A meeting was held at Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University with the leadership of Brazil's largest university, the Federal University of Minas Gerais. The agenda focused on developing cooperation between the two institutions in the fields of joint scientific research and academic exchange.
One of the leading institutions in Latin America for training specialists in the mineral resources sector, the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), is named after the state of Minas Gerais. This region serves as Brazil's primary mining hub, producing gold, diamonds, bauxite, graphite, nickel, and ores of iron, manganese, and uranium. UFMG comprises over 20 institutes, faculties, and schools, including the Institute of Earth Sciences and the School of Engineering. Its research centers and laboratories focus on areas such as enhancing geological exploration methods, addressing environmental challenges, and analyzing gases and other elements using spectrally directed thermography.
During the BRICS forum held in St. Petersburg in October 2024, a delegation from the Federal University of Minas Gerais visited the Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University. They explored its scientific and laboratory infrastructure, and educational programs, and proposed joint efforts to address pressing challenges in the industry.
In January 2025, an online meeting identified key areas for future collaboration: organizing joint in-person and remote summer schools, faculty exchanges, and participation in scientific projects. The latter is particularly appealing to both sides.
«During the meeting, our colleagues presented their ongoing projects that could interest the Russian side. These include studies on the porosity of oil shale using magnetic resonance imaging, enhancing oil recovery in offshore fields, developing high-temperature composite materials based on niobium, materials science, and environmental issues. Each of these areas is relevant and important. Global oil and gas companies such as Petrobras, Shell, and BP are active in Brazil. The expertise of our country is widely recognized. Collaborative research involving scientists from regions with diverse knowledge bases will enrich the findings for both Brazilians and Russians, directly impacting the volume of thematic publications in scientific journals. After a detailed review of the projects, we can draft a roadmap, outline promising topics, and identify a potential working group», - said Grigory Karpov, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Mining Faculty.
The Federal University of Minas Gerais' interest in deepening educational ties between Brazil and Russia is underscored by its 2024 launch of free online courses in Brazilian Portuguese for students and staff from Russian partner institutions.
This meeting, and the broader inter-university dialogue, was made possible through the efforts of the Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University’s Latin American office, led by Valeria Quiroz.
«In 2024, the St. Petersburg Mining University’s Latin American office presented its innovative pilot project in higher education at the largest scientific forum of Latin America and the Caribbean, CILAC, held in Colombia. It also participated in the International Mining Congress ExpoSIMIM, which brings together representatives from industry, science, and government in Peru. In April, we shared our experiences at the expert session 'Scientific and Educational Cooperation between Russia and Latin American Countries,' hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council. The list goes on, but the essence boils down to one thing: the mining schools of the Southern Hemisphere are keen to intensify their cooperation with Russia's first technical university», - emphasized Valeria Quiroz.
A simple example demonstrating the sustained interest in Russian education and science: over the past year, more than 180 news articles about the life and innovative developments at Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University were translated into Spanish and published in Latin American media. Each publication garnered over 10,000 views per month.