Ural Federal University: University Scientists Will Develop Joint Research and Development with Colleagues from Finland
Ural Federal University will strengthen cooperation with Finnish universities in exchange programs and joint research projects. On October 5, students, scientists, and the university administration met with a delegation from the Embassy of Finland to Russia headed by Antti Helantera, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland.
Experts from the university presented to the ambassador promising for the development of scientific cooperation between the two countries Ural Federal University projects, including studies of permafrost and global climate change, initiatives in the field of carbon neutrality and the creation of a carbon polygon in the Sverdlovsk region, as well as current scientific directions of the Ural psychological school.
“Science and education are a priority area for cooperation between our countries. We try to support scientists and students to be ready for exchange programs, to participate in joint grant projects,” Antti Helantera said.
According to the ambassador, development of historical science and attraction of young scientists to strengthen cooperation between Russia and Finland in the field of Scandinavian history is of particular importance for Finland.
The Ambassador of Finland to Russia supported the idea of organizing in UrFU a lecture by Nobel Prize winner in economics Bengt Holmström, as well as meetings with other representatives of Finnish business and culture. Such events can take place both in an online format and with the guests’ personal presence at the university.
UrFU students learned about the challenges of Finnish society in the XXI century and discussed its prospects during a lecture by the ambassador. At the meeting with students, Antti Helantera announced the possibility of holding a joint Russian-Finnish forum in the Urals, and students from the Urals Federal University will be able to join the program.
Faculty members and young researchers were introduced to the exchange programs that are available. Over the last five years, 20 Ural Federal University students have studied on exchange programs at partner universities in Finland, and eight more have studied on similar programs at UrFU. According to embassy representatives, virtual mobility programs are becoming especially relevant.
Since 2016, the university’s scientists have prepared 71 articles in co-authorship with colleagues from 16 Finnish organizations. The most active cooperation between the Ural Federal University and scientific organizations of Finland is developing in the areas of research into the origin of extraterrestrial matter, as well as in the humanities, mathematics, physics, and the study of entrepreneurial competencies.