Science and technics

“Theory without practice is dead, practice without theory is blind.” These words belong to Alexander Suvorov and are hard to dispute. Nevertheless, the Bologna Process, implemented in Russia since the late 20th century and replacing the Soviet education system, came quite close to this imbalance. The transition to a two-tier system of “bachelor’s – master’s” degrees and the significant reduction of specialist programs nearly dismantled the country’s engineering training framework.

According to expert forecasts, the global market for digital solutions in the mining industry is expected to nearly double by 2030, reaching approximately 20 billion USD annually. In Russia, the digitalization of mining enterprises is advancing even more rapidly — by 2024, the market had reached nearly 40 billion rubles, compared to just 10 billion in 2022.

The exhibition of the Mining Museum features minerals and chemical compounds from nearly every region of the planet, including some of the most remote locations. However, certain specimens were produced just steps away from the museum halls — in the laboratories of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. One such example is yttrium oxide, which was donated to the museum by the staff of the Department of General and Physical Chemistry.

Advanced IT solutions from the developer of Russia’s leading mining and geological information system are being integrated into the educational process as part of the new engineering training model.

The conference “Responsibility of Global Leaders in Mineral Reserves and Extraction for the Sustainable Development of the Global Economy” brought together representatives of regulatory authorities from the Russian Federation and several African countries, companies in the mineral resource sector, as well as specialized educational and public organizations.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the world’s largest island nation, Brian Yuliarto, paid a working visit to Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. In January of this year, Indonesia joined BRICS and has shown strong interest in joint projects with Russia.

A crucial indicator of economic development is the amount of energy required to produce one unit of gross domestic product. For example, simply replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs can reduce lighting costs by eight times. This is just one of many ways to improve energy efficiency.

Iran and Russia share a similar aspiration — to actively develop science and industry under the conditions of Western sanctions. However, the Islamic Republic has significantly more experience, given its 44 years of living under restrictions and without access to advanced foreign technologies. Russia and Iran are now working together on promising projects, with the collaboration between Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University and Shiraz University playing a special role in this process.

Students of the first and second years at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University became the first in Russia to complete an in-person scientific internship at Shiraz University in Iran, conducted in English.

In June 2021, a major accident occurred on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the United States due to the thawing of permafrost. The pipeline supports began to bend, creating a risk of rupture. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources responded to this challenge by installing thermosstabilizers on the pipeline. These contain a refrigerant that helps maintain the low temperature of the soil around the support.