German Academic Exchange Service DAAD officially reported that at the moment it works "in normal mode and there is no question of withdrawal of current scholarships." Moreover, the website of this organization updated the deadline for applications under the program "NarES" (for Russian PhD students and young candidates of sciences) for 2023. That is, it does not plan to break its partnership with domestic universities.
Forpost contacted representatives of the St. Petersburg Mining University, who are currently on a six-month internship in Germany, and asked about their research topics, as well as to name the main differences between our and the German scientific schools.
German authorities assured Russian students studying in Germany of their complete safety
In the Federal Republic of Germany, as in our country, universities are not only educational hubs, but also large scientific centers where both fundamental and applied research is conducted. The role of their customers is played by the state and big business, which is interested in reducing the cost of production or launching a new group of products on the market. For example, automobile companies pay universities to study the properties of various alloys, which in the future can be used in the manufacture of car bodies.
As Russian graduate students who are now working on their research projects at the Freiberg Mining Academy say, "the environment and infrastructure here are almost like ours," although there are nuances. The St. Petersburg Mining University, for example, invests more in its facilities. There are other differences as well.
For example, a German research team usually consists of 5-6 people, which is more than in Russia. In addition, some devices, because of their relevance, are not available, and to work on them, you must sign up in advance. The queue to the equipment is common, and there are professors, students, and applicants for scientific degrees who need to conduct similar experiments.
The scientific interests of the Freiberg and St. Petersburg scientists are generally similar. However, the former put a little more emphasis on research related to increasing the efficiency of waste recycling or wastewater treatment. Another area that is being actively explored at the Academy is gas hydrates. These are molecular compounds of water and methane, formed through a combination of low temperatures and high pressure.
In nature they are found either in permafrost zones or in deep waters, which at this stage of technological development makes it unprofitable to extract natural gas from them. At the same time, it is obvious: if we find a way to significantly reduce the cost of this process, mankind will get a primary energy source in almost unlimited volume.
"In the laboratories of drilling technology and drilling fluids at the Freiberg Mining Academy, gas hydrates are indeed actively studied, in particular the separation and mixing of gas-liquid phases of different concentrations and types. Investigations are conducted both with laboratory equipment and on computers with subsequent modeling. We have a lot to learn here; the St. Petersburg Mining University just recently opened a specialized laboratory, in early February. Another popular field of experiments is the study of stability and sedimentation stability of solutions and washing liquids (i.e. their ability to counteract sedimentation and spread over the entire area to be cleaned - editor). And also the degree of saturation and evaporation of liquid fractions from different types of soils and soils," explained a young scientist (his research is devoted to optimizing the energy intensity of drilling wells).
Another representative of St. Petersburg higher education, who is also interning in Freiberg, said that sometimes the difference in the scientific and educational environment is not felt at all. But some of the details are sometimes striking. For example, at the first meeting his supervisor asked him to make a list of all the chemicals he would need for his future work. In the absence of reagents in the laboratory, the department pledged to buy them as soon as possible, so that all research went according to schedule.
"I was very impressed with the special hangar that is located right on the grounds of the Academy. It's called the "technical school" here. Faculty scientists assemble their research booths there. Some of them are several dozens of meters long and have no analogues in the world. For example, an experimental stand for processing metals and composite materials with the ability to produce real products. Or for researching the speed of information transfer by a hydraulic communication channel, which is made in the form of flexible transparent pipes and stretched along the whole area of the hangar. This room, by the way, reminds something of our training and testing ground "Neftyanik" in Sablino, but it is within walking distance, next to the classrooms", - told the graduate student.
He also clarified that within the framework of the training, which was organized on a parity basis by the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD, the St. Petersburg Mining University and the International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO, he cooperates with a whole group of German scientists. This is the direct supervisor from the German side, and a number of other specialists in a related field. They have already familiarized themselves with the project of their Russian colleague, discussed the stages of joint work and agreed to write a scientific article on their results.
"My project is related to the development of new technical and technological solutions for blocking of rapa-bearing formations when drilling wells in conditions of polysalt aggression, catastrophic absorptions and rapa manifestations. Rapa is highly mineralized water with rare metals and mineral salts, which in case of manifestation from the formation significantly complicates the process of well construction. A number of studies conducted by colleagues from the Freiberg Mining Academy are also related to the study of the salt core and the interaction of highly mineralized formation water with various kinds of liquids during long contact time. So we undoubtedly have common interests," noted the St. Petersburg citizen.
The two sides are interested, in particular, in joint research on the possibility of extracting, that is, extracting critical metals, especially lithium, from saline formation water in geothermal wells. This is an extremely topical area of scientific activity, which today almost all of the planet's flagship universities are engaged in.
As Russian scientists explained, they have no domestic problems, so they can fully concentrate on their work in their laboratories. Despite the fact that all the places in the Academy's dormitories were occupied, they were provided with comfortable accommodation. The conditions there are excellent.
A total of 20 people from St. Petersburg Mining University and other higher education institutions that are members of the Nedra Consortium came to Germany for a six-month internship. The scholarship of each of them is 1200 euros per month. It is paid on a parity basis by the German service of academic exchanges DAAD and the oldest technical university of Russia. Of this amount, from 250 to 320 euros is spent on accommodation and electricity, the rest is left for food and other expenses.
