Saint Petersburg UNIVERSITY HIC TUTA PERENNAT ST. PETERSBURG UNIVERSITY AT A GLANCE

POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMMES Today, three centuries after it was established, SPbU is striving, as before, to lead research and education on a national and global scale. By bringing together traditions and innovations, St. Petersburg University sets the pace for development of science, education and culture in Russia and across the world. SPbU fully equips its students and staff for the best of the diverse range of opportunities for education, research and personal development: the richest Research Library named after M. Gorky, a state-of-the-art Research Park, laboratories headed by leading scientists, museums, a publishing house, sports clubs, a University choir, orchestras, drama and dance studios and so on. In November 2009, President of the Russian DEAR FRIENDS, Federation Dmitry Medvedev signed a law granting or more than 290 years, St. Petersburg St. Petersburg University and Moscow State University has been committed to advancing University the special status of ‘unique scientific science, generating knowledge and training and educational complexes, the oldest institutions of outstanding professionals. The University is higher education in Russia being of great importance richF in history — it dates back to 1724, when Peter to the Great founded the Academy of Sciences and Arts the development of the Russian society’. SPbU as well as the first Academic University in Russia. was granted a privilege to set its own education The famous SPbU alumni are the source of pride standards and award its own diplomas. and dignity, which inspires us to excel and maximise Discover the first Russian University now. our potential in research and education. Among our Welcome to SPbU! alumni and staff, there is an extraordinary number Yours respectfully, of world-famous people, in particular, Nobel Prize SPbU Rector winners: physiologist Ivan Pavlov, biologist Ilya Nikolay KROPACHEV Mechnikov, physical chemist Nikolay Semyonov, physicists Lev Landau and Aleksandr Prokhorov, mathematician and economist Leonid Kantorovich. SPbU is also an alma mater of outstanding researchers, scholars, academics, political and social leaders: Dmitry Mendeleev, Vladimir Vernadsky, and Dmitry Likhachev to name but a few. The world owes to our University most prominent cultural leaders, writers and artists: Ivan Turgenev, Pavel Bryullov, Alexander Blok, Alexander Benois, Sergei Diaghilev, and Igor Stravinsky. Among the University alumni, we are also proud to mention the leaders of the Russian Government: Boris Sturmer, Alexander Kerensky, Vladimir Lenin, Presidents of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.

1 CONTENTS: Each student should know where to attend find everything here! Or nearly everything! best talks and lectures, to have a snack, find The University is changing faster than ever — books and, finally, find rooms for students this year a new hall of residence has Learn, Live, Read to live in at the University? St. Petersburg appeared on the map. It can accommodate up University is more than 300 buildings — to 458 students and is located at 27/1 IN FOCUS so a good map is just what you need. You can Prospekt Solidarnisty.

Malaya Neva River 4 ‘I believe that the EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT

University is a unique 11 30 Learn, Live, Read 17 Uralskaya str. phenomenon’ Neva River Map of the key buildings 9 per. KAKHOVSKOGO 14 20 1 B SMOLNOGO STR. Academic Political Studies, Gymnasium Andrey Yakunin on the 63 CHAYKOVSKOGO STR. International 6 MAKAROVA EMB. Economics Relations, Sociology 5/9 MENDELEEVSKAYA 77 А, 3 PER. VOLKHOVSKIY Psychology L SPbU Alumni Association LINE 8 Line V.O. Management Shpalernaya Str. 5 28 Chaykovskogo Str. Smolnaya Str 16 per. Dekabristov History, 32 Towards Nature TavricheskayaStr.

3 Kapitanskaya Str. 3 Kapitanskaya Philosophy, М Medicine 66, 5 Line 12 33, 2 LINE Neva River E Earth Sciences, Dvortsovaya Emb. Mikhail Kovalchuk: Physics Metro Station Geo-chemistry Chaykovskogo Str. 39 Radishcheva Str. E Primorskaya Departments of SPbU 31-33, 10 Line Smolnaya Emb. 5 Kamskaya Str. Cadet line MendeleevskayaMakarova line Emb. Gorkiy Research Library is a fundamental science Vasileostrovskaya Tavricheskaya Str. MADE IN SPBU М 21-23-25 16 PER. DEKABRISTOV М 1 Biology 12 Management CHERNYSHEVSKAYA Prosp. Solidarnosti Management, 15, 6 Line Kollontay Str. Geology Applied 8 Finish vs Start Ph 2 Chemistry 13 Mathematics and 6 Birzhevaya line Prosp. Bolshevikov 36 Friendship between Maliy Prospekt 8 A Control Processes 3 per. Philologicheskiy Prosp. 3 Geology 14 Psychology Research and plan for 26 A, 1 LINE V.O. 15, 6 Line Suvorovsky Str. 27-1 Solidarnosti.

Journalism, Vosstaniya Str. 4 Universities Nalichnaya Str. Mass 30 Russian Language Dybenko Str. 4 Philology 15 Communication and Culture future: What final-year М

20/1, 2, 3 Sredniy Pr. V.О. Zhukovskogo Str. International relations of History and Liberal Arts 71 Bolshoy Pr. 5 16 Dybenko Str. 2, 9 Line Philosophy and Sciences

students and post-graduate Str. Korablestroiteley L Shevchenko Str. 11 UNIVERSITY 6 Oriental Studies 17 Sociology SPbU 26, 23 Line Bolshoy Prospekt 6 Philology, Stary Petergof Minor planets students are up to Biology, Earth Sciences 7 Geography and 18 Physics 4 Geo-ecology of the big university Jupiter Mars Earth Venus Mercury Sun 7/9 UNIVERSITY Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, in the asteroid belt, 3 Asteroid Oriental Studies, there is a great number of celestial objects called minor planets. Belt 7, 22 Line V.O. 8 Journalism 19 Chemistry Philology, Many of them are called after scholars who were graduates The list goes on. A consolidated Lieutenant Schmidt emb. 2 12-2, 15-1, 2, and workers of St Petersburg University. effort of SPbU students and Biology, graduates could result in its Khalturina str. expansion to make the University 1 Earth Sciences Bolshaya Morskaya Str. 9 Mathematics 20 Economics "constellation" in the asteroid belt 14 Minor Planets of the GRANTS and Mechanics as bright as possible. For information you may use the catalogue of minor planets 35 UNIVERSITY PR. 1 May Str. of the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy 10 Medicine 21 Law Applied of Sciences. It is kept up-to-date 7, 22 INE V.O. 2809 VERNADSKIJ and you may search the catalogue Big University 49, 10 LINE V.O. Mathematics Vladimir Vernadsky 2142 LANDAU in alphabetical or numerical order. Law International and Control Processes 6164 GERHARDMULLER (1863–1945), SPbU graduate, Lev Landau (1908–1968), 38 Small Molecules against Arts Gerhard Friedrich Müller natural scientist, founding SPbU graduate, theoretical We are waiting for your additions at Glinki Str 11 Relations (1705–1783), first rector father of the noosphere physicist, [email protected] 21 of SPbU, historiographer, theory Nobel Prize winner and Political Studies full-fledged member in Physics For more details on the tradition Celestial bodies named of the Academy 2877 LIKHACHEV to call celestial objects after Kozhevennaya Line 13 9 of Sciences Dmitry Likhachov renowned people please read the and Arts SPbU Magazine No 12 as Dangerous Diseases (1906–1999), SPbU professor, philologist, literary of August 2009. 28 UNIVERSITY PR. 10022 ZUBOV scholar 857 GLAZENAP Vladimir Zubov (1930–2000), 7 Mathematics Sergey Glazenap after the University mathematician, (1848–1937), astronomer, SPbU professor, founder founder of the University's of the Faculty of Applied How chemistry can save 58-60 GALERNAYA STR. 3, 1, 9, Ulyanovskaya Str. astronomical Mathematics and 41 SREDNIY PR. V.O. 16 observatory Liberal Arts Control Processes Military University pr. 2836 SOBOLEV graduates and 2010 CHEBYSHEV Victor Sobolev (1915–1999), Education Pafnuty Chebyshev (1821–1894), SPbU professor, Sciences professor, mathematician astrophysicist our life and mechanician, founder of the Russian mathematical 2536 KOZYREV 18 school of thought 5324 LYAPUNOV Nikolai Kozyrev Philology students (1908–1983), SPbU graduate, Aleksandr Lyapunov Ph Izmaylovskiy prospekt 3 ULYANOVSKAYA (1857–1918), SPbU graduate, astrophysicist mathematician, mechanician, Bolshaya Neva River STR. founder of stability theory 8-А, 21LINE V.O., Physics, Café 71 BOLSHOY PR. 10 L Law students 27 IZMAYLOVSKIY PR. Military 5234 SECHENOV Medicine 109 SANKT-PETERBURGSKOE SHOSSE College of Physical Ivan Sechenov (1829–1905), Sankt-Peterburgskoe Shosse Education SPbU professor, physiologist, 1905 AMBARTSUMIAN RESEARCH PARK Mikhaylovskaya Dacha Culture and Sports, founder of the Russian Victor Ambartsumian 3196 MAKLAJ Library 19 26 UNIVERSITY psychology (1908–1986), founder of the Economics students Campus Nicholas Miklouho-Maclay 10728 VLADIMIRFOCK Economics and Department of Astrophysics, SCIENCE-LUNCH E (1846–1888), SPbU graduate, Vladimir Fock (1898–1974), PR. director of the University 8816 GAMOW ethnographer, 2341 AOLUTA SPbU professor, Technologies observatory George Gamow (1904-1968), Chemistry, anthropologist, This minor planet is called so SPbU graduate, theoretical theoretical physicist Campus PUNK explorer in 1981 to commemorate the physicist, Hall of Residence Military Education 100th anniversary of the astrophysicist Art students 38 14 University's astronomical 16 SPbU Computer Centre: A Botanicheskaya Str. 66/2, 66/3, 66/4, observatory 42 Science and Journalism 64/2, 64/3, 64/4, 70/1, 70/2, 70/3, 70/4 Obvodny channel emb. More Rapid, at the Same Table More Powerful, Thing Explainer: More Effective Complicated research in Computational speed simple words matters!

19 Science and HOMO EDUCANDUS Technology Park 44 From Letters to Digits Unique equipment and Book collections online facilities: Cutting-edge science 47 Digitised, Demesmerised: 23 Book Rarities Becoming 42 23 The Size Matters Accessible SPbU growing thin films Two mouse clicks bring you to the library collections OUR GUEST 50 So Far, So Close 26 How to Make a Career «Where is the library?» Leap before You Gain a Degree ‘Post-graduate studies at SPbU is a personal challenge’ 26 47

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Andrey Vladimirovich YAKUNIN,SPbU alumni, managing partner and co- ‘I believe that founder of ‘VIY Management LLP’, Candidate of Economy; in spring 2014 — become the head of the initiative the University is a unique group on establishing SPbU Alumni Association phenomenon’

By Vera SVIRIDOVA

The ball was set rolling. Started the counter-arguments you can busy schedule to make the project in March 2014 from scratch, give to a sceptic? lively and engaging, with its SPbU Alumni Association has — For a start, one simple example. specific aims and resources. been steadily growing so far. When the University came to think that it needed to build — What have you achieved? t couldn’t be any other way. and improve the quality of our What are the projects you are The Rector of SPbU Nikolay relationship with the alumni, going to implement in the Mikhaylovich Kropachev we spread the information in nearest future? set the task to start a search of those who would like — To start with, we faced a comprehensiveI project on the to be engaged. As regards the challenge, both simple and University Alumni Association, statistics, only in social networks, demanding, to give a legal and

PHOTO: NATALYA SVIRIDOVA NATALYA PHOTO: initially with a specific focus by the most conservative estimate, formal status to the alumni on engaging people with a there are 50,000 followers of association. We, therefore, wide experience in starting SPbU. Today, the project involves constituted a legal entity, which projects from scratch. The choice almost 1,000 people: they express enables us to develop and was Andrey Vladimirovich their ideas, sometimes diverge implement various projects and Yakunin, who Natalya Petrovna and opposite, on how to set up an promote cooperation. Nesmeyanova, Rector’s Advisor initiative. Sharply restricted in on alumni and corporate People feel involved and resources, we, nevertheless, partners, asked first. For the last connected with the University. successfully appeared in all 10 years, Andrey Yakunin has As soon as they understood that major social networks. These successfully started more than 10 they could control the situation communication platforms are companies in Russia. As a head of rather than respond, they seized starting to gain momentum. In the independent partnership ‘VIY the chance and started to come up January, we launched a website of Management LLP’, he attracted with their ideas. No wonder, the the association, where you can fill investments, thus creating more great rush is on. in an application form to register than 2,000 job opportunities online at www.alumnispbu.net. across Russia. — In any project, on alumni The top priority with us Today, at the core of the association especially, is definitely a meeting of the project are SPbU alumni the leader forms a core of association’s members which is professionally engaged in supporters that becomes a to be held in March. We are going economics across the world. It driving force. Who do you see to identify the key areas for the is as plain as a pikestaff that the as a core in this project? association, among them is to project, last year formalised as — The driving force behind the draw up a budget and a short-term a non-profit organisation ‘SPbU project is, obviously, Natalya plan. Alumni Association’, is destined Nesmeyanova, Rector’s Advisor Concerning more global to succeed. In November 2014, the on alumni and corporate issues, we have some of them. University and the Association partners. Importantly, we have The first is careers support. signed a cooperation agreement not had a situation, since the very Naturally, the University feels with the period of the agreement beginning of the project in spring concern and interest in how and of 99 years at least. last year, when we would have where its students are employed, failed to build a project team to rather than it is content with a — As a head of the initiative face a specific challenge. If we mere fact that they are employed. group on SPbU Alumni need experts, no matter what Importantly, we should track Association, you see it as the sphere is: mass media, IT, or their career in 5-10 years after worthwhile, while it is hardly others, we are exceptionally lucky graduation in order to help the thing for overwhelming to find them among our alumni, perspective students to outline majority in Russia. What are who willingly find time with a their career opportunities: if you 4 5 IN FOCUS IN FOCUS

with. What is a model for us to — Are you willing to give an may be of interest to a hundred Andrey Vladimirovich follow, you might ask. It is not open lecture to the students? graduates at the most, who are YAKUNIN an easy question. I believe that — Just last December, I had professionally engaged in finance. In 1997 – graduated SPbU the University is a unique socio- a lecture under the joint And I can discuss it in their in Mathematical Methods in cultural phenomenon, unlike programme between МВА company with a cup of coffee. Economics. any other university, and it Kingston University and the Conversely, lectures on couching In 2001 – Candidate of could originate nowhere else Russian Presidential Academy and career focus on how to use but in the Russian Empire and of National Economy and Public knowledge and skills you have Economics; thesis title: achieved its eminence in education Administration. The have acquired, or have not acquired, at ‘Financial Assessment of New and research by suffering the developed a programme on the university. Hotel Projects’, Department of oppression of the Soviet ideology. visiting speakers with a specific Theory of Credit and Financial It implies that we should treat it focus on their mistakes that — As a University graduate, Management, SPbU. In 2007 in a unique way. I can say that we derailed their career. what would you advise to final- – MBA, EMBA Global, London are doing our best to be on a par year students just a couple of with MGIMO Alumni Association. — In SPbU, there is a tradition months before completing a Business School with Columbia It has an excellent network with its to give open lectures by famous degree? University (USA), one of the alumni. graduates, researchers, public — I am not a person to give advice, world’s leading programme in Let us consider the practices figures… but I will share the one I know:

