Early morning on the embankment of the Pregolya River in Kaliningrad. Photo: Andrey Belavin, participant of the photo contest of the RGS "The Most Beautiful Country"
Within the framework of the career guidance and educational project of the RGS «Sails of Russia: Sea Routes of Unity and Discoveries» 20 events were held in Moscow and the Kaliningrad Region. Their goal was to introduce students to professions related to the sea and tell them how scientists explore the oceans.
During one week in June, scientific, creative, and sports events were held for schoolchildren, students, and adults. Applicants and high school students, teachers from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (IKBFU), and members of the RGS visited the «Akademik Ioffe» research vessel in Kaliningrad. The guests inspected the ship’s facilities, visited scientific laboratories, the navigation bridge, and also visited the ship’s library, and mess hall. The RGS flag was handed over to the crew.
With the support of the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, the Friedland Gate Museum opened the exhibition «They were the First», where visitors got acquainted with rare marine instruments, archival photographs, and geological samples. The popular science seminar «Ocean: Famous and Mysterious» for scientists, teachers, and students was held at IKBFU. In addition, a number of sports and creative events took place at various venues: a yacht regatta, creative workshops, beach volleyball competitions, environmental flash mobs, art workshops, lectures for children, a contemporary art festival, and a race on the Baltic Sea coast.
«The project was organized in accordance with the instructions following the results of the XVII Congress of the RGS, ” said Natalya Belyakova, Director of the Expeditionary Activities and Research Department. "Its purpose is to promote the improvement of the quality of geographical education and to continue the educational traditions of the RGS: to demonstrate the continuity of the study of the seas, to popularize the history of the Russian navy, scientific expeditions and maritime professions, to strengthen cultural ties, and expand international cooperation."
The initiative’s partners are the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, the Russian Geological Society, IKBFU, the All-Russian Sailing Federation, the Kaliningrad Region Triathlon Federation, and the «Sea Inside» art festival, with the assistance of the Pionersky city administration. The organizer was ANO «Sails of the World».
