The international summer school Geology, Geography, and Ecology of the Asian Highlands has been launched at TSU. The participants are students and professors from Sun Yat-sen University (China). They will spend some days at the TSU international research station Aktru, where they will become acquainted with the features of the Siberian climate and the work of Tomsk scientists.
- We already have an established pattern of such comprehensive schools, - said Sergey Kirpotin, the director of the centre BioClimLand. - Students will hear lectures and will be able to practice in biology, geography, glaciology, and hydrology - it will be an extensive acquaintance with our region.
In addition to working at the Aktru Station, the visitors from China will drive past the unique Chuysky Trakt. It is the only road in Russia to enter the National Geographic’s top 10 beautiful roads in the world. Also, during the school scientists from Russia and China will discuss joint projects, in particular obtaining a joint grant for research in structural geology and seismic activity for almost the whole of the Eurasian plate from the Arctic Ocean to Guangzhou (South China).
- Historically, our most long-standing relationship is with the Shenyang Polytechnic University. But now we face the challenge of expanding ties with universities in China - said Artyom Rykun, Vice-Rector for International Affairs. - Sun Yat-sen University is a strong classical university with many scientific areas. It took the 307th place in the QS World University Rankings 2015. During the school, university professors from China will see our educational and research opportunities, and we will look for further points of contact.
TSU’s Aktru Station is among full members of INTERACT - International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic, whose proponent is Professor Terry Callaghan, a member of the Swedish Academy of Science and scientific consultant of TSU Centre of Excellence BioClimLand. Aktru is one of the most southerly stations in the INTERACT network. Research has been conducted there for over 50 years in glaciology, hydrology, meteorology, geomorphology, botany, zoology, soil science, and other sciences. In 2014, Aktru was visited by Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and a group of scientists and travelers headed by Frederik Paulsen, Honorary Consul for the Russian Federation in Switzerland.