PHOTO: NATALYA SVIRIDOVA NATALYA PHOTO: executive business education, adopted in different parts of the — These lectures, evidently, in a game of chess imagine a according to the Global MBA world. Importantly, there is a huge are integral part of education. combination after the 32 move and choose this field of study, you university traditions: it is not difference between European, However, they are not enough, perform a series of tactical moves Ranking — Financial Times. are more likely to pursue career just about fanatically repeating Asian (South Korean, I mean) and as they focus on a specific to achieve this gain respectfully. in these spheres. One initiative, ‘The University is the best’ in Member of European and British American education in terms professional sphere. For example, Similarly, a student can draw a therefore, will primarily concern the form of mantra, but forming Private Equity and Venture of funding of and interaction as a representative of the team ‘picture’ of what he is going to be relationship between major an opinion of the University as Capital Associations, member of between education and research of the practicing regulated in 10 or 20 years after completing departments and key employers. a long-established university ЕМРЕА. as well as fees for education. We management company (fund a degree. He has 2–4 months It mainly aims to introduce our combining excellence in In 2013 – elected as a chairperson should bear it in mind. Today, manager on the strategies of left, which means that he has a students to the employers during education and research as SPbU is, essentially, an institution the private equity growth and chance to identify what skills and the practice module rather than compared to other universities of the Board of Directors of of higher education funded by hospitality real estate), I can knowledge he can still acquire at just after the graduation and put in Russia and former USSR . Our the Alternative Investment the Government. It implies both share my experience in finance, the University. Don’t think that them in the picture about what graduates are willing to preserve Management Association. pluses and minuses. In this financial tools, modelling and you are hard pressed for time. the situation in the job market is. and continue our traditions and to Taught at St Petersburg State regard, the initiative to establish structuring: how to do it, how to You are wrong here. When you The second initiative focuses encourage the dialogue between University. the University Endowment- earn money as a fund investor start working, you will realise at on lack of information support, generations. Our graduates of Fund is, evidently, a huge step or in management and portfolio once: at the University you had Managing partner and co- which is of primary importance to 1970s, 1990s and 2010s, they are ahead, which leads to a rise of companies. Besides, I can shed plenty of time, the thing was to the graduates in natural sciences. all completely different people. founder of ‘VIY Management LLP’ independent financial sources light on more specific issues, organise it wisely. Another thing To track their career in research They have different views on (VIYM). at an exponential rate. Abroad namely risks of the usage of the to consider. We are likely to forget is not idle curiosity. Many of what makes SPbU/LSU unlike graduates are fully involved in systems on fighting financial people we studied side by side them are top-ranked scientists, other universities, with its own the life of their universities, by fraud and control of compliance during 4-6 years at the University. scholars and researchers. Should unique traditions. Interesting to — Any experience is good to take making financial contributions, with the rules and regulations They will be in your life one way we create favourable conditions know how the University has been into consideration. I don’t mean in particular. This is an example over unfair competition. They or another. Your life and career for them to visit the University as seen by its graduates and how it whether it is positive or negative for us to follow. Another question are all very specific issues. It paths may diverge, or conversely a visiting professor or to submit has changed through time. one. The latter is better not to be you might ask is whether meet at one point. Nevertheless, a manuscript for publication repeated, but that doesn’t mean the university endowments if your education background in SPbU, we would enormously — Are you going to draw on we shouldn’t learn it. will be more significant than IN BRIEF: is alike, you will definitely have contribute to the university experience of the leading If we think big, there is a Government funding. Does it something to talk about after considerable number of students happen within the next 10-15 several years. Look around and who pursued their education years – it will come as a surprise. see what your groupmates are How to register. Fill in an application form at: in other universities after We are definitely planning SPbU Alumni Association primarily now. Perhaps, a person next to you graduating SPbU. I can freely to draw on the experience of our aims to help alumni to connect each is a Premier Minister-to-be or top- share my experience of foreign counterparts. We are manager of ‘Gazprom’. other all over the world. We look working with the graduates particularly interested in how forward to watching the association http://www. of London Business School. they build the network with — What are the steps to make Among SPbU graduates, their graduates to make them grow into a lively and engaging for a graduate to contribute there are those who further feel they both benefit from their community to share professional, to the University through the alumnispbu.net/ study in America, Germany, Israel cooperation and encourage them creative and research insights, Association? and other countries. Evidently, to share insights, advice and advice and experience within the — You are more than welcome we know, not theoretically or expertise as a researcher with the community and University. It also to address any questions to ranking position, both nationally universities in Europe and speculatively, how the associations University. How we can achieve helps to make SPbU more competitive Natalya Nesmeyanova. Her and internationally. Research America? What associations do of the leading universities is to hold public lectures where and to preserve and develop values contact details can be found at networking is of high priority you think are model to follow in the world work with their our graduates are supposed to tell of university education, culture and http://www.alumnispbu.net and with us. and what their best practices graduates. We have people who us about their rises and falls in traditions linkedin.com/groups/Alumni- Another initiative is should we adopt? we can discuss these questions career. SPBU-6648291. 6 7 MADE IN SPbU MADE IN SPbU

FINISH VS START VOLKOV MIKHAIL PHOTO: By: Vera SVIRIDOVA ANDREY CHETVERIKOV, Emotions Support In spring, over 6, 000 students in their final year doctoral student at St at St Petersburg University are about to en- Petersburg University Creation of a Realistic ter the final stretch. After university, some are Number of theses expecting to start a job, for others postgraduate (Department of General Worldview study seems to be a very popular alternative and defended at SPbU Psychology) they are hoping to go on to further study. SPbU graduates, n June, the Russian Public Opinion Research 193 teachers and staff Center (VTsIOM) revealed an auto-stereotype hat do emotions do and why world model in human consciousness. By knowing of the young generation in Russia today. (From September 1, 2013 do we need them? The past this, we can better understand what we should Seemingly, young people at 18-34 are more to May 31, 2014 SPbU Dissertation twenty years of research have do to make a person learn faster, how to build an likelyI to see themselves as communicative, active, Councils awarded) shown that many old ideas like adequate level of confidence, and why disruption ready to face challenges, open and friendly, frank 'fear"W makes us get ready to flee' proved wrong. I of emotions may lead to abnormalities in cognitive academic and supportive. degrees study emotions from the standpoint of cognitive activity. All these personality traits are definitely shared of Candidate psychology. Our emotions, even the weak ones, Before getting into psychology, I had been by the final year students and postgraduate students of Sciences are an important sign revealing how we process studying chemistry for two years. After that, while involved in the survey conducted by the magazine 225 and Doctor information. being an SPbU student, I worked for a while in a ‘SPbU’ (this year, they all are about to defend their of Sciences The brain simultaneously solves a large number company engaged in web development. However, theses). This list does not include one more trait, the (all approved) of tasks, including perception, remembrance, and at some point, I realised that science is much more one that should also be rated most highly — research understanding. As soon as one of them poses a interest. There is no bigger incentive for young academic staff of SPbU problem, you feel a weak negative emotion. For researchers to get involved into activities at the example, one of our studies includes showing to Subject of doctoral dissertation: forefront of research. There is no stronger temptation the test person a series of pictures and then asking graduates, teachers "Affective evaluation of cognitive problem to delve into the world of science which has more them to choose from a couple of pictures the one and staff questions than answers and makes you persist they have already seen. If the test person makes solving results" through failure in search for these answers. Finding a mistake, the picture they could not recognise them is still under way — while pursuing Master or 32 seems to them less pleasant and less pretty, even interesting. The challenges facing scientists seem postgraduate programmes, or even while working on if they have not realised the mistake as a fact. to me much more attractive than those I can face in a doctoral thesis, like Dmitry Bolotin who has set his Such influence of the mistakes manifests itself not the fields of pure application. heart on doctoral research. only in the process of recognition but also when Now I am compiling documents for my As Andrey Chetverikov, another postgraduate performing other tasks. dissertation defense and I am not really sure what student, said, they cannot think of any other 130 4 Our studies suggest in general that the function I'll do after that. In any case I am going to proceed alternative for themselves. 14 of emotions is reinforcement or change of cognitive as a scientist for I cannot see any other interesting hypotheses put forward by our brain in trying to options for myself." In 2013 SPbU was the first in Russia to reintroduce PhD SPbU, Candidate Doctor PhD understand the surrounding reality. Thanks to its own doctoral degree. of Sciences of Sciences that, emotions support the creation of a realistic

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ANNA VASHURKINA, TARAS PRIBYSHIN, SPbU master student SPbU master student (Department (Department of Vertebrate Zoology) of Regional Policy and Political Geography)

"I Want to Continue My Studies and Closing the Gap Perhaps to Teach Students"

probably helps stallions to gain social experience n my thesis, I tried to develop and keep themselves in good physical shape. The recommendations that will help the city obtained results support the hypothesis that for authorities to understand how to plan stallions play-wrestling is a kind of training. innovative development. The global While playing, stallions run around biting each experience"I shows that the creation of a regional other's tail and mane, zooming up. innovation system requires well-functioning and All of these as well as some other elements coordination of forecasting and strategic planning of playing can also be found in fights, and, when procedures at all levels. observed from afar, it is not immediately clear if As a result of my research, I came to the the stallions are playing or fighting. The frequency conclusion that the St Petersburg system of strategic and intensity of playing depend on the animals' planning of innovations should be formed around temperament: there are more easy-going stallions a strategy of innovative development of the region, and there are those who have to be persuaded taking into account the medium- and long-term PHOTO: MIKHAIL VOLKOV MIKHAIL PHOTO:

into playing. The duration of such games may be forecasting of science, engineering and technology, VOLKOV MIKHAIL PHOTO: from a few seconds up to 15–20 minutes. Stallions strategic planning of socio-economic development as lay behaviour of animals is quite an well as spatial planning . an article for the collection of selected papers understudied issue. It may perform My master's thesis was prepared as part of "Application of the Results of St Petersburg Students' different functions for different types the project of St Petersburg Committee for Science Theses to the Socio-economic Development of the of species. My work is focused on the Subject of master's thesis: "Play-wrestling and Higher Education, which annually announces City". "Pstudy of stallions' play behaviour and it contributes Participation in such a competition has its of stallions in the Equus ferus caballus to closing this gap. The research was conducted in population of feral horses" bonuses. For example, my work will be presented at the "Rostovsky" biosphere reserve. the graduation projects exhibition called "Student- Horses are social animals belonging to either Subject of master's thesis: "Development City Cooperation", which will be held in July. a family group, which includes a harem stallion, of a regional strategic planning system in I plan to build my career in St Petersburg. That several mares and foals, or a bachelor group do not only play with their favourite mates but the sphere of innovations" is why I am already working within my specialty, consisting of single stallions ranging from 2–3 generally spend a lot of time with them. It is worth as a junior researcher at the International Centre years of age. Stallions spend approximately 10% of mentioning that after stallions start a family, they for Social and Economic Research "Leontief Centre". their time on playing activity, which peaks in the go on paying visits to their childhood playmates. It was there that I applied the skills and knowledge morning and in the evening. I am going to proceed with studying horses a theses competition by the order of the city's acquired during my studies at St Petersburg Interesting enough that not only young after I graduate." executive authorities. I chose a topic corresponding University. I am engaged into real projects related to stallions like to play but also quite grown-up ones, to my interests and submitted an application, regional development." who have already tasted family life and have which was accepted. Therefore the process of my become single again. As a rule, paired and young thesis writing consisted of several stages. At first, stallions play with each other more often than I completed an internship at the Committee for with their older companions. Industrial Policy and Innovation where I obtained According to my observations, such play some recommendations for the thesis. I also wrote

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DMITRY BOLOTIN, IRINA ANTOSHCHUK, SPbU doctoral student SPbU master student (Department (Department of Comparative of Physical Organic Chemistry) Sociology)

"My Interest Is Determined Searching by Personal for an Effective Circumstances" Camel

a platinum metal centre. Its mechanism turned out y master's thesis is devoted to be a unique one since similar reactions occurring to serious leisure activities of without metal usually lead to different products. young people in St Petersburg I currently think it is the most striking of my and Berlin as a biographical achievement. project."M Our programme "Studies in European My dissertation (most of which I have done Societies" pays great attention to research as well while still an undergraduate student) is devoted to as to development of students' scientific interests, the study of the platinum subgroup reactions on and from the very beginning I grew interested the metals. These are excellent reagents but they in how young people spend their free time. Many are expensive and their chemistry is sufficiently of them are engaged into singing, music and predictable. Now I am gathering material for another dancing activities, and I wanted to understand this doctoral thesis on a related topic, but this time I phenomenon from a sociological point of view. In use much cheaper metals. It is much more difficult the beginning I gave an overview of the free time PHOTO: MIKHAIL VOLKOV MIKHAIL PHOTO:

to work with them, yet it is much more interesting. in general, and particularly linked it to the value VOLKOV MIKHAIL PHOTO: Potentially simple reactions involving such metals orientations of young people. Yet, delving into the study organic reactions that occur only often lead to unexpected results. subject, I found that the thing that makes me really serious leisure myself for many years (the singing in the presence of metal salts and without To my mind, the reactions of nitriles (the interested is only part of the leisure, a special of traditional Russian songs), so my study has also them they either do not take place at all or reagents our research group is studying) in the way of spending it, and I came across the concept made it possible to understand many things about are very slow. The core of our work is well presence of expensive metals have lost their of "serious leisure" introduced by the Canadian my hobby and my own life. After I graduate I am described"I by a parable. An old sheikh had three sociologist Robert A. Stebbins which describes this sons and 17 camels. Before his death, the sheikh phenomenon. Dissertation subject: "Nucleophilic told his children that he bequeathed to his eldest I set a goal to determine how serious leisure Subject of master's thesis: "The serious son half of the camels, to the middle son — the third addition of amidoximes to nitriles is involved into a biographical project, how it leisure of young people in big European part, and to the youngest son — the ninth. The sons activated by platinum" influences its formation and why it becomes scratched their heads for a long time but could not an important part of the lives of young people. cities (St Petersburg, Berlin) as a decide how to divide the camels. When you are excited by your research, it is quite biographical project" Then they called a sage. He put his own camel importance or are at least close to losing it. A breathtaking to conduct it. Each stage opens up new with the others and then gave the eldest son half of qualitative leap is near and I think the future facets of the studied phenomenon, enriches your the camels (9), to the middle son — the third part (6), belongs to cheaper metals that would help us understanding of it and makes you revise your own and to the youngest son — the ninth (2), just as it was generate new substances and carry out the said vision by finding unexpected interconnections. I going to continue as a doctoral student and go on specified in the will. After he had distributed the 17 reactions in industrial processes, not only in the managed to gather empirical material in Germany, with my research work. I hope I will succeed at camels to the sons, he mounted his camel and left. laboratory. And I am glad I can be part of such a and it was particularly interesting to compare how the examinations. I would also like to apply my In terms of the parable, we are those wise men leap." serious leisure is conceptualised and implemented analytical and language skills to an interesting job." trying to find the "optimal and effective camel". by young people in St Petersburg and Berlin. For example, one of my published works is Perhaps my interest is largely determined by devoted to a previously unknown rearrangement in personal circumstances: I have been engaged into

