The Russian Geographical Society and the Geographical Society of China held events for young specialists in the field of geosciences as part of a traditional academic exchange. The program includes visits to leading scientific organizations, universities, and specially protected natural areas of St. Petersburg and the Republic of Karelia.
Representatives of Peking University, Lanzhou University, East China Normal University, Hohai University, South China Normal University, and other scientific and educational organizations of the People’s Republic of China participated in the program. The delegation was led by Guoyu Zhang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and former Secretary General of the Geographical Society of China, as well as Dai Wang, Executive Director of the Geographical Society of China.
The acquaintance with Russia began at the historical headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society in St. Petersburg. The guests visited the Scientific Library of the RGS, the exhibition «Obruchev: The Territory of Discoveries», and got acquainted with the history of one of the oldest public organizations in the country. The Chinese colleagues were particularly interested in the works of Soviet geographers, translated into Chinese. There was also a report on the role of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in the study of Central Asia.
A significant part of the program was devoted to scientific cooperation and familiarization with the Russian system of geographical education and research. The group visited the Institute of Earth Sciences of St. Petersburg State University, the Karpinsky Russian Scientific Geological Research Institute, the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, the A. I. Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, and the Karelian Research Center of the RAS. Chinese experts got acquainted with modern scientific works in the field of climatology, geology, cartography, polar research, and environmental monitoring, visited specialized laboratories and research centers, and also participated in round tables and meetings with Russian colleagues.
An important focus of the program was familiarization with the nature of the North-West of Russia and modern approaches to the study and protection of the environment. In the Sestroretsk Swamp State Nature Reserve, participants walked along an ecological path and got acquainted with various types of swamp ecosystems, as well as their characteristic flora and fauna communities, including rare species. At the St. Petersburg State University «Ladoga» educational and scientific base, the group studied the landscapes of the Northwestern Ladoga region and took part in a field lesson to identify catenary patterns in soils and landscapes. Special attention was paid to the peculiarities of relief formation, the diversity of soil cover, vegetation, and natural complexes of the region. On the island of Koyonsaari, which is part of Ladoga Skerries National Park, the exchange participants got acquainted with the unique natural complexes of Ladoga, including relict forests, rare plant species, and rock formations formed millions of years ago. The guests from China also visited Ruskeala Mountain Park, where they were presented with a successful example of the transformation of a former marble quarry into a modern facility for sustainable tourism and environmental education. The natural science section of the program ended with a visit to the Kivach State Nature Reserve. The guests visited the ecological trail «1,500 Steps into Nature», got acquainted with the peculiarities of the northern forest ecosystems, saw one of the largest lowland waterfalls in Europe, and visited the Nature Museum, which tells about the biodiversity of Karelia.
The program also included an introduction to the historical and cultural heritage of Russia. Representatives of China visited the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. (Kunstkamera), the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the icebreaker «Krasin», the locations of Kronstadt and the sights of St. Petersburg and Petrozavodsk.
Academic exchanges are one of the important areas of international activity of the Russian Geographical Society. Such projects contribute to the strengthening of professional contacts between young scientists, the development of joint research, and the formation of new initiatives in the field of geography, ecology and Earth sciences.