Rector of St. Petersburg Mining University Vladimir Litvinenko and Oberbűrgermeister of Freiberg Sven Kruger held a working meeting dedicated to the 310th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Lomonosov. They noted the importance of the great Russian scholar’s heritage for the development of cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries and discussed joint projects related to the anniversary.
One of the most significant is the installation of the enlightener’s sculpture on Freiberg’s Palace Square. The place was not chosen by chance, it is in this Saxon city that Lomonosov studied chemistry and mining after graduating from the University of Marburg. A two-meter-high bronze figure, which will be donated to the German side, is already finished. Sanitary and epidemiological restrictions prevented its installation today, but, as Mr Krüger noted, “the postponement will make the monument opening ceremony brighter and more solemn.”
Future plans are to create in the historic centre of the old German city a Russian centre of science and culture, where, in particular, the Russian language will be taught. Now we are looking for a suitable location for this.
During the teleconference, in which representatives of the Freiberg Mining Academy Berndt Meyer and Felix Baytalov also took part, the issue of increasing academic mobility was also discussed. Despite the coronavirus, it continues to remain at a relatively high level. There are now 21 students from St. Petersburg Mining University and the universities that are part of the Nedra Consortium. German young people are also being educated in Russia. In the future, as it was agreed during the working meeting, it is planned to exchange not only students or teachers but also schoolchildren.
“I am sure that our work, which takes place within the framework of the agreement on the creation of the Lomonosov social movement, will increase the level of trust between the states,” said Sven Krueger. “According to surveys of Freiberg residents, their attitude toward Russia is extremely complimentary. The majority supports the idea of our partnership. The monument we are going to erect as well as other joint projects should become the symbol of aspiration of our peoples to cooperation in cultural, scientific and economic spheres.”
It should be noted that Mikhail Lomonosov’s contribution to the development of world science is known not only in Germany but also in neighbouring Austria. Earlier, Wilfried Eichelseder, Rector of the Leoben Mining University also supported Vladimir Litvinenko’s initiative to erect a monument to the Russian scientist in this Alpine city. And he suggested that a park of the same name should be built around it.
The project can be implemented after its approval by the Urban Planning Council of Leoben.