12 1313 MADE IN SPbU MADE IN SPbU Minor planets

of the big university Jupiter Mars Earth Venus Mercury Sun

Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, in the asteroid belt, Asteroid there is a great number of celestial objects called minor planets. Belt Many of them are called after scholars who were graduates The list goes on. A consolidated and workers of St Petersburg University. effort of SPbU students and graduates could result in its expansion to make the University "constellation" in the asteroid belt as bright as possible. For information you may use the catalogue of minor planets of the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is kept up-to-date 2809 VERNADSKIJ and you may search the catalogue Vladimir Vernadsky 2142 LANDAU in alphabetical or numerical order. 6164 GERHARDMULLER (1863–1945), SPbU graduate, Lev Landau (1908–1968), Gerhard Friedrich Müller natural scientist, founding SPbU graduate, theoretical We are waiting for your additions at (1705–1783), first rector father of the noosphere physicist, [email protected] of SPbU, historiographer, theory Nobel Prize winner full-fledged member in Physics For more details on the tradition of the Academy 2877 LIKHACHEV to call celestial objects after of Sciences Dmitry Likhachov renowned people please read the and Arts (1906–1999), SPbU professor, SPbU Magazine No 12 as philologist, literary of August 2009. 10022 ZUBOV scholar 857 GLAZENAP Vladimir Zubov (1930–2000), Sergey Glazenap mathematician, (1848–1937), astronomer, SPbU professor, founder founder of the University's of the Faculty of Applied astronomical Mathematics and observatory Control Processes 2836 SOBOLEV 2010 CHEBYSHEV Victor Sobolev (1915–1999), Pafnuty Chebyshev (1821–1894), SPbU professor, professor, mathematician astrophysicist and mechanician, founder of the Russian mathematical 2536 KOZYREV school of thought 5324 LYAPUNOV Nikolai Kozyrev Aleksandr Lyapunov (1908–1983), SPbU graduate, (1857–1918), SPbU graduate, astrophysicist mathematician, mechanician, founder of stability theory

5234 SECHENOV Ivan Sechenov (1829–1905), SPbU professor, physiologist, 1905 AMBARTSUMIAN founder of the Russian Victor Ambartsumian 3196 MAKLAJ psychology (1908–1986), founder of the Nicholas Miklouho-Maclay 10728 VLADIMIRFOCK Department of Astrophysics, (1846–1888), SPbU graduate, Vladimir Fock (1898–1974), director of the University 8816 GAMOW ethnographer, 2341 AOLUTA SPbU professor, observatory George Gamow (1904-1968), anthropologist, This minor planet is called so SPbU graduate, theoretical theoretical physicist explorer in 1981 to commemorate the physicist, 100th anniversary of the astrophysicist University's astronomical observatory

INFOGRAPHIC: OLGA PRIVALOVA 14 15 RESEARCH PARK RESEARCH PARK

By Tatyana SEMME

Nowadays, the role of electronic geographers, economists, and data processing in science even philologists. ‘A relevant and research can hardly be and quite promising direction is underestimated. A typical the cooperation of the Computer example is a project carried Centre with the Department of out by one of the university Information Systems in Arts VOLKOV MIKHAIL PHOTO: physicists within several and Humanities’, says Valeriy months in the SPbU Computer Zolotarev, Director of the RC. This seemingly unattractive other computer software systems high-performance computing Centre. Calculating the same ‘These interesting projects of equipment, however, conceals huge for scientists. clusters named after their tasks with a personal quad-core virtual reconstruction of ancient computing power of SPbU Besides, in the SPbU Computer producers: T-Platforms, Hewlett- processor computer would take ruined temples, mansions, and Computational Centre Centre the user can create his/her Packard and ALICE-CERN. more than 16 years. palaces are performed with our account and work with virtual computing power’. personal computers with the CLUSTER HOUSE n St Petersburg State The Resource Centre offers familiar operating system like The equipment of the RC ‘SPbU University, science requires more than 25 ready software Windows or Linux. The effective Computer Centre’ is located more powerful and effective systems. In particular, among functioning of the Resource in a special room, a kind of

computing resources. The MORE POWERFUL, them there is ANSYS, a popular months in the SPbU Computing Centre is due to the powerful ‘a house inside a house’, with computingI complex dates back general software system in Centre. Interestingly, calculating fire alarm systems, a control to 1967, and it is still the most demand by experts of computer the same number of tasks with system and a diesel generator for important and needed help to engineering for solving linear a personal quad-core processor IN BRIEF uninterruptible power supply. physicists, mathematicians, and nonlinear, stationary and computer would take more than The racks with the elements of chemists, and geologists. As a non-stationary spatial tasks of 16 years. computing clusters are kept in resource centre since 2010, the solid mechanics and structural The software systems of the the cabinets with latticed doors. computing complex has got totally mechanics, tasks of gas and fluid SPbU Computing Centre include They work continuously providing The SPbU Computer Centre offers new opportunities. mechanics, heat transfer and Maple, a system for symbolic round-the-clock calculation 365 heat exchange, electrodynamics, computation; Mathematica, a comprehensive services in computing: days a year. Most of the equipment FROM MATHEMATICIANS TO acoustics, and related fields in system of computer algebra; SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), is from Hewlett-Packard computer RESTORERS mechanics. According to Valeriy Crystal, a research software application software running in the system acquired in 2011. Today, the RC ‘SPbU Computer Zolotarev, calculations performed package for calculation in cloud infrastructure and accessible The integrated computing Centre’ primarily aims to provide with ANSYS software system take solid state quantum chemistry from various client devices; PaaS complex based on the hardware equal access to the modern about 40% of all working time that specifically designed to simulate (Platform-as-a-Service), an integrated and software solutions provided research equipment and software the users spend in the Resource 3- and 2-periodic crystal lattices platform for software development, by HP includes two subclusters: for the widest range of potential Centre. In some industries and 1-periodic polymers; Scilab, testing, and deployment as well as SMP and a hybrid cluster. users, including SPbU staff and modelling and analysis on this a package of applied mathematics These are servers, data storage U COMPUTER CENTRE: calculations; and IaaS (Infrastructure- students, as well as others. The program eliminate the need to software for engineering and systems, data storage and as-a-Service), cloud infrastructure Centre’s resources are widely have costly and time-consuming scientific calculations (solving transmission networks, and b for independent control of processing used in science and education and development cycles of design- linear algebra tasks, differential software contributing to research facilitate the commercialisation of manufacture-test. A construction equations, signal processing, operations with data storage, in physics, chemistry, biology research results. project of a gas injector in oil-field visualization); ArcGIS, software networks and other fundamental and other sciences that require The services are pretty by one of the university physicists for working with maps and computing resources. powerful computing resources.

popular among geologists, SP MORE RAPID, MORE EFFECTIVE was implemented within several geographic information, and In the HP computing complex

16 17 RESEARCH PARK RESEARCH PARK a cloud computing cluster is deployed including virtual hosts, STRUCTURE OF THE COMPUTATIONAL CENTRE data storage and transmission HEWLETT-PACKARD networks, and software, providing the temporary use of virtual machines with the user- Data Storage Communication set characteristics for educational, System Equipment research and administration departments of SPSU. HEWLETT- The HP computing complex includes a backup system and a PACKARD data system. The latter is used to store user data, virtual machine Cloud Computing images, and other information. Cluster High-Performance It is a collection of disk arrays, Computing Cluster virtual libraries, and gateways.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND SMP-Cluster Hybrid Cluster HELPING OTHERS An important advantage of the hybrid cluster of the HP computing complex is its Science and NVIDIATesla graphics processing units, including 112 advanced a venue for the conference in be solved with a less powerful graphics cards of NVIDIA that St Petersburg (it is also held in cluster. So for many our projects can significantly increase the Novosibirsk and Moscow) as the we already need more powerful speed of calculation. Since 2010, University is a recognised leader resources’, says Valeriy Zolotarev. Technology Park ‘Technology is enhancing, becoming more interesting, Today, the advanced facilities and services of the Resource and involving more and more By Sergey MIKUSHEV, Director of the SPbU Science Park Centre ‘SPbU Computer Centre’ fulfill the needs for researchers; new programs are electronic data processing of more than well underway. Theoretically, The SPbU Science Park, by its equipment and the Centre can represent technologies, is a unique location on a national researches of SPbU, other the whole University’, says and, by some standards, global scale. the director of the RC ‘SPbU universities and scientific Computer Centre’. t comprises 21 resource centres, operating in centres of St Petersburg. It is a catch-22 situation: a variety of research areas which correspond 400 easy operation in the Centre, to the top priority fields of the University, thus efficient management and setting the pace in research and science. annual conferences and schools in this field which strives both thoroughly prepared training IUnder the Agreement on strategic partnership have been organised in SPbU to develop itself and to raise its attract more and more users, with the National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov together with the company’s colleagues’ awareness. but one day the Centre may fail Institute’, the University is planning to open three representatives to help users This year's ‘Days of NVIDIA’ to accept them all. At the same resource centres as early as this year: Neutron properly apply the processing conference took place in SPbU in time, ill-conceived amount Physics — Neutron Research; Radiology Physics — power of the complex and master April. The main topic to discuss of hardware purchased may Synchrotron Research; Aerodynamics Research. the programs that use NVIDIA and study was modern GPUs, stand idle waiting for its task. Besides, this year SPbU is to start to work on opening graphics cards. including those used for video The solution can be hardware another two resource centres: Russian Language and ‘Every year the conference cards which are far superior to upgrading with the simultaneous Mechanics of Materials. attracts specialists from lots classical CPUs. They are the basis mastering of new technologies. The Science Park offers comprehensive facilities of companies using these of hybrid computing systems Right now the Resource Centre is that can be used in a variety of research areas to technologies. They present with unique performance going to have a new cluster 100 support both the University staff and others. So their achievements and useful characteristics like the one that times more powerful than the far, there have been made 8,347 measurements, Director of the SPbU Science Park developments’, says Valeriy is part of the HP complex in the available ones. The cluster house including 7,255 completed projects and 1,092 projects Sergey MIKUSHEV, Zolotarev. ‘The participants of the SPbU Computer Centre. has specially left empty racks for in operation. In July 2014, the total number of the first conferences equaled 30-40 it. ‘New equipment will appear, projects carried out in the Science Park equaled 1,137, people, but now they are about 70, AHEAD OF SCIENCE and so will new interesting including 267 completed projects and 870 projects among them are the students and ADVANCEMENT projects. We still have a long with measurements interpretation phase. cycles and reporting dates, ¾ of the manuscripts are academic staff of the University, The rapid science advancement way to go. Certainly, the Centre In July 15, 2014 Web of Science and Scopus published in autumn. as well as the representatives of and ever-growing demand does need continuous inflow, but indicated 176 publications prepared by the To know what are the most popular facilities St Petersburg Electrotechnical for calculations condition the everything is for our users and researchers at the SPbU Science Park who carried out and analysis methods intended for or suited to the University ‘LETI’, Polytechnic Resource Centre to develop for the University. These are the their research using the facilities and technologies research aims, we asked the Directors of the Resource University and other universities correspondingly much faster. investments that always pay off’, offered by the SPbU Science Park. This index is, Centres who have been carrying out the greatest of the city’. SPbU was chosen as ‘There are new tasks that cannot concluded Valeriy Zolotarev. however, underestimated, since, due to financial number of research projects. 18 19 RESEARCH PARK RESEARCH PARK

ordered materials. Today, the RC living organisms and eventually MR is concurrently conducting examine their behaviour on How to use SPbU Research Park 90 projects, including those with quite simple smear layers. Even foreign or Russian universities now the demand for our facilities and under project agreements, surpasses our time resources. The which implies a wide range of situation is going to worsen as the USERS RESEARCH PARK applications of MR techniques for demand will dramatically in- research’. crease after new facilities for the HOW TO APPLY investigation of cells of the warm Online blooded vertebrates is put into Application Service operation in September. APPLICATION FORM and Supervision of In metabolomics, as a scien- Work tific study of chemical processes involving metabolites, metabolite PETR MIKHAYLOVICH TOLSTOY, analysis holds promise as a mo- DIRECTOR OF THE RESOURCE lecular method within a systems CENTRE FOR MAGNETIC biology context. As an alternative researchers, RESONANCE: approach in biology, metabolite teachers, ‘In the Recourse Centre for profiles provide a biochemical post-graduate Magnetic Resonance (RC MR), the explanation in systems. Metabo- students, most popular research technique lomics determines resistance and students is high resolution nuclear mag- dynamics of the processes and from other universities ACCEPTED netic resonance (NMR) spectra, can be used in practically any or research which allow to conduct standard experiments in biology, which can centres, measurements that do not have to PAVEL ALEKSANDROVICH ZYKIN, significantly elucidate the process- including be adjusted to conduct a research DIRECTOR OF THE RESOURCE es at the molecular level or even those abroad on specific samples and are CENTRE FOR MOLECULAR AND become the key in molecular con- extremely popular in chemistry. CELL TECHNOLOGIES: trol. There is a steady growth in Research Park The RC staff primarily focuses on ‘Today, researchers have adopt- demand for the research in these Personnel more sophisticated techniques, ed a holistic and integrated areas, in particular, several joint SIMPLE TASK and Equipment such as thermal methods and approach in biology. Some meas- projects with Moscow Institute of other techniques developed to urements, although essential for Physics and Technology and Insti- TRANSFER OF OBJECTS a higher degree of complexity, the research to be completed and tute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the which are time-consuming and published, are nevertheless only Russian Academy of Sciences, are require a series of experiments, possible to take once or twice per well underway. developing a particular theoreti- month. For proteome research, we cal framework and big databases. The most popular research offer services in mass spectrosco- Still, we don’t receive a large areas are electron microscopy py, chromatography, and analysis number of requests to use these for the most part, confocal laser of biomolecular interactions. With COMPLEX TASK techniques compared to the NMR scanning microscopy, metabolo- the advent of the laboratory for bi- Expert method. In enormous demand is mics and proteomic methods and ology of amyloids headed by Yuriy Community DISCUSSION high-resolution NMR spectros- techniques in genomics. Olegovich Chernov, the proteomic copy in solids. Although pretty Among current research approaches began to play essen- TRANSFER OF OBJECTS rare in the world, in RC MR this methods and techniques, electron tial role in research carried out RESEARCH AND tool is in operation for 16 hours a microscopy best enables high-res- in SPbU. Another contribution to MEASUREMENTS day. Another popular technique olution microscopy of biological proteome research has been made in the RC is bimolecular NMR specimen, e.g. cells, bioplasts, by the Resource Centre: on the spectroscopy in liquids (proteins, bacteria, viruses, bio-genous recent symposium in the Universi- oligapeptides, oligonucleotides, macromolecules. Although the ty of Hong Kong, Arseniy Lobanov, and others). Quite a new research classical methods prevail among SPbU student, was honoured for area in SPbU, it appeared only af- others, the Centre nevertheless is his proteome research conducted RESULTS ter the Recourse Centre acquired planning to increase number of its in the RC. advanced spectrometers. The employees and expand its facilities Genomics is a discipline in RESULTS RC MR offers a unique environ- to offer more comprehensive ser- biology that analyses the function SUPERVISION ment for electron paramagnetic vices. Besides, plans to employ new and structure of genomes in the resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, methods, such as cryoelectron mi- living organisms. Today in the RC, OF WORK which is becoming increasingly croscopy and electron microscope more than 80 projects on sequenc- popular with the researchers (it tomography, which hold promise ing are well underway, which are is the only one in North-West re- in biology, are well underway. critical for the research results to Online Application Service gion in Russia). In physics, there Confocal laser scanning mi- be contributed to international and Supervision of Work is a great demand for nuclear croscopy remains at the forefront and Russian journals. quadrupolar resonance (NQR) of scientific research into biologi- All these research areas hold spectrometer in magnetically cal specimen, as it allows to study promise for the next 10 years at ИНФОГРАФИКА: МАША ВАСИЛЬЕВА

