Forum organizers

On 24 April, the First Arctic Youth Forum "Arctic: New Generation" was held at the site of the multimedia historical park "Russia - My History" in St Petersburg. The forum was organized by students from 13 universities that train personnel for the needs of the Far North, and a student from one of the St Petersburg lyceums.

The event, which brought together more than five hundred participants, was held with the support of the Committee for the Arctic Affairs of the St Petersburg Government. Reports on 45 topics were presented by 62 speakers. The program included a plenary session, which discussed the problems of the Arctic region and the role of universities in the Arctic agenda, and two sections: "People and the Arctic" and "Severe climatic conditions: life and work."

From left to right: Olga Kucher; deputy head of the Committee for the Arctic Affairs of the St Petersburg Government Andrey Anokhin; Aleksandra Eremeeva

SPbGASU representatives participated in the organization and work of the forum. Among them was Olga Kucher, a fifth-year bachelor's student at the Faculty of Architecture. Her responsibilities included coverage of events, communication with the media, management of the media center of the event and much more.

Olga moderated the plenary session and made a presentation on the university's achievements in the field of study and development of the Arctic. The theme of the development of Arctic cities and territories is being implemented at SPbGASU at the Faculties of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Automobile and Road Building at several levels of education: bachelor's, master's and postgraduate studies. The university has repeatedly acted as the organizer of scientific events on the Arctic topics. One of the latest events was the trip of students and teachers to a seminar in Salekhard.

Signing the agreement. Olga Kucher and Ksenia Fursova, secretary of the "Ledokol" AYM

The main event of the forum was the solemn signing of a resolution on the creation of the "Ledokol" (Icebreaker) Arctic Youth Movement. As the SPbGASU representative and a member of the organizing committee of the movement, Olga Kucher participated in the signing of the resolution.

“During my work, I felt powerful energy from young people that seemed so different both in character and profession. Everyone with great enthusiasm, piece by piece, like a puzzle, created something unique, very necessary for our country. This is precisely the goal of the "Ledokol" – to propose projects, generate ideas that will change the Arctic and the world for the better,” Olga said.

More information about the movement

Andrey Boyarintsev at the SPbGASU stand

Andrey Boyarintsev, Senior Lecturer at the SPbGASU Department of Geotechnics, made a presentation at the section “Severe climatic conditions: life and work”. He reported on frost heaving, a phenomenon in which frozen soil expands and can impact foundations. The annual cost of repairing structures damaged by frost heaving of the soil is 450 billion rubles. The problem of frost heaving is solved mainly through the use of steel screw piles, which have a number of disadvantages. As an alternative, the speaker suggested a composite anti-rock pile. The implementation of the invention will increase the service life of foundations up to 150 percent, reduce the minimum dimensions and weight of the foundation, use simple calculation schemes in the design. More information about the composite anti-rock pile

The young scientist and his colleagues are looking for partners to continue their research.

Ksenia Pletneva (left) and Viktoria Ivanova (right)

Fifth-year bachelor's students of the Faculty of Architecture Viktoria Ivanova and Ksenia Pletneva made a presentation on innovative solutions in the field of Arctic architecture used in the design of buildings along the Poluy River in Salekhard. Students prepared to participate in the forum under the guidance of associate professors at the Department of Architectural Design Aleksandra Eremeeva and Olga Kokorina.

“As part of my graduation project, I am developing a multifunctional cultural complex with a hotel, which is located on the slope of the Poluy river embankment. The complex includes a hotel, the advantage of which is walking distance to the main cultural attraction of the city - Obdorsky Ostrog,” said Ksenia Pletneva.