KFU visited by representatives of the University of Santiago, Chile
USACH employees toured several institutes and the city on 10 – 12 September 2026.
One of Chile’s largest and oldest public universities was represented by Alonso Arellano Baeza, Director of Public Relations at the USACH Faculty of Engineering; Ismael Soto Gómez, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering; and Marina Stepanova, Professor at the Faculty of Science.
During a meeting with the Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies’ leadership on the 11th, the participants discussed prospects for cooperation in research and education. The meeting was attended by Acting Director Danis Nurgaliev, who presented the institute with a particular focus on its research developments; Pavel Krylov, Deputy Director for Research; Ildus Chukmarov, Director of the CdoGEO Centre for Advanced Training; and International Cooperation Officer Yury Nurmeev. Dr Chukmarov introduced the center’s work as well as its continuing education and professional development programmes.
Alonso Arellano Baeza and Marina Stepanova spoke about the organization of research activities in Chile. They noted that earthquake research is among the country’s key scientific priorities, since Chile is located in a seismically active region.
“We are ready to share our experience in establishing a network of GNSS reference stations integrated with seismographs. Such a network makes it possible to improve the reliability of earthquake forecasting through the combined analysis of navigation and seismic data,” said Ildus Chukmarov. He also invited the USACH representatives to undertake internships.
The participants noted that combining GNSS reference stations with seismographs creates new opportunities for high-precision geodynamic monitoring. Simultaneous recording of navigation signals and seismic vibrations makes it possible not only to determine the coordinates of observation points with sub-centimetre accuracy, but also to detect microdeformations in the Earth’s crust associated with tectonic processes or human-induced impacts.
During the meeting, Danis Nurgaliev shared his impressions of Chile, where he had previously conducted meteorite searches.
“I believe that we have considerable potential for joint work in meteorite prospecting and research. Chile is an exceptionally rich country from a geological perspective: it has abundant mineral resources, fascinating geological sites and unique geological processes. I am confident that we will be able to identify areas of common interest and implement exciting joint projects,” he said.
Alonso Arellano Baeza noted that Russia is not unfamiliar to him, as he completed postgraduate studies at the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography (alternatively styled MIIGAiK as per its Soviet-era abbreviation).
“We are ready to cooperate with KFU in natural sciences, as well as in the processing of geological, geodynamic and astronomical data. Academic mobility and the development of joint master’s and doctoral programmes are also important to us,” he told journalists.
A mining engineer by training, Arellano Baeza added that the University of Santiago, Chile plans to expand cooperation with Russian universities in volcanology.
“This field is of enormous importance to Chile: approximately one-tenth of the world’s volcanic activity is concentrated in our country. KFU does not have volcanologists, but it does have strong specialists in related fields and modern research facilities. I believe we will be able to pursue joint research and practice-oriented projects,” he concluded.
Following the meeting with the institute’s leadership, the guests visited the Shtukenberg Geological Museum.
The day before, USACH researchers met with Vice-Rector for International Affairs Timirkhan Alishev, Director of KFU’s International Office Olga Vershinina, and representatives of several university institutes.