20 21 RESEARCH PARK RESEARCH PARK least and the Centre has still a their relative concentrations in methods and analysis proce- long way to go. Besides, we can mixtures based on the diffraction dures, as well as research carried now tentatively outline research pattern analysis recorded from out on the sample provided by areas which are likely to rapid- the powder samples, X-ray dif- SPbU or ordered by other organi- ly develop as well: cryelectron fraction provides phase analysis sations. Unlike classical research microscopy, ultrahigh-resolution of the metals, alloys, chemicals, laboratories, the RC makes its optical microscopy, and next-gen- minerals, and ores. Using X-ray analytical services available eration DNA sequencing’. diffraction analysis it is possible for all departments. All compo- to determine the composition nents necessary for research are of non-metallic inclusions in made in close cooperation with metals (oxides, sulfides, nitrides, the leading RC’s specialists, thus carbides), the distribution of enabling a detailed and in-depth Nanofilm sample alloying elements in multiphase discussion at any stage of the alloys. research. X-ray diffraction at various The most popular research temperatures (thermal X-ray areas are liquid-and gas-phase analysis) allows to determine chromatography, chromatog- the phase transition: solid-solid raphy-mass spectrometry and phase transformations (poly- MALDI mass spectroscopy of morphism, decomposition, new organic compounds synthesised phase formation, amorphisation in laboratories and biological etc.), solid-liquid phase trans- samples. Another popular area is formations (congruent, eutectic, ultimate analysis of synthesised OLEG SERGEEVICH GRUNSKIY, peritectic, solid solution, crystal- samples and non-organic inclu- DIRECTOR OF THE RESOURCE lisation), solid-gas phase trans- sions in water, geological and CENTRE FOR XRD STUDIES: formations (hydration, dehydra- biological samples, investigations ‘Our centre, unlike any other tion, devolatilisation) in the air, of transmittance and reflectance centre in Russia, offers compre- vacuum, nitrogen, or chemically spectra of new materials with hensive services for investigation inactive gases’. tailor-made optical properties, in materials science, physics and microinclusions in building ma- chemistry of solids, developing terials, measurement of particle new materials, nanosystems size distributions, and complex and nanomaterials, synthesis of analysis of biologically active biologically active substances samples recovered from nature’. and modern drugs. The most In October 20-22, 2014 the popular research area is X-ray SPbU Science Park will hold the structural analysis, e.g. a diffrac- first inter-disciplinary confer- tion method that provides most ence, a landmark in scientific definitive structural information community, on modern solutions on symmetry, unit-cell parame- for investigations of natural, THE SIZE ters, atomic coordinates, thermal synthesised and biological mate- parameter, lengths and angles rials. The Conference primarily of atoms, and structural motifs aims to bring together academic (topological structures). The and established researchers from research is primarily concerned ALEKSEY LEONIDOVICH the leading scientific centres in with mono-and polycrystalline MOSKOVIN, DIRECTOR Russia and abroad to investigate

samples recovered from nature OF THE RESOURCE CENTRE FOR new natural, synthesised and KOVALEVA EKATERINA PHOTO: and synthesised in the laborato- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS biological materials, which hold MAT TERS ry, both with actinide complexes. AND MATERIALS RESEARCH: promise in science, and to discuss A comparative crystallochemical ‘The Resource Centre for Chemical how innovative approaches can analysis of these samples elu- Analysis and Materials Research benefit up-to-date issues by mod- cidates how various structural offers standard methods and ern techniques and procedures at By Ekaterina KOVALEVA complexes are formed and trans- analysis tools for investigations in the forefront of science. formed, which eventually ex- natural sciences for the University The Conference will include The SPbU Centre for Innovative part from that, far as 1960s, when it was not plains and enables us to control staff and others. It primarily aims master-classes to provide a very Technologies of Composite ultra-thin films are held by the majority of scientific chemical reactions in uranium to support research and develop- special opportunity to investigate Nanomaterials fabricates used as dielectric, community, at least in Russia deposits or geological repositories ment with cutting-edge analytical the the participants’ own samples ultra-thin films which can be semiconductor ultra- and later, however, was further for irradiated nuclear fuel. control and diagnostic methods by using the facilities offered by applied in micro-and optical thinA films and ultracapacitors. advanced abroad and referred High-resolution X-ray diffrac- both for SPbU and other organisa- the SPbU Science Park and learn electronics, in improving the This is accomplished through to as Atomic Layer Deposition tion and microstructure analyses tions. about cutting-edge technologies efficacy of solar panel and applying of molecular layer (ALD). Today at the University, are another priority in our re- The RC’s staff ensures that the provided by the world’s leading memory components, and deposition technique, introduced the two atomic layer deposition search. By detecting the crys- equipment is properly operated, developers. Read more at: http:// improving biocompatible by the Russian scientists S.I. systems, Nanosurf and Solar- talline phases and determining supports development of new researchpark.spbu.ru/ms2014 coatings in biomedicine. Koltsov and V.B. Aleskovsky as MN, with reaction chambers of 22 23 RESEARCH PARK RESEARCH PARK various sizes and advanced key The key features and benefits features and benefits, are the FACT of the systems are, essentially, FACT most popular in the recourse the size of the reactor chamber centre among their users in (flat and three-dimensional SPbU and other organisations. A surfaces) and number of very wide variety of materials lines to deliver precursors, In nanotechnologies, of great interest Today, materials science is primarily is possible with Nanosurf and is Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), a with the film growth rate of Solar-MN, such as Al2O3,TiO2, up to 100 nm per hour. The concerned with how to grow thin thin film deposition technique that is ZnO, HfO2, VO2, SnO2 and others, patent for the inventions is films. To this end, in the SPbU Centre based on the sequential use of a gas with a control over film growth owned by a SPbU researcher for Innovative Technologies of in the nanometer/sub-nanometer phase chemical process. ALD uses in physics and chemistry of Composite Nanomaterials there are a thickness regime and sequence sequential, self-limiting and surface thin-film nanotechnologies number of processes and techniques: of layers on the surface of flat, 3D controlled gas phase chemical Viktor Evgenyevich Drozd, cathode sputtering in vacuum, spin and disperse materials. reactions based on the binary while a Russian company coating (usually a small amount reaction sequences. Self-limiting ‘Nanoengineering’ produced of coating material is applied on them. These systems, compact THE PRINCIPLE OF THIN FILM surface chemistry is a key feature of the center of the substrate, which FORMATION in size and cost-effective, come atomic layer deposition technique: is either spinning at low speed or ‘The method uses sequential the gases won’t react until in touch in on a par with their foreign ´ not spinning at all), dip-coating chemical reactions between small with the surface, which means the counterparts. The resource precursor molecules and the centre is under continuous (i.e. immersing of a substrate into film growth proceeds by consecutive surface, — said Denis Nazarov, an development to expand the range a tank containing coating material, atomic layers ‘up’ from the surface. engineer of the resource centre. — of capabilities to synthesise removing the piece from the tank, A typical example is synthesis of This is accomplished through materials and to adjust the and allowing it to drain), and Atomic Al2O3 thin films. The principle of sequential pulsing of gas precursors, systems to new environments. Layer Deposition (ALD). thin film formations is as follows: each of which forms one atomic layer In particular, the centre has Trimethyl Aluminum (TMA) is during each pulse (reaction cycle). developed and produced a pulsed into the reaction chamber. The film thickness is determined as number of cells for thin film Denis Nazarov, engineer, TMA reacts with the adsorbed a function of number of cycles, that deposition on the disperse SPbU Resource Centre ‘Innovative Tech- hydroxyl groups, until the surface is the film thickness can be precisely substances, thus opening nologies of Composite Nanomaterials’, is passivated. After the TMA controlled on an angstrom scale, horizons for new research both in shows how to operate ‘Solar-MN’ and methane reaction product while its structural and chemical SPbU and other organisations. is pumped away, water vapor characteristics — by chemistry of (H2O) is pulsed into the reaction OPERATION MANUAL precursors. Due to the film formation chamber. H2O reacts with ‘When we created the resource the methyl groups on the new mechanism, the ALD film is dense, centre, we aimed to encompass surface, forming hydroxyl surface crack-, defect- and pinhole-free. the whole range of works we are surface, thus producing layered groups. The reaction product and concerned with in research and structures with a precise excess TMA and H2O vapor are synthesis of materials. Our centre control of thickness, including pumped away. One TMA and one precise control of depositing is equipped to enable us to study superlattices, which do not H2O vapor pulse form one cycle coatings that are perfectly uniform original substances and surfaces, occur in nature and, due to their and completes one monolayer, in thickness on the porous and their chemical composition, properties, are much-promising thus allowing atomic layer-by- disperse surfaces. chemical and physical properties, in science and industry. layer growth to deposit pinhole The systems comprise several specific surface, porosity, size Besides, the ALD holds free coatings that are perfectly parts. The metallic reactor of the particles, in particular, tremendous promise in uniform in thickness’. chamber can be operated with in powders, — said the head biomedicine, which is in focus of low-pressure inert gas of high of the recourse centre Andrey research of Ruslan Zufarovich VAPORS INTO PORES frequency, which may require Ivanovich Romanychev. — After Valiev, SPbU Professor, head In the resource centre, in Nanosurf from a couple of hours to several technological processes, we of the laboratory ‘Mechanics and Solar-MN the ALD can deposit days. Precursors are pulsed obtain samples to further study of non-conventional massive not only on the flat surface, into the reactor chamber from a electrophysical, dielectric, nanomaterials for innovative

but also in disperse materials, number of cylinders containing thermal, and mechanical KOVALEVA EKATERINA PHOTO: engineering applications’. containing irregular particles. Due metal-organic compounds and properties. The recourse centre, Under his scientific guidance, to the deposition being a sequence water. Semi-volatile precursor therefore, offers opportunities for insulating layers for various optoelectronics, namely they the researchers carried out of chemical reactions, vapor can be pulsed in to the reactor both new material synthesis and semiconductors to stabilise their absorb light on the surface and works in the mechanics of precursors penetrate into the pores chamber in solvents. The systems they property analysis’. electrophysical parameters. RC serve as non-reflecting coating on nanomaterials, materials and successfully integrate even are equipped with electronic Atomic Layer Deposition is currently developing methods the solar panels. Of great interest science in nanostructures and with those areas of the surface control module to programme provides a wide range of and techniques to produce are multilayer coatings: the nanoengineering. Today, the which are difficult to reach, thus and automatically control thin flexibilities and capabilities in new catalysts on the surface of ALD, within a single synthesis resource centre is producing allowing defect-and pinhole free film deposition via a laptop, microelectronics. For example, disperse substances and to deposit process, produces films of various nanofilms for prosthesis and layer growth of uniform thickness while low-temperature traps ALD can be applied to deposit oxide and sulphide films which chemical properties. To this end, implants to make them more as in case of flat surfaces. Other prevent excess gas precursors layers to accelerate the speed of can serve as catalysts in chemical the method involves sequential biocompatible with the human methods for depositing thin films and reaction products from semiconductors or dielectrics. processes. use of chemical agents containing body. do not allow us to achieve such escaping into the atmosphere. This method deposited Nanofilms are also used in different oxides on the substrate

