A Week of Germany at Polytechnic University

4 April 2019 International activities 0

The 16th Week of Germany in St. Petersburg officially started. Polytechnic University is a traditional participant in this annual international event. In 2019, together with partners from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), German House of Science and Innovation in Moscow (DWIH), Technical University of Hamburg and Siemens Company, our university holds three large-scale events for students and young scientists.

The 16th Week of Germany took start in St. Petersburg

The first of these events was the Graduate School of Bioprocessing and Bioresource