– The focus today is the study of water bodies. For Karelia, the land of lakes and rivers, this is especially interesting. Hydrophysics, hydrology, hydrobiology - these and other areas involve a wide range of issues on which we can cooperate with our colleagues from China. When we were just beginning our cooperation, it turned out that, despite geographical differences, our interests are very similar: this applies to topics, objects of study, and methodology. In terms of research, we have a lot to share with each other, – noted KarRC RAS Director General, RAS Corr. Academician Olga Bakhmet.
In the first place, we are talking about the state of freshwater bodies. Environmental issues, human impact on ecosystems, climate change implications are on the agenda for both countries. In Northwest Russia, these and other matters are actively investigated by specialists at the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS.
– We hope that together with the Karelian Research Center we will be able to develop new methods to combat the problems of pollution of water bodies, including microplastics in lakes and their eutrophication. We will discuss possibilities for further cooperation, in particular personnel exchanges, and plan to develop a long-term joint project, – said Professor Helong Jiang.
During the seminar “Cooperation on the study of climate change, environmental monitoring and modeling” on November 8-9, specialists from the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS and Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology CAS will present their research and identify mutually interesting research topics to prepare and implement joint projects.
– Following the meeting and the seminar, we hope to arrive at concrete project proposals - studies that will begin next year already. As for the exchange of expertise, it is supposed that young scientists from Karelia will have the opportunity to go to China, and we are also willing to host colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Sciences here, – Olga Bakhmet summed up.
Since 2022, Karelian Research Centre RAS and Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology CAS have been bonded by a Memorandum of Understanding. It is designed to promote academic and educational cooperation and exchange of research visits between the parties. The organizations agreed to develop and implement joint projects; organize conferences, seminars, symposia online and offline; and facilitate regular exchanges of doctoral students and specialists.
Collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences is an essential component of the Karelian Research Centre’s international cooperation also in the BRICS framework. Last year, KarRC RAS became the first regional representative of the National Committee on BRICS Research, Russia. In September, the first international conference focusing on BRICS regional cooperation took place in Petrozavodsk. The discussion of the environmental questions covered there will be continued during the visit of the group from Nanjing.