24 25 OUR GUEST OUR GUEST

By Vera SVIRIDOVA

Eduard Gurinovich, SPbU — Have the facts, information, you are more likely to support alumni and CEO of CarPrice, and skills acquired through the second view. shares his experience on how education influenced how you — As I took the field at my second to build a meaningful career make business? If so, how? If year at the University, I am more before you gain an academic not, why not? likely to support practice-oriented degree. Just a couple of months — I got excellent education people. Our education, evidently, before he completed a degree, in economics, though when it needs reinventing. It should be he had launched an online comes to practice, it is definitely more practice-oriented with a auction for used cars, with its not enough. Apart from the specific focus on current state of ‘Post-graduate studies turnover of 125 mln roubles in University, I gained some practical affairs in economy. However, such half a year. experience from all successful hectic lifestyle is only for active people around: my parents, people who are business-minded o time to rest on his our family’s friends, teachers, and have reasonably active social laurels. Constantly colleagues… I was extremely eager life. at SPbU is a personal plugged in his work to get something new every day. and giving it 100%, he For some reason, I had friends — Well, you started to put your isN pursuing his post-graduate who were older than me rather ideas into practice long before studies at SPbU, trying to learn than someone of my age and was you entered the University… something new every day and keen to share my experience. I — In a way. It all started as a challenge’ provides career counselling for started work early in life, when hobby. When I was 16, I started new entrepreneurs. I was a second-year student, and a micro-business, though it was tried my luck in various spheres: neither registered nor constituted — Eduard, you established your banking, chamber of commerce as a legal entity. The idea was business at age 16, without and industry, insurance. simple: I got orders on products of having completing a degree, Apparently, I acquired some of the FC ‘Zenit’ and delivered them to became CEO and, evidently, ‘mechanical skills' much faster the regions across Russia. It was have built a successful career than any of my peers: practical a kind of online shopping. It cost so far. Yet, you are pursuing experience — from our family’s me nothing, I cranked it out and your post-graduate studies at friends and parents, while theory in 2007, when ‘Zenit’ was on a roll SPbU. Why? — from the University. These after the 2007 Russian Premier — Indeed, I became CEO when are the three critical factors that League, I effortlessly earned I was a final-year student at the made CarPrice a success. from 5,000 to 10,000 roubles a University, just a couple of months month. All in all, due to strong before getting a degree. Why — At University, some people competition from the official am I pursuing my post-graduate may think, you should be fully e-shop, I was forced to close it up. studies? I am doing what I love. engaged in study, while others It was at the University when That’s the key. It is an incentive to prefer to put it in practice and I officially gained some practical find new literature recourses on take the field, even at the first experience at the second year. I risk management and research. year at university. Apparently, passed my practice module in With a specific focus on used the department of management cars for sale, my current online accounting at the head-quarter project CarPrice is in no way IN BRIEF of ‘VTB-North-West’, just when it concerned with my principal was merged into JSC ‘Bank VTB’. subjects and courses at the I worked three days a week, University, where I got a degree from 10 am till 11 pm, engaged in insurance. I am always trying in the process of merging and to move outside my comfort zone. EDUARD VLADIMIROVICH contrasting two banks which In doing so, post-graduate studies GURINOVICH were completely different as at SPbU is a personal challenge studies at SPbU; now pursues post- chalk from cheese in terms of and a chance to develop those graduate studies at SPbU. management accounting and competences which I would Won several student Olympiads motivation systems. After a definitely fail to acquire by in risk management and insurance. year and a half, I learned how practice only, and vice versa. Since June 2014 – co-founder to manage huge databases and That’s the very reason why I am and CEO of CarPrice. For the first perform routine tasks in due planning to study management 6 months, his company went from course, pay close attention and complete MBA abroad. A to details as well as spot and strength to strength with a turnover whole year abroad, where they eliminate mistakes. It was a great of about $2 mln per month. have a different vision of how experience. I am exceptionally to make business and how the Nominated for the World’s Youngest lucky to have Dmitry Baldin world is organised, is just another Billionaires by Forbes. as my supervisor during the PHOTO: FROM E.V. GURINOVICH’S ARCHIVE personal challenge. practice module! Eventually,

26 27 OUR GUEST OUR GUEST

I decided that I am not for a CarPrice aims high by setting career in finance. I am open to an ambitious goal to make a used car something more dynamic and market civilised. From left to right: practice-oriented. Sergey TISSEN, Financial Director; Another step I take up my Oleg ZANKOV, Director of Engineer- career ladder was the department ing; Eduard GURINOVICH, Director of evaluation and expertise in General; Artem BOLSHAKOV, Director the chamber of commerce and of Sales; Aleksandr DANILOV, Director industry of Leningrad region. It of Marketing gave me a chance to face a real situation: I gained more insight into a number of industries and could understand how they made business while we were identifying and assessing their assets. — So I have been doing for a The last, but not the least, while. Several times, I was offered step in my career as an employed to write a book, but I mostly keep worker was in insurance. I to mentoring programmes at started to find a placement for the ‘Fund of Russian economy’. internship beforehand and was I am a mentor for the beginners employed as an apprentice in the in business: I shared my ‘School RЕSО’, provided within experience and my views on how a course by Rosgosstrakh, in the to make business. I do not give department of comprehensive straightforward advice, rather ask insurance in JSEC ‘Energogarant’. questions to encourage search for During one year, I was in charge answers. of several projects. As a result, I As for teaching, it is inevitable gained a better understanding for any post-graduate student. of how to manage teams at Someday, some students at the work. Besides, I was a successful Faculty of Economics will come university student! For the under my business-oriented

most part, I simply studied at ГУРИНОВИЧА В. Э. АРХИВА ЛИЧНОГО ИЗ ФОТО: influence, like it or not, and know home reading up for exams, how CarPrice started from the but occasionally attended horse's mouth. some important classes at the empire is possible without a their accustomed way of life to give everything 100%, you are motivation, client service and University, that I asked some time university degree and practical risk and win. People are not that trying to achieve a work-study marketing. — What would you advise to a off from my work. I could juggle experience in big corporations? adventurous. balance. If you consider all the first-year student and a final- my study with career and even Starting your own business is things that competed for your — What else would you like to year student? personal life! not an easy task. — What are you supposed to time, what did you discard? study? — I have one advice: successful Just a couple of months before — Possible, but not very probable know, be able to do and strive — I don’t have a diploma with — I am extremely eager to learn people look for opportunities – completing a degree, I set my in some cases. Experience to get, if you set your heart on honour. Feel like being stuck? something new. Always! I am ordinary people find excuses. heart on switching career paths might be a problem as it creates building your business at age Definitely not! Rather quite the planning to study speed reading Your priority should be self- and start my own business. That stereotypes and prejudice. If 16? opposite. I think that I could have technique, psychoanalysis, and, growth: in education, career, was how my career as a full-right you are able to persist through — For a start, you should be been able to acquire more skills presumably, hunting. sport or hobby. It is very entrepreneur took off. I launched failure, willing to take bold risks willing to become better and while studying at the University. important to be able to set right an e-shop to sell souvenirs and and take a fresh view, you are striving towards achieving — Today, there are lots of aims, to be fully aware of what gifts and at the same time started more likely to succeed! No matter personal growth. — What are you studying right books on ‘How to Become a you are doing and what you are several projects in e-advertising what experience you have in now? What are your research Businessman in 10 Steps’. Are doing for. with big companies, in particular, corporate sphere. To be successful — It is never too late to study. interests? they useful? At the first year at university, Yandex and Ulmart. in business, you need to become Similarly, it is never too early to — I am not a person of astonishing — No idea, I haven’t read any. you’d better adopt a wait-and- In the end of 2013, we business-minded, be able to build your own business, isn’t erudition. Still I am trying I am reading on marketing, see attitude to your study and be discussed a project on CarPrice, weigh risks, take responsibilities, it? different spheres: from financial management, time-management. I active in looking for your place and in June 15, 2014 we launched work hard and build a strong — Absolutely! There are some market insurance and legislation can recommend to entrepreneurs in the world rather than to wait the service in Moscow, where I team. All these factors need to mistakes that every person in to the string theory (before the who are 1 or 2 years in business to to discover what will happen. So had moved in April 2014. meet at one point. To build a business makes. I am more than University, I studied at school read No B.S. Ruthless Management you’d better control a situation business is all about undergoing sure the earlier you make them, with a specific focus on physics of People & Profits by Dan rather than just respond to it after — Today, in society there is a pain, distress, and hardship. It the faster you will gain confidence and mathematics, which instilled Kennedy. it has happened and search for young ambitious generation is both rises and falls. This is in business and the less you will a passion into hard and natural new ways how to express yourself. and they start, as competent the fact! We don’t have a lot of pay for them. sciences into me) and history of — Are you planning to share Not less proactive should you be Internet users, their own entrepreneurs, because there Europe. The lion’s share in my your experience and to write at the final year at university. In business as early as at school. is much at stake: there are few — Apparently, you are and self-education is psychology, your book or start a career as a this respect, both the first and the Do you think that building an people who are willing to give up have always been striving to business management, employee lecturer at university? final years were alike for me. 28 29 EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT

Each student should know where to attend find everything here! Or nearly everything! best talks and lectures, to have a snack, find The University is changing faster than ever — books and, finally, find rooms for students this year a new hall of residence has Learn, Live, Read to live in at the University? St. Petersburg appeared on the map. It can accommodate up University is more than 300 buildings — to 458 students and is located at 27/1 so a good map is just what you need. You can Prospekt Solidarnisty.

Malaya Neva River

11 17 Uralskaya str.

Neva River 9 per. KAKHOVSKOGO 14 20 1 B SMOLNOGO STR. Academic Political Studies, Gymnasium 63 CHAYKOVSKOGO STR. International 6 MAKAROVA EMB. Economics Relations, Sociology 5/9 MENDELEEVSKAYA 77 А, 3 PER. VOLKHOVSKIY Psychology L LINE 8 Line V.O. Management Shpalernaya Str. 5 28 Chaykovskogo Str. Smolnaya Str

16 per. Dekabristov History, TavricheskayaStr.

3 Kapitanskaya Str. 3 Kapitanskaya Philosophy, М Medicine 66, 5 Line 12 33, 2 LINE Neva River E Earth Sciences, Dvortsovaya Emb. Metro Station Geo-chemistry Chaykovskogo Str. 39 Radishcheva Str. E Primorskaya Departments of SPbU 31-33, 10 Line Smolnaya Emb. 5 Kamskaya Str. Cadet line MendeleevskayaMakarova line Emb. Gorkiy Research Library Vasileostrovskaya Tavricheskaya Str. М 21-23-25

16 PER. DEKABRISTOV М 1 Biology 12 Management CHERNYSHEVSKAYA Prosp. Solidarnosti Management, 15, 6 Line Kollontay Str. Geology Applied Ph 2 Chemistry 13 Mathematics and 6 Birzhevaya line Prosp. Bolshevikov Maliy Prospekt 8 A Control Processes 3 per. Philologicheskiy Prosp. 3 Geology 14 Psychology 26 A, 1 LINE V.O. 15, 6 Line Suvorovsky Str. 27-1 Solidarnosti.

Journalism, Vosstaniya Str. Nalichnaya Str. Dybenko Str. Mass 4 Philology 15 Russian Language Communication and Culture М

20/1, 2, 3 Sredniy Pr. V.О. Zhukovskogo Str. History and Liberal Arts 71 Bolshoy Pr. 5 16 Dybenko Str. 2, 9 Line Philosophy and Sciences

Korablestroiteley Str. Korablestroiteley L Shevchenko Str. 11 UNIVERSITY 6 Oriental Studies 17 Sociology 26, 23 Line Bolshoy Prospekt 6 Philology, Biology, Stary Petergof Earth Sciences 7 Geography and 18 Physics 4 Geo-ecology 3 7/9 UNIVERSITY Oriental Studies, 7, 22 Line V.O. 8 Journalism 19 Chemistry Philology, Lieutenant Schmidt emb. 2 12-2, 15-1, 2, Biology, Khalturina str. 1 Earth Sciences Bolshaya Morskaya Str. 9 Mathematics 20 Economics and Mechanics 35 UNIVERSITY PR. 1 May Str. 10 Medicine 21 Law Applied 7, 22 INE V.O. 49, 10 LINE V.O. Mathematics Law Arts International and Control Processes 21 Glinki Str 11 Relations and Political Studies Kozhevennaya Line 13 9 28 UNIVERSITY PR. 7 Mathematics 16 58-60 GALERNAYA STR. 3, 1, 9, Ulyanovskaya Str. 41 SREDNIY PR. V.O. Liberal Arts University pr. Military and Education Sciences

18 Philology students Ph Izmaylovskiy prospekt 3 ULYANOVSKAYA Bolshaya Neva River STR. 8-А, 21LINE V.O., Physics, Café 71 BOLSHOY PR. 10 Law students 27 IZMAYLOVSKIY PR. Military L 109 SANKT-PETERBURGSKOE SHOSSE Medicine Sankt-Peterburgskoe Shosse College of Physical Education Mikhaylovskaya Dacha Culture and Sports, Library 19 26 UNIVERSITY E Economics students Campus Economics and Technologies PR. Chemistry, 30 Hall of Residence Campus PUNK Military Education31 A Art students Botanicheskaya Str. 66/2, 66/3, 66/4, 64/2, 64/3, 64/4, 70/1, 70/2, 70/3, 70/4 Obvodny channel emb. EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT

Mikhail Valentinovich KOVALCHUK Graduated LSU. Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Professor, Corresponding Member of the RAS. In scientific research, he has worked out a breakthrough method in structural determination of substances by combining diffraction with a multitude of spectroscopic techniques — the X-ray standing wave (XSW) technique, which is extremely powerful for obtaining information about nanosystems. Leading scientist in X-ray physics, crystallography, and nanodiagnostics; worked out the ideology of nanotechnologies and supported a nanotechnology initiative in Russia. From 1998 to 2013 — Director of A.V. Mikhail V. Kovalchuk, Dean Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography. of the Faculty of Physics, SPbU, Director of ‘Kurchatov Institute’, is obviously 1999 — appointed as Director of ‘Kurchatov a charismatic and eloquent public centre of synchrotron research’. Under speaker with great appeal to the public. his supervision, the Kurchatov source He can talk about science in a vivid, of synchrotron radiation was put in engaging way to make even ordinary operation, which so far remains the first people get involved. and the only specialised facility of its kind in Russia, and a new-generation high- precision X-ray equipment was created at the global scale. Since 2005 — Director of the National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’. Started in the Institute of Crystallography in the RAS and further worked in the Kurchatov Institute, he has achieved his major breakthrough by combining nano-, bio-, info-, cognitive, social sciences and humanities, thus pushing the science to the next level. Worked out a strategy to TOWARDS develop this inter-disciplinary research and in 2009 created the Kurchatov NBICS-Center, the only one of its kind in the world. He is a scientific supervisor in convergence of modern technologies with NATURE the ‘structures’ of the nature. Scientific supervisor at the Department of By Vera SVIRIDOVA Nano-, Bio-, Informational and Cognitive Technologies at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Since 2012 — Dean of the Faculty of Physics at SPbU.Creator and presenter of a science popular TV programme ‘History from the Future with Mikhail Kovalchuk’. PHOTO: ANNA GRUZDEVA

