As part of the program of celebrations on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of the complete lifting of the siege of Leningrad, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Valery Falkov spoke to teachers, staff and students of St Petersburg universities and research institutes. The meeting took place on 27 January at the St Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation.

SPbGASU was represented at the meeting by the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture Ekaterina Vozniak, acting Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Municipal Services, Head of the Department of Technosphere Safety, Director of the "Smart Labor" training site Andrey Nikulin, Head of the Department of History and Philosophy Irina Lapina, Head of the Department of Technology of Construction Materials and Metrology Yuri Pukharenko and Head of the Department of Transport Systems Stanislav Evtyukov.

The minister spoke about the enormous contribution to the defense of the Motherland by teachers and scientists of besieged Leningrad.

“During the blockade, in conditions of almost complete isolation, the city needed to support production, provide life support to the city and the front, and find new sources of food. All these tasks were not only set, but also solved by scientists who remained in the city,” emphasized Valery Falkov.

The minister presented memorable gifts to higher education workers - residents of besieged Leningrad, and thanked them for their dedicated work and invaluable contribution to the common cause of victory over the enemy.