2nd OIC Youth Scientific Congress organized by KFU
The opening day was on 27 November.
The ceremony was visited by multiple officials from Tatarstan and the OIC, including Vice-Premier of Tatarstan Leyla Fazleeva and Chairman of the Secretariat of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum Yunus Sonmez. The University was represented by First Vice-Rector Dmitry Tayursky and Vice-Rector for International Affairs Timirkhan Alishev.
The Vice-Premier greeted the audience on behalf of Rais (Governor) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, “In 2022, when Kazan was the OIC Youth Capital, more than ten international events were held with a large number of participants – talented, young and active. And today, young scientists, researchers, and innovators of the Russian Federation and OIC countries have gathered in this hall. Dear friends, it is you who are responsible for the development of our countries in the near future. The Forum is four bright days, during which topical issues, scientific research in different spheres and in different industries will be considered. I think it will allow our countries to develop actively and in cooperation. Today, one of the development priorities is popularization of science among young people and support for young scientists. The year 2024 in the Republic of Tatarstan has been declared the Year of Scientific and Technological Development. And I think that the issues to be discussed at the forum will also become the basis of this year’s agenda in the Republic.”
A written address from Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Denis Sekirinsky said, “Relations between Russia and the OIC countries are based on a rich experience of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation, within the framework of which youth scientific cooperation is one of the important elements. The close cooperation with OIC member states is evidenced by the increasing number of foreign students studying in Russian universities year by year, as well as bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of education, qualifications and degrees.”
In his greeting, Vice-Rector Tayursky noted that the ceremony takes place in the Emperor Ballroom, the same room where many Nobel laureates delivered their speeches, and famous mathematician and then current rector Nikolai Lobachevsky read his lecture on education in 1853.
He spoke about Kazan University’s ever important mission as a bridge between the East and the West, as well as as a pioneer of Asian studies, organic chemistry, astronomy, and many other scholarly pursuits in Russia. He also said that OIC today comprises 57 nations with 1.5 billion people, of which 30% are young people under 35, which signifies its huge potential.
“We have 140 student science clubs. Kazan University has opened 8 young scientists’ laboratories with annual funding of over 2 million USD. Our young scientists oversee dozens of grant projects, and their publication activity is among the highest in Russia,” added the Vice-Rector.
The Congress, which spans from 26 to 29 November, comprises sessions in biomedicine, education, international relations, architectures and design, and oil and gas technology, which are organized at respective KFU institutes.