32 33 EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT

To study at the University is not loop circulation of resources. with bio-technologies, we can all about scheduled lessons. For billiards of years, all living grow a hybrid, for example, Throughout the academic organisms exist in this cycle. a semiconductor detector year, SPbU holds open lectures We were exceptionally lucky to made of photorhodopsin-like by the leading researchers have been able to advance our photoresponsive material. who shed light on up-to-date civilization thanks to science and Moreover, informational scientific issues. In September, systematic study of the laws and technologies make it a man-made Mikhail Valentinovich Kovalchuk regularities of the physical and object of intellect, namely it is not was the first to continue the natural world which we have been just a detector to measure, say, tradition. transforming with increasingly acceleration in a car or a plane, complicated and advanced rather it transforms it in digital he famous Russian technologies. Throughout its signals. At last, but not at least, physicist, Dean of the history, the mankind has been research in cognitive science with Faculty of Physics at persistent in improving workforce a focus on mind and cognition in SPbU, Corresponding productivity and increasing the humans develops algorithms of MemberT of the RAS, Director volume of goods and services how we can animate robots. To of the Kurchatov Institute and with little care for the cost we this end, several years ago we (the popular science communicator is are going to pay. It’s an audacious Kurchatov Institute. — editor's always at its best. Small wonder! attempt to put a value on nature. note.) created a unique Kurchatov He can talk about science in a Eventually, we have created NBICS-Centre with a specific vivid, engaging way to make recourse-consuming techno- focus on a wide range of research even ordinary people get sphere, making irreparable harm areas: from molecular biology, involved. Today, he talked about to nature and creating a wide protein crystallography, physical new priorities in science and ever nature-industry divide. and chemical technologies to technologies and explained how Essentially, we have been creating robotic and micro(nano)electro- current global problems can be a parallel home or environment. mechanical systems’. solved by creating nature-like It is a techno-sphere, which is technologies. safer, more comfortable, more RISKS IMPOSED BY NATURE-LIKE

easily controlled and exists in TECHNOLOGIES PHOTO: ANNA GRUZDEVA STRUGGLE FOR RESOURCES biosphere, uses its resources ‘Although nature-like technologies ‘For the first time in the recorded and imitates how it operates and evidently fight off global produced not on industrial scale technologies. The core of scientific The audience asking questions after history, the mankind globally has works. It enables the humankind challenges: from new medicine, and without comprehensive endeavours is in physics and you the talk faced an enormous challenge, to transform naturally occurring power industry, new materials and costly delivery vehicles. set your hearts on advancing and an armed stand-off is not processes, thus intruding into to transport, communication and The third risk is that we cannot physics. Still, you (students of the reason. It is universally the nature. Today’s technologies accommodation, they nevertheless foresee all consequences followed the Faculty of Physics — editor’s acknowledged, we need energy, are nothing more than ‘bad’ impose some risks which we from integration of nature-like note) must constantly broaden as this is the driving force for any copies of some elements of the cannot ignore. The first risk is technologies into nature’. your horizons in other spheres: development, which makes the natural processes. Thus, the about a dual nature of nature- Expert in a particular subject in biology, chemistry, and even civilization become more mature, overarching strategy in science is like technologies, which blurs vs a wide range of experience humanities. Eventually, we will advanced, and elaborate. Global to incorporate technologies into the boundaries between civil ‘Today, the world entered a set up the process of converging technological advancements the nature and to face towards and military applications, thus new stage. It is rather complicated, the sciences, slowly but surely. science, started to give way to boost energy consumption and the nature, its elements and destroying the effective control, but still holds promise. It is a The University is well underway. synthesis, when scientists all over eventually destruct natural experience. A new approach is say, over the nuclear materials. new challenge of XXI century The key issue in education is to the world started to synthesise resources. Today, the mankind is convergence: we should make Let us examine a case with a (nature-like technologies. — preserve a holistic view of the artificial materials, including about to reach its tipping point, nature and technologies come nuclear reactor. Today, we can editor’s note.), a critical issue at world and nature typical to a those which do not occur in a point of no return, when both together from different directions say for sure in what cases it is a the crossroad of sciences. For child throughout his schooling nature and have properties energy and biological resources so as eventually meet’. source of energy or weapon-grade the last 50 years, fundamental years to the university. It should unlike those typical to naturally are likely to be depleted and plutonium. Power measurement science penetrated deep into the naturally come along with gaining occurring materials. There was drained. Drinking water, forests, CONVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES through neutrino flux detection at nature and explains how it is specific knowledge in a particular a paradigm shift in science agricultural lands, and especially ‘Here I mean NBIC, that is the distance helps determine the organised on atomic level. Today, subject with an understanding from detailed examination and supply of consumer goods and nano-, bio-, informational fuel properties and its purposes: however, we are still underway to that the sciences are intimately separating things into their food are at their worst. The and convergent sciences and civil or military. Nature-like meet new unique opportunities interconnected and explicable constituent elements towards world’s natural resources are technologies. Nanotechnology technologies are another story. in combining technological only by reference to the whole’. the combination of components obviously finite. For how long can is manipulation of matter on Imagine we construct an artificial opportunities of microelectronics or elements to efficiently form we realistically expect to have an atomic, molecular, and cage seemingly for new medical and our understanding of nature. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SCIENCE a connected whole. The second them? Redistribution of resources supramolecular scale. We are diagnostics. Interestingly, We are at the dawn of a new era AND RESEARCH trend is gradual convergence of is well underway at global scale. all living organisms, consisting biogenetic weapon can also in human development, when ‘Today, science and research organic and non-organic worlds. Is there any way out?’ of proteins and DNA. In other be used for that purpose. The mechanical modelling of how a can be summed up as a nano- Finally, the modern science words, we are biological second risk relates to whether human is ‘arranged’ by means transition and manipulation of and technologies are inter- TO OVERCOME ANTAGONISM elements on nanoscale. It enables these technologies are publically of relatively simple non-organic matter on an atomic, molecular, disciplinary in nature. We are WITH NATURE expanding of the non-living, available and how much they materials gives way to a method and supramolecular scale. In returning to the holistic approach ‘Nature is a holistic and solid nano-world into nature. cost. I mean, whether weapon of how we can reproduce nature the middle of the last century, to the world, but from a new synergetic system with a closed By combining nanotechnologies of mass destruction can be by means of convergent NBICS- analysis, as a key process in perspective’.

34 35 EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT

Today’s SPbU students and staff enjoy access to a range of inter- Friendship national experiences, including study opportunities and research collaborations. Our between universities NORWAY extensive global links with more than 300 leading universities in Belgium Ghent University 70 countries worldwide have China Capital Normal University been developed to serve these China Tsinghua University IRELAND POLAND principles. Here you can find China Fudan University SPbU our 44 key international China Peking University partners. Czech Republic Charles University Finland Åbo Akademi University Finland Lappeenranta University of Technology FRANCE Finland Aalto University SWITZERLAND Finland University of Turku France University of Bordeaux France Paris Sorbonne University (Paris IV) Germany Universität Hamburg CHINA Germany Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Germany Free University of Berlin SPAIN Germany Technical University of Dresden ITALY Germany Technical University of Munich Germany University of Hanover GERMANY Germany German Academic Exchange Service Great Britain University of Warwick Great Britain University of Edinburgh Ireland Trinity College, Dublin Japan Municipal University of Osaka Japan University of Tokyo Japan Kyoto University Japan Japan Tobacco Inc. Japan Mitsui & Co. Ltd. Netherlands University of Amsterdam SWTZERLAND Netherlands University of Groningen Norway University of Oslo Norway University of Tromsø Poland University of Warsaw Republic of Korea Korea University Spain University of Barcelona Spain Banco Santander S.A. Spain University of Bologna Switzerland University of Geneva Switzerland University of Zurich Students and researchers, Switzerland European Organisa“ion for Nuclear Research through commitment to inter- (CERN) national engagement, share their Taiwan Na“ional Taiwan University experience that enable them USA Bard College to be the cutting-edge of the USA Yale University USA New York University США science innovations. Global Vietnam Vietnam Na“ional University, Hanoi USA academic community is one of the strong communities at a global scale, and SPbU is a member of this community.

BY OLGA PRIVALOVA

36 37 GRANTS GRANTS

Tennikova is responsible for medication, including clinical Raul Gainetdinov and Tatiana bringing the therapeutic agent to trials, may be up to a billion Tennikova. We have already had the target inside the human body. dollars). There is no financing some mutual projects’. The task is quite complicated. ‘We scheme to pass all the stages at know the body at the level of its once. The main task in creating SCHOOL OF THERAPEUTIC organs and pathologies seen with the Institute of Translational SUPERAGENTS an aided eye, but the molecular Biomedicine is to have an Chemical pharmacology is a mechanisms cannot be seen; we integrated system to launch the body of knowledge as well as can draw the conclusions only projects from different phases of calculation methods used to on implicit evidence’, explains the cycle, and eventually acquire predict the type of biological Mikhail Krasavin. ‘We need the a portfolio of projects with various activity of certain organic substance of the pill, for example, stages of implementation. ‘We are compounds. ‘It is extremely Small Molecules to reach certain place in the body. now developing our research area engrossing experience’, says This is a serious problem. There in SPbU and searching for common Mikhail Yuryevich. ‘As a keen are many biological membranes to ground for the Institute to work synthetic chemist, I am immensely go through. A traditional example as a single body’, says Mikhail interested in how best to perform against is the delivery of preparations to Krasavin. ‘My research area is synthetic transformation, to the central nervous system. It is the easiest to establish interaction bridge a particular molecular one thing to infuse the preparation with other groups headed by structure. There are lots of in blood, but it is another to make synthetic ideas; we try not to limit Dangerous Diseases it pass through the blood-brain ourselves. However, we tackle barrier (BBB) and reach the the task on one condition: if we required point’. know where this development in By Elizaveta BLAGODATOVA All five research areas the field of synthetic chemistry developed at the Institute of can find its application in terms of St Petersburg State University mechanism can be adjusted. Still, by Professor Raul Radikovich Translational Biomedicine, from biology’. is going to start developing the hypothesis has to be checked Gainetdinov by applying idea to a clinical candidate, But how is a new therapeutic small molecules as therapeutic and confirmed. In broad terms, transgenic animal models of can take quite a lot of time and agent created after all? First of all, agents that can become a basis translation is transforming this diseases. New organisms are require additional financing. (For each target requires a bioassay, for new medications, thus knowledge into a particular created with the inactive or reference: by some estimates, an experiment to determine opening another research area therapeutic approach, from idea active function of the ‘suspected’ the total cost of developing a new whether the compound can have of the Institute of Translational to medication’. protein. The target is validated if Biomedicine in SPbU. the protein is confirmed to cause STAGES OF LONG WAY the disease. At further stages, Mikhail Yuryevich he establishment of the The whole way ‘from idea to the same transgenic animals KRASAVIN, Institute of Translational implementation’ can be presented may be essential for studying the Doctor of Chemistry, Biomedicine has been as follows. A biobank is created effectiveness of the developed Professor, funded with a significant under the supervision of Professor therapeutic agent. Department of Organic grantT of 750 million rubles Yury Olegovich Chernov (see The biological target, not Chemistry from the Russian Science ‘SPbU To Have Its Own Biobank’, all types of them by any means, Foundation. The financing has ‘SPbU’ Issue 1, 2015). In fact, it is can be influenced by either been calculated up to the end a properly assembled collection large molecules like therapeutic of 2018. The project aims to of biological samples associated proteins, peptides, or small provide SPbU with a full cycle with various pathologies. These molecules. In pharmaceutics complex, from preparing and biological samples can be small molecules are preferred storing biomaterials to producing genotyped by means of extracting because they facilitate producing new medications. ‘Earlier information about genetic medication in a pill form. Protein- medications were produced material and working with it based preparations are injection, more or less incidentally, as a mathematical object. This which makes them harder to sometimes quite successfully work is done by the algorithmic be used for treatment and less like in case of aspirin. Today, a bioinformatics research area easily taken by patients. SPbU has much more thoughtful approach headed by Professor Pavel chosen the way of small molecules is applied. Before treating Arkadyevich Pevzner. By studying which is impossible without the disease, its mechanism is the differences between pathology chemists. And this is where thoroughly studied’, explains and normal state, bioinformatics chemical pharmacology, the fourth Professor Mikhail Krasavin, helps to identify biological targets, research area guided by Mikhail Doctor of Chemistry. ‘We search for example, an aberrant protein. Yuryevich Krasavin, comes into for a potential target, either The potential target has to be play. Synthetic chemists develop proteins or even cell systems. isolated, which will show whether small molecules that are tested By influencing this target with this is the abnormal function of as a therapeutic agent capable a therapeutic agent like protein, the protein that leads to a disease. of influencing the found target. peptide, or small molecule the This connection is studied within Finally, the fifth research areas led

proper functioning of our inner the third research area headed by Professor Tatyana Borisovna VOLKOV MIKHAIL PHOTO:

38 39 GRANTS GRANTS the desired effect. ‘The bioassay the preparations produced by Mikhail Yuryevich Chemical pharmacology forecasts small generally includes the biological Mersk and Pfizer's companies molecule target identification and its target itself and the biochemical whose highest annual sales have KRASAVINН therapeutic effect system that measures the degree reached 3 billion dollars. The Doctor of Chemistry, Professor, of the target response to the effect year 2004 saw a sad story, when Department of Organic of medication’, says Mikhail Vioxx produced by Mersk was Chemistry, SPbU is the head of Yuryevich. ‘When working with discontinued because of its side the scientific team in the Institute a particular biological target, we effects leading to heart diseases. of Chemistry and research area tend to have a certain hypothesis There was talk that the problem and test a reasonable number of might be in the target. Experts of chemical pharmacology in two or three dozen of molecules. even said they didn’t like our the Institute of Translational Yet, in case the target is absolutely choice of cyclooxygenase-2 for Biomedicine of SPbU. Graduated new, high-throughput screening academic grants. At the same from the Academic Gymnasium may be of use’. time no one thought about lots of SPbU where, influenced by HTS requires special of other possible applications of collections of compounds that cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors except Anna Alexeevna Kartsova, SPbU does not have now. But the treating rheumatoid arthritis. Why Professor and Doctor of team of Mikhail Krasavin is in does a reviewer of academic grants Chemistry Sciences, he got partnership with the industrial think like an industrialist rather engrossed in organic chemistry. organisations that can provide than asking these questions? Studied at SPbU and in 1999 these collections if need be. His After all, we are talking about took his master’s degree in work experience in the industry fundamental research. It is not comes in handy. ‘The transition to supposed to be like this, because Johns Hopkins University in academic research allowed me to university research has absolutely the USA. Then worked in the keep my contacts in the industry. different objectives from those of large industrial pharmaceutical Moreover, we can choose which the industry …’" companies of Millenium competing companies to work It is little wonder that Pharmaceuticals, Abbott head with’, explains the scientist. cyclooxygenase-2 appears a target What happens if the in various diseases. ‘In the body of Laboratories, and ChemDiv. therapeutic agent ends up failing everything is interconnected’, From 2004 to 2011 was the and does not pass further tests says Michael Krasavin. ‘When head of research areas of like clinical trials? Normally, we a new target appears, we try to tailored synthesis and medical complicated: this substance should fundamental importance. SEED MONEY should come back to the target determine which tissues of the chemistry in the Chemical be not just inside the body, but ‘While working at a potentially As Mikhail Krasavin thinks, and select new candidate agents. body have this protein. Today, the inside the bacteria inside the body. interesting substance, we working in a wide range of Diversity Research Institute in But in practice these failures role of cyclooxygenase-2 in the There are lots of substances that should already understand research areas does not mean that happen to compromise the target. joints is more or less clear, but Khimki. From 2011to 2013 was are effective against important how promising it is in terms of scientists spread themselves too ‘The problem is that the choice of what does it do in the brain? For the head of the research team bacterial biomolecules. But new biology’, emphasizes Mikhail thin. ‘If you work with chemical developments to invest in is often some reason it is needed there! developing medication in Iskaitis classes of antibiotics on the market Krasavin. ‘At that, finding a pharmacology it will be difficult based only on beliefs; there are no This was the issue of a number Institute in Brisbane, Australia. have not appeared on the market biologically active substance to raise fundamental questions strict criteria, why this research of fundamental researches. It Mikhail Krasavin has published for a long time. Why? Mainly is not enough. It must have a without variety of chemical area is better and that one is was found, for example, that in a because the potential antibacterial number of properties to become compounds or biological systems. worse’, says Mikhail Krasavin. number of psychiatric disorders more than 80 scientific articles preparations fail to be effective. a medication. It must show its We search for interconnections, ‘Financial considerations do play cyclooxygenase-2 level is different in peer-reviewed journals, Targeted delivery through the stability in the manufacture and their understanding helps a role: there are risky targets with from that in the normal condition; 9 patents and patent claims. bacterial cell walls is a complex process, survive on its way to create selective compounds a huge percentage of failure. And in certain types of cancer its level H-index 14. scientific task that we are going the target, and overcome all without toxic effect. We need if the target has failed with one, increases. There have already to work at’. Joint work with ‘the the possible obstacles in the to have access to a various two, three candidates, the industry been some studies providing the institute neighbors’ is by no body. That is why we need the infrastructure by means of tends to shun it. Therefore, active use of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors number of innovative biological means all. The team of Mikhail partners who would consider partnership’, explains the academic and university research to prevent these diseases’. targets in the central nervous Krasavin has started cooperation the applicability of organic scientist. makes a positive contribution system, and we will work together with the University of Florence compounds as medicine. Being Michael Krasavin calls the into this field. Let’s have an PROJECTS AND PARTNERS to find new modulators, small in the field of ophthalmology, or the leader I can see my task as grant of the Russian Science example: one of the targets we are By the way, the laboratory of molecules that can influence rather treating glaucoma. ‘We are creating an effective partnership Foundation ‘a great success’ and working with is cyclooxygenase-2. Mikhail Krasavin is working with them’, says Mikhail Krasavin. working with carbonic anhydrase network, especially with ‘seed money’. ‘Creating a real Non-selective cyclooxygenase cyclooxygenase-2. ‘The leading ‘With Tatiana Tennikova we inhibitors. It is a whole family biologists and pharmacologists. research area at the university inhibitors comprising three molecule’ for future antiphlogistic are discussing the methods of of enzymes, and one of them is a Due to our current contacts from scratch is not a matter of different enzymes rather than medicine has already been delivery of antibiotics through validated target for the glaucoma we can work effectively in the one year’, he says. ‘I am glad that just one are a well-known class found, and we’ve got the study the bacterial cell walls. After preparations. Apparently, we did field of inflammation, oncology, lots of talented people from the of preparations including aspirin of its effectiveness ahead. First all, the target approach can be find some unique in terms of their infectious diseases, metabolic Institute of Chemistry take interest and ibuprofen. But the compounds projects have already started in used not only to treat people, but activity substances. Now they are disorders, including diabetes. The in cooperating with us. Biomedical that inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 cooperation with the associated also to kill bacteria. If to find the to be tested in animal models in research niche that we occupy issues that are relatively new for are relatively new and have been research area of the Institute of substance blocking vital targets Florence’, says Professor. and the partnership network we the University capture the many. on the market for more than Translational Biomedicine. and processes in bacteria, bacteria The cooperation with have let us work practically with With their help our research area 15 years. This class includes ‘Raul Gainutdinov has a will die. But the task is more the allied disciplines is of any chemical idea’. is gaining its functionality state’.

