First Vice-Rector Dmitrii Tayurskii: “Kazan Federal University remains a world-class center of astronomical research”
The 10th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Astronomy took place today in the Hall of the Board of Trustees of Kazan Federal University. The event is organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia with KFU’s support.
The meeting is held according to the BRICS calendar of events in STI (Science, Technology and Innovation) for 2023-2024, adopted at the 11th meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology and Innovation, held in August 2023 in Gqeberha (South Africa).
The purpose of the meeting, as well as the scientific theme, is to promote the flagship project BRICS: Smart Telescope and Data Transfer. The event is attended by the BRICS astronomical community, including major scientists, space researchers, public relations, education and development specialists.
The meeting was chaired by Albina Kutuzova, BRICS Coordinator for Science, Technology and Innovation from the Russian Federation, and Imraan Patel, Deputy Director General of the South African Department of Science and Innovation (via videoconference).
In her welcoming speech Albina Kutuzova thanked Kazan University for the warm welcome of the foreign delegates. The Department of Astronomy at the university was organized in 1810, and for more than two centuries the university has been following the trends of the world astronomical school, she noted, recalling that these days KFU is also hosting the participants of the international scientific conference BRICS: Smart Telescope and Data Transfer.
On behalf of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the speaker addressed the representatives of the Big Five – Brazil, China, India, Russia, and the Republic of South Africa, noting the many years of fruitful cooperation among the nations.
“At the same time, we are happy to welcome new BRICS members. We are confident that the emergence of new regions and the involvement of experts and scientists from BRICS countries will open up new opportunities for joint astronomical research and significantly expand the interaction of the working group,” emphasized Kutuzova.
In conclusion, the Co-Chair of the meeting wished the participants success and a productive working day.
Dmitrii Tayurskii, First Vice-Rector of KFU, welcomed the audience. He told the guests that the university has over 50 thousand students studying in the most diverse educational programs – “from stars to cells and quantum physics”.
“Kazan Federal University remains a world-class center of astronomical research,” he added.
Next, the national reports were read, where the experts of the working group presented the latest developments in astronomy and shared plans for the development of the flagship project for the next three years. From Russia, Mikhail Sachkov, Director of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, delivered a report.
“It was especially interesting to discuss the flagship project that was worked out in Rio de Janeiro five years ago,” commented Alexei Pozanenko, Lead Research Associate at the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences. “I think that such events are necessary and relevant. They are necessary because personal communication of the astronomical community between countries contributes to closer development of astronomy and making personal ties, which is extremely important in conducting research. The papers presented here are literally hot from the oven of what we ‘bake’ in orbit and what we do in our astronomical observatories and institutes.”
Next, the guests will enjoy a cultural program. The next meeting of the BRICS Astronomy Working Group will be held in Brazil.