properties to the latest managerial and financing solutions for the mineral resources sector development and others.
The Rector of Saint-Petersburg Mining University presented a talk on the topic “Mineral Resources Sector: Modern Challenges and Perspectives” and a vigorous debate started.
Later, Mikhail Shvydko, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation delivered a lecture “Modern Intellectual: What Kind of Person to Be?”. Photo
Further, the forum was divided into sections.
There were 8 of them:
- Disruptive technologies of integrated processing of mineral hydrocarbon and technogenic raw materials with further production of new generation materials;
- Technologies of extraction of solid mineral resources. Industrial and labour safety;
- Technologies for underground space exploration. Geomechanics and rock conditions management;
- The newest technologies of mapping, prospecting and exploration of mineral deposits;
- The latest managerial and financing solutions for the mineral resources sector development;
- Digital and energy-saving technologies in the mineral resources sector;
- Environmental protection and management;
- New approaches to problems solving in the oil and gas industry.
The next day of the forum was dedicated to the master-classes conducted by the leading experts: Professor Marian Paschke, University of Hamburg (Germany), Professor Andrzej Kraslawski, Lappeenranta University of Technology (Finland), Doctor Roland Zanotelli, Vontobel AG (Switzerland), Markus Plien, Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (Bochum, Germany), Professor Eric Yeatman, Imperial College London (Great Britain), Professor Karsten Drebenstedt, TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany), Sirodzh Loikov, Deputy Director General at PhosAgro, Professor Yury Voytekhovsky, Saint-Petersburg Mining University. Each participant could choose any master-class to visit. After the master-classes, all the students and young researchers received certificates.
On the last day, the participants were divided into teams to work on cases on the specified subject.
In the afternoon, an oratory skills contest in the TED format was held there. This format presupposes a limited in time creative performance of a well-thought-out idea. According to the results of the pre-selection, Tatiana Lebedeva represented Polotsk State University.
In addition, it should be noted that the forum was rich in entertainments such as sightseeing tours.
Saint-Petersburg Mining University is a Mining museum at the same time. The Mining Museum occupies 20 rooms in the central part of the architectural ensemble with a total area of more than 4 000 square meters. The Museum is a depositary of unique collections, that comprises over 250 000 exhibits collected from more than 80 countries of all the continents. Moreover, the Museum ranks among the top three museums of natural history in the world.
Later, PSU team went on a tour around Saint-Petersburg.
Following the forum results, junior researchers of Polotsk State University received diplomas and attendance certificates:
- Petr Rezkin - 1st degree diploma, section “The latest managerial and financing solutions for the mineral resources sector development”;
- Tatiana Lebedeva - 2nd degree diploma, section “Disruptive technologies of integrated processing of mineral hydrocarbon and technogenic raw materials with further production of new generation materials”;
- Egor Trambitsky - 3rd degree diploma, section “Technologies for underground space exploration. Geomechanics and rock conditions management” and 1st degree diploma in the case competition.
In the overall competition, the team of Polotsk State University ranked the 4th out of 85 foreign and Russian universities and companies.
The articles of the contest winners will be published in a collection (CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group publishing house) indexed in SCOPUS.
We congratulate our junior researchers on a good performance and wish them further scientific success!
Young Researchers Council