40 41 SCIENCE-LUNCH SCIENCE-LUNCH

The first guest of SCIENCE-lunch was The second SCIENCE-lunch tells about Professor Raul Gaynetdinov, who is a unique bosonic cascade laser, which to be a head of the laboratory to open is currently developed at the University shortly in SPbU, which is among the first under the scientific guidance of Profes- to research and develop a new area of a sor Aleksey KAVOKIN, head of the SPbU use of transgenic technologies in phar- Spin Optics Laboratory. macology in Russia.

genes. The studies have so far BOSONIC LASER revealed how approximately The second SCIENCE-lunch tells only 6,000 genes function in the about a unique bosonic cascade organism and all known drug laser, which is currently developed substances interact with as at the University under the SCIENCE few as 34 proteins. If we make scientific guidance of Professor a more comprehensive list of Aleksey Kavokin, head of the SPbU proteins, we will herald a major Spin Optics Laboratory. In bosonic breakthrough in pharmacology. lasers, coherent light is emitted AND On the models of rats and mice spontaneously, as in a candle, (humans, mice and rats share at bulb, or Sun. The device produces least 90% of their gene), scientists coherent, monochromatic and can study processes resulting in unidirectional light, that is to say diseases. it has all the properties of laser JOURNALISM The main concern of Raul light. Unlike similar devises, A. Gaynetdinov’s research is Kavokin’s laser is cost-effective, neuropharmacology. Universally small and can operate at as questions to the leading SPbU acknowledged, chemicals affect high as room temperature. The researchers to get an insight our brain. Some naturally occur bosonic laser, subsequently, into the most complicated things in our brain, others enter the has a wider area of application. AT THE SAME TABLE and, subsequently, make general brain by different routes. In This is the only electromagnetic public benefit from a better particular, dopamine, acting spectrum from microwaves to By Yulia SMIRNOVA understanding of how science as a neurotransmitter and ultraviolet light with no reliable can work. hormone, may lead to psychotic sources of coherent light. With How to popularise science? n science, there is always is killing the curiosity. With disorders. Today, there are plenty the focal length of about 1 To this end, SPbU has started something rather than the aim to support regular NEUROPHARMACOLOGY of drugs which block or activate mm, the technology provides a new tradition to bring the nothing. And what we can meetings between scientists Our first guest is Professor Raul dopamine receptors. In the new unprecedented opportunities in journalists and scientists see in non-specialised and journalists, SPbU has Gaynetdinov, who is to be a head laboratory, the scientists will skin cancer treatment, Aleksey together to discuss how media literatureI is only the tip of an launched a project ‘SCIENCE- of the laboratory to open shortly stand a chance to research how to Kavokin said. SPbU medical can do a better job of reporting iceberg. The rest of it remains lunch’. It primarily focuses on in SPbU, which is among the regulate dopamine and develop community proposes to use the science. hidden in the thick journals communicating results of the first to research and develop a new approaches to attention laser in cosmetology. and scientific discussions. But research and reporting studies new area of a use of transgenic deficit hyperactivity disorder The third meeting will how can science be understood carried out at the University technologies in pharmacology in children, schizophrenia, focuses on a new Master well by the general public? Not to the science journalists. The in Russia. There are estimated Parkinson's disease, and programme ‘Popular Science infrequently, science journalism science journalists can ask any 20,000 human protein-coding depression. Journalism’.

42 43 HOMO EDUCANDOS HOMO EDUCANDOS

he electronic collection of a thousand crafts’. The second of the Gorky Research IN BRIEF edition of ‘Writings’ by K.N. Library of SPbU Batyushkov (1834) was engraved comprises three sections: by S.V. Galaktionov, a famous ‘RussianT Poetry of the 18th - the illustrator of many Pushkin’s From Letters first third of the 19th centuries’ editions. An engraved front page (574 volumes), ‘Periodicals of the Scientists at the Tokyo University shows a portrait of Batyushkov on 18th century’ (249 volumes) and have designed the BFS-Auto robot a frontispiece from the drawing ‘The Bestuzhev Courses Library’ (Book Flipping Scanning). It can by O.A. Kiprensky and a vignette (298 volumes). scan texts at a rate of 250 pages per of a romantic landscape from a In 2005, specially for early drawing by A.P. Bryullov. A.P. minute. At that rate, it could make a to Digits printed books, the Library Bryullov, the elder brother of dent in a good sized library in one acquired Minolta PS 7000, a the famous artist, was more By Tatyama SEMME, Vera SVIRIDOVA monochrome planetary scanner. day. known as a portraitist (the author For all these years, it has been the SOURCE: GIZMAG of a famous portrait of N.N. key tool for making e-copies. Goncharova) and an architect The electronic library (he designed the buildings of the collection essentially comprises beginning of the 19th centuries: Guards Corps Staff on the Palace the materials from the historical from its origin (A. D. Kantemir, Square and the Mikhaylovsky collection that has been in the V. K. Trediakovsky and M.V. Theatre, though, it was K.I. Rossi University Library for more Lomonosov) to its Golden Age (G. who designed its facades). than two hundred years. A R. Derzhavin, N. M. Karamzin, number of books arrived in the and I. I. Dmitriev). The readers ACCESS FOR EVERYONE 19th - the beginning of the 20th and researchers can now enjoy The project on digitisation of centuries as part of the libraries access to both rare lifetime rare, unique and fragile heritage of K. N. Bestuzhev- Ryumin, N. editions of some famous writers editions pursues several goals at N. Strakhov, and A. A. Polovtsov. and books by lesser-known once. Scientific community may Some editions in ‘Russian Poetry poets with, presumably, no increasingly benefit from easier of the 18th century’ are absolute later editions (S.S. Bobrov, I.M. access to the books, most of which rarities that exclusively exist Dolgorukov, and V.P. Petrov). are the only one of its kind and in a single copy in the Gorky Today, by keeping moving preserved in a single copy in the Research Library of SPbU. They in the chosen direction, the libraries of St Petersburg and were all, in fact, composed by librarians of ‘The Rare Books Moscow. Today, we can view a the long forgotten poets of the and Manuscripts’ department rare book without having to travel end of the 18th century. These continue to create an electronic to another city or even at home. are I.I. Zavalishin (‘The Didactic library of the Russian poetry of The Internet provides round- Song about the Noble Alumni the Age of Pushkin (1800–1830). the-clock access to the electronic of the Emperor Szlachta Cadet The library has already digitised collections of libraries. The paper Corps Moving from the Forth about 150 editions (mainly, the books remaining on the library to the Fifth and the Last Age authors from A to K). The gems shelves, the digital books can of their Education’. SPb, 1791), of this electronic collection are serve both science and culture. P. P. Lobysevich (‘The Song to the lifetime poetry collections by This is how it extends the life of Catherine The Great Composed A.A. Delvig, E.A. Baratynsky, N.I. the paper editions. Therefore, in Kherson In 1794’. SPb., 1794), Gnedich, K.N. Batyushkov, V.A. digitisation of books substantially Started as far back as 2006, A. A. Maykov (‘On Making Zhukovsky, and other famous contributes to preserving cultural the electronic library of SPbU Peace between Russia and the poets of the Age of Pushkin. The heritage. has digitised more than 1,100 Porte’. SPb., 1791). Some other first third of the 19th century is volumes of pre-Revolutionary noteworthy rare censored titles the Golden Age of the Russian IMPORTANT DETAILS editions, making them univer- presented in the electronic library poetry and the amazing rise of Electronic version, apparently, sally available via Internet. are the poem editions by G. R. the book art. Many famous artists lacks some features of a tangible Derzhavin (‘Cloud, Thunder and and engravers were devotedly book like paper properties, the Rainbow’. SPb., 1806; two copies decorating and illustrating books type and characteristics of its are known to be kept in SPbU at this period. For example, I.V. cover, and so on. ‘Of course, if the and the Library of the Russian Chesky engraved the front pages researcher is primarily interested Academy of Sciences), and F. P. of the first edition of ‘Experience in the content of the book, the Lvov (‘To Gavrila Romanovich in Poetry and Prose’ (1817) in electronic variant is more than Derzhavin’. SPb., 1813; two copies two volumes by K.N. Batyushkov. enough. Though, someone else are known to be kept in SPbU and He used the drawings of A.N. may need the book itself, for the National Library of Russia). Olenin, the first head of the Public example, those studying the The ‘Russian Poetry of the Library, a historian, archeologist history of printing, typography, 18th Century’ mainly comprises, and artist. As he pursued many or the history of science. If that is in all its diversity, the Russian hobbies with keen enthusiasm, the case, we give the reader the poetry of the 18th and the Alexander I called him ‘a master original of the digitised edition’,

44 45 HOMO EDUCANDOS HOMO EDUCANDOS

IN BRIEF

THERE ARE TWO SCANNING MODES:  Compulsory: copying pages as graphics, typically, raster images, by means of scanning or photographing Digitised, followed by their processing and saving in one of the image file formats. This keeps the original book layout and eliminates errors. However, text fragment search and demesmerised: text fragment extraction for quoting, for example, become impossible.  Optional: Optical Character Book rarities becoming accessible Recognition (OCR) followed by saving the recognised text in one of said Alexey Alexandrovich DIGITISING By Svetlana Arkadyevna VORONKOVA, deputy manager of the ‘Library and Information’ department catering for Savelyev, the head of ‘The Creating digital copies of old the e-book formats, which enables ‘Medicine’, ‘Medical Technology’, and ‘Jurisprudence’ of SPbU Rare Books and Manuscripts’ editions is not only time- full text search (F) across the book Yekaterina Alexandrovna YATSUK, head of the department of the Gorky Research Library catering for ‘Jurisprudence’ department of the Gorky Research consuming, but also quite and massive e-book indexing. Yet, Library of SPbU. complicated. Indeed, it is reproducing the original layout, Bibliographic support, desirable to copy printed book images, diagrams, and formulas therefore, plays a key role in only once avoiding any undue becomes more difficult, and implementing the projects on mechanical and light exposure. recognition of errors is virtually digitising early printed books. Yet, occasional fragile stuck Digitising a rare book should be pages and ancient covers do not inevitable. preceded by its study that gives let open the book as scanning More recently, in particular with the a detailed scientific description requires. Likewise, rubbed font advent of PDF and DjVu, a combined of both the edition and its and partial or complete loss approach has become increasingly specific copy. ‘The process of of some pages make the task popular. The book text, in that case, creating an e-copy, at least of even more difficult. Despite all is automatically recognised and put an early printed book, must be the difficulties, however, the under the original raster images, like that of facsimile editions. librarians of ‘The Rare Books and which, therefore, makes it possible The publication of facsimile Manuscripts’ department of the to combine the advantages of both editions presupposes that all Gorky Research Library of SPbU modes. their available copies had been strongly believe that the early inspected, so did the bibliographic printed and pre-Revolutionary WWW.LITPEDIA.RU descriptions of the books in editions need to be digitised to authoritative central catalogues. the greatest possible extent. As Assumedly, it was quite a librarians hope, the enhanced explained Alexey Savelyev. research work. Essentially, it was technologies will make this Besides, at the same time, they required in case if the researcher process easier and faster in the check the state of editions. If needs to know whether this copy course of time. there appear to be ones that need is full, while another one lacks As Alexey Savelyev said, the ‘treatment’, this information a portrait or engraving, or this library, owing to the digitisation is recorded, and later they copy, unlike others, features a hardware, can digitise several are restored. Under the rules foreword or dedication. Some dozen editions per month to and regulation on coping with researches do require this meet all the needs of the Library rare books and manuscripts, feature. This bibliographic and its readers concerning if the state of a rare edition is component is essential even at electronic copying. The whole unsatisfactory or may worsen the top speed of digitising’, said processing chain of digitising after digitising, scanning is not Alexey Savelyev. The transition is equally time-consuming. allowed. from print to electronic format, ‘My personal task is to provide In SPbU, it preserves the consequently, takes a long time bibliographic support for this original layout, authentic ‘The Ostromir Gospel’. E-copy from the to perform, and the digital process, including compiling lists font style and drawings. This Presidential Library’s collections. Origi- libraries are rare occurrence in of digitisation, selecting copies eliminates text errors that may nal: Russian National Library Russia so far. SPbU boasts quite a in the library, bibliographic occur when using other methods comprehensive digital collection. description of titles, and so on’, of digitising books.

