N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod launched the international summer school «Water Biodiversity and Water Quality Assessment»

22 July 2024 N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod launched the international summer school «Water Biodiversity and Water Quality Assessment». It is being held for the first time in Nizhny Novgorod region within the framework of the project «Summer Multidisciplinary University’» of the Russian-African Network University (RAFU) with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. (unn.ru)

Its participants are 15 international students and graduates of Russian universities from seven African countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, Uganda and Ethiopia.

Two interesting weeks are awaiting the students: acquaintance with Nizhny Novgorod and the region, lectures and master-classes, practical classes in the laboratories of the Institute of Biology and Biomedicine of UNN, as well as a trip to the biological station «Staraya Pustyn».

«The biological station «Staraya Pustyn» is an incredibly beautiful, unique place. The theme of the programme is related to the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems and assessment of their quality and the biological station is located just on the system of karst lakes. This is the best place where you can learn methods of studying water bodies, get acquainted with the organisms that live there, practise environmental monitoring and water quality assessment.

According to Alexander Bedny, Vice-Rector for International Activities and Networking at UNN, as part of RAFU activities, new partnership programmes with African universities are being launched, network programmes, dual-degree programmes are being created, and initiatives such as summer schools are being launched. «Summer school for international students is always a window to the university; it is an opportunity to present the educational and scientific potential of the university, to show the city, the region, to tell about the history of Russia. Moreover, of course, it is a great opportunity to practice communicating in Russian», the vice-rector added.

Source: unn.ru

 «In the summer school, foreign students will get skills to study and preserve the biodiversity of the planet's water resources. This work will become a bright positive example of youth co-operation between Russia and African countries in the field of ecology. It will strengthen friendly ties and contribute to the development of science, education and culture at the international level», - Oleg Trofimov, Rector of UNN, Lobachevsky University.