46 47 HOMO EDUCANDOS HOMO EDUCANDOS

In 2010, the electronic reading THE FIRST OF ITS KIND articles about his life and work. The E-Reading Room at SPbU provides room of the Boris Yeltsin The first remote reading room For the Year of Literature, access to the collections of the Boris Presidential Library opened opened only a year after the the Library prepared ‘Facts and Yeltsin Presidential Library. in SPbU as the first project of Presidential Library. At that images of the Russian history in its kind. Here, students can time, it was a unique project the works by Russian writers’. access the unique collections for university students, This digital collection has more of documents, periodicals, and postgraduates and teachers. The than 200 documents presenting books, including those kept in joint project of the University and the views of men of letters on the the Gorky Research Library. the Presidential Library aimed, Russian history of the 16th – the on the one hand, to provide the early 20th centuries. In the centre nformation technology students with convenient access of attention are the belles-lettres Library, including ‘Governmental has integrated with all to information resources, and, about the era of Ivan the Terrible Authority’ and ‘Legal System’. aspects of life in modern on the other hand, to enlarge the and the Time of Troubles, the These publications are mainly society, and libraries are stock of the Presidential Library Patriotic War of 1812, and the presented with Russian legal noI exception. Common practice taking into account students and sociopolitical situation in Russia periodicals and series of ‘Legal worldwide is to complement teachers’ research and study in the 19th century. Gazette’ (since 1860), ‘Journal traditional libraries with special needs. Special collections of the of the Ministry of Justice’ (since electronic collections, or even The electronic reading Presidential Library are dedicated 1859), ‘Journal of Criminal and comprehensive electronic room of SPbU with access to the to the reforms of Alexander II: Civil Law’, the Journal of the libraries comprising e-copies resources of the Presidential the Emancipation Reform of Law Society at Saint Petersburg of paper books. Such projects Library is located in Vasilyevsky 1861, and the judicial reform Imperial University, and selection exist at the governmental level Island, bld. 7, Line 22, where of 1864. Of particular interest of newspapers like ‘Saint too, including ‘The Digital law students study. However, is a separate block of digital Petersburg Senate Record’, ‘Law’, library of the RSL’, ‘Docusfera’ it welcomes all students who collections on the regions of ‘Judicial Newspaper’, ‘Legal of the Russian National Library, are interested in this electronic Russia. The users interested in the Newspaper’. The electronic copies ‘Gallica’ of the National Library collection. history of St Petersburg can read of the journals and newspapers of France, electronic collections the guides to memorable places the collection which includes of the Presidential Library with laid the foundations of the ‘Legal of the British Library, and so on. UNIQUE COLLECTION and attractions, informational testimonies of combatants, the Russian State Historical Periodicals’ section in the ‘Legal However, up until 2009, there Indeed, the collection is unique. and visual materials, historical archival documents, scientific Archive and the State Archive of system of Russia’ collection and had been no fully electronic Its sources are two other national overviews of the city from its publications, military operation the Russian Federation developed filled the collection of ‘National national library. The first libraries of Russia, university origin to the beginning of the maps, wartime newspapers, and into acquiring electronic copies Periodicals in the Presidential establishment like this appeared a large number of documentaries of many archival documents, Library’. in Russia, and it was the Boris The electronic library of SPbU and photos, including those including the personal archives Apart from the periodicals, Yeltsin Presidential Library. has digitised more than made right at the front by the of Mikhail Speransky, Sergei a number of books have been Despite its digital environment, correspondents of the Telegraph Witte, Pyotr Stolypin and other digitised, including those the Library has its quite Digitisation of library Agency of the Soviet Union. prominent state and public figures written by the professors of Saint tangible form, its ‘home’ in a collections started Among the publications of Russia. Petersburg Imperial University: historical building of Synod in St as far back as 2006. accessed only from the computers The modern editions are Adolf Khristantovich Holmsten, Petersburg. There is an electronic in the electronic reading room primarily presented with rector of the University; Mikhail reading room equipped with 1,volumes 100 of pre-Revolutionary there are ‘Register Stamps in dissertation abstracts on history, Gorchakov, protopriest, honored computers providing full access editions. Ancient Rus of the 10th – 15th politology, sociology, philosophy, full professor of the University to all collections. It also has a centuries. / V. L. Yanin’ (1970), philology, jurisprudence, and and corresponding member of conference hall to hold scientific ‘Atlas of Geographical Discoveries economics. Besides, there are a Saint Petersburg Academy of and training conferences, centres libraries, including SPbU 20th century. The materials in Siberia and Northwestern number of textbooks on history, Sciences; Pavel Isaevich Lublin, of digitising and storing digital Research Library, archives, selected, for example, in the America of the 17th and 18th in particular. renowned expert in criminal data, and its own publishing and and museums. The information Arkhangelsk Region present centuries. / edited by A. V. proceedings, and others. The polygraphic facilities. resources of the Presidential researches, statistical and archive Yefimov’ (1964), ‘The Diary of V. SPbU'S CONTRIBUTION editions from the Scientific Today, the Presidential Library comprise scientific and documents that give an idea of the K. Kuchelbecker: materials on St Petersburg University also Library are easily identified with Library numbers about 370 educational publications, maps, late 16th - the early 20th century the history of Russian literary makes a great contribution to the mark ‘Original kept in SPbU’. thousand titles that a wide photo albums, video materials on administrative, socioeconomic, and social life of 10-40 of the 19th replenishment of the Presidential Despite the large amount of readership could hardly access the history, theory and practice of and ethnographic situation of the century "(1929), etc. Library’s collections. A number of information in the electronic earlier. About 122 thousand Russian statehood and Russian as territory which is now part of the The collection of the the editions, mainly publications environment, when it comes to documents, which account for the state language of the Russian Arkhangelsk Region. Presidential Library mainly on law, kept in the Gorky publically available resources, approximately 40 % of the entire Federation. The Presidential More than twenty collections possesses the documents Research Library were given high-quality scientific and stock, are available to the readers Library creates both thematic concern the relations of Russia published before the first third to the Presidential Library for educational resources are on the Library’s site, while others collections and collections with other countries. Thus, users of the 20th century. One of the digitisation and later settled in its actually quite few. Undoubtedly, can be accessed only in the dedicated to particular events and can find materials about Russia- eldest books in the library is digital collections. the Boris Yeltsin Presidential electronic reading room. By the people. One of the recent projects China relations and cooperation, ‘The Ostromir Gospels’ (1056 - Since 2010 SPbU has given Library is one of these resources. way, the Library has quite a few is, for example, ‘P.I. Tchaikovsky: as well as editions and documents 1057), the original being kept in about 12,000 books and journals Here everybody can find of them. Since 2010, it has been The 175th anniversary’. It describing the socio-economic, the National Library of Russia. of the 19th - the beginning of the materials for the mind in science opening remote reading rooms in includes digital copies of the great administrative and demographic Novgorod posadnik Ostromir 20th centuries to be digitised. and education, and for the soul various establishments all over composer’s autographs, inscribed development of China. The great ordered to write this Gospel to They have entered several in broadening the horizons and the world. sheet music and photos, books and victory is commemorated in deacon Gregory. The cooperation collections of the Presidential raising the cultural level.

48 49 HOMO EDUCANDOS HOMO EDUCANDOS

(e.g. full-text books, journals, newspapers, dissertations, FACT reports, etc.).

WHERE TO BEGIN… All information the user may The Gorky Research Library of St. require can be found in Library Petersburg State University numbers at http://www.library.spbu.ru/. more than 6.9 million printed books The home page provides a single and manuscripts and provides search interface for searching printed and electronic collections. access to more than 100 thousand To facilitate search across electronic resources, including collections, there are various academic journals, monographs, bookmarks. In Books, you can dissertations, thesis, reference search the Library’s electronic books, etc. catalogue to get a printed edition in its stock. E-books searches for the electronic books available at The links leading to these SPbU (more than 155 thousand sections are also duplicated on names). E-journals searches by the homepage of the Library at electronic journals accessed by the University’s site. Another SPbU (more than 70 thousand important link Catalogues of the names). Databases searches by the Libraries is allocated in Electronic resources available for SPbU. Resources. It gives access to the In Electronic Resources at electronic catalogues of all the http://www.library.spbu.ru/er/, departments of the University’s there are links to the lists of the Library as well as to the catalogues resources with various types of of the largest Russian libraries and sources. In Help at http://www. various librarian corporations. library.spbu.ru/help/, Electronic Resources: How-To provides …HOW TO FIND answers to a number of questions All these recourses are open which may arise relating to search. and free to all University Since 1998 the preliminary students of all programmes and search for printed books and specialisations, irrespectively journals has been available, even of their year of study. Electronic before visiting the Library, in editions and catalogues can be Books and Journals where the accessed from any IP-address electronic catalogue of the SPbU of the University network or if Research Library is allocated. Yet, you are accessed to campus-wide bear in mind that the electronic Wi-Fi. Besides, the electronic catalogue includes the editions resources have a world-wide from 1995, but it is gradually reach from any computer expanding towards older editions. around the globe 24/7. Login and That is to say, if you have found the password for individual access book in the electronic catalogue, it are given to all University’s means it is definitely available in employees and students. For more the Research Library. Conversely, information visit Help (http:// its registry entry might not have www.library.spbu.ru/help/). been created yet. If so you have Those who are registered as to search in the printed catalogue readers of the Research Library when physically in the Library. and issued a Full Electronic So Far, So Close To this end, however, off campus Library Card have their login access is also available – go to as his/her surname and initials General Alphabet Catalogue at in Russian lower case of close the site of the Library. This is a print and the password as the bar Just a couple of mouse clicks or some years now, than 160 electronic resources which can be compared to the scanned service general alphabet code numbers on the face of the open access to the unique rather than using the to SPbU’s employees, academic best universities of the world. catalogue dating from the time card. Yet, there is also another treasuries of global knowledge. ever trusty Shanks’s staff and students. Among the The electronic resources of the when the book collection of the way how to log in – you can also It has been long since small pony, we have been universities of our country, the SPbU Research Library cover University was firstly formed. use employee or student’s single wonder for the users of enjoyingF online access to University subscribes to the a wide range of subjects: from Importantly, the scanned part account created by the IT Service Gorky Research Library of St. electronic recourses, namely the most comprehensive and highest biology and medicine to art, from of the catalogue comprises only of SPbU. By the end of 2014, Petersburg University. University Library offers more quality electronic resources, various information sources editions in Russian. this option is supposed to have 50 51 HOMO EDUCANDOS substituted the Library Card. For are famous electronic librarian atlas of human anatomy, which detailed information on how to systems ‘ibooks’, ‘Urait’, ‘Lan’, and has more than 6,500 anatomical link to electronic resources from ‘Studmedlib’. Primarily intended structures to be examined and outside the University campus for students, these platforms are studied in detail. Some years ago, locations, visit http://www. under continuous development to this edition received the Queen’s library.spbu.ru/help/ezpr.html. expand their digital collections. Award as the best 3D atlas of Materials of the electronic Among the resources in human anatomy in the world. In resources available at the English, there are a number other words, SPbU is abundant SPbU Research Library can be of universal ones that can in resources of that kind, not downloaded and printed. Bear in be of interest and use for to mention unique publishing mind, however, that the Library students of absolutely different resources comprising academic imposes strict regulations on specialisations, as librarians of journals and monographs of downloading and printing (http:// the SPbU Research Library said. the world’s leading publishers. www.library.spbu.ru/er/er.pdf). For example, it is the Britannica, Admittedly, even academic In particular, it is usually not which is the most comprehensive resources of this kind may be of permitted to use files for any and oldest universal encyclopedia interest to some of SPbU students commercial purposes, copy an in English and one of the most from the very first day at the entire portion of publications authoritative informational University. and download large volumes of resources in the world. The information by special software. electronic resources also include LET’S LEAF, LET’S CLICK In case of infringement, publishers the Britannica Image Quest, s a Like most modern libraries of may simply suspend SPbU’s access unique collection of more than the world, SPbU Gorky Research to these resources. 3 million high-quality images Library regards printed stock and from the Britannica encyclopedia electronic resources as absolutely …AND WHAT TO SEE that can be used for presentation, equal constituents. It may well Among all the wealth of electronic report, coursework, or graduation be true that some never cross the services available through the thesis. Also, It has famous Oxford threshold of the Library during library, the freshers should, first of all, pay their attention to some of them. For example, The main book stock of the Library dates Databases features Browse by Subject, a list of resources by back to 1783, when Empress Catherine the main subjects created the Great gave 1,100 volumes from by the librarians on the the collection of P.F. Zhukov, Russian initiative and with the help of bibliophile of XVIII century, to the first the SPbU academic staff, that is Russian Normal School. primarily intended for students (http://www.library.spbu.ru/er/ eraz.html). Thus, students can avoid long and tiring searching the years of study, rather use only through all 160 electronic Language Dictionary Online, the resources of remote access, as resources and confine their electronic English-Russian and librarians say. Others, however, search to the lists of the resources Russian-English dictionaries that still recognize the full worth of recommended by academic staff show definition of a word, example the aura of library premises and for any given subject. Importantly, sentences, its idiom equivalents unique smell of a printed book. about 90% of the electronic and translate it into other 11 After all, the Library resources access to which is languages. These resources can provides both printed editions given by the University Library be logged on to from http://cufts. and electronic resources which are not available in Russian. library.spbu.ru/CRDB/SPBGU/ are also available right here in Most of them are published browse/facets/resource_type/4. the specially-equipped rooms. in English and other, mainly Of great interest to any The Library is equipped with European, languages. However, students are resources on a computers, provides free Internet in Databases there is a link of particular field. For example, the access and offer its visitors an Russian Electronic Resources subject index History has a link opportunity to use their laptop or (http://cufts.library.spbu.ru/ to History Online and History tablet (all reading rooms of the CRDB/SPBGU/browse/facets/ Study Center, a full-text complex Library provides Wi-Fi service). name_regex/%5E[%5Ea-z0-9]) with resource for studying history that Users happen to have absolutely more than 10 electronic resources accumulates historical journals, different needs, and librarians in Russian, including several reports, videos, and unique take it in stride. Indeed, the electronic librarian systems, historical documents. Similarly, task of the Library is to provide that are Russian platforms with the section Biology features information in a way the user textbooks in various branches of another high-quality recourse needs it and at convenient time knowledge. In particular, these Primal Pictures, a detailed 3D and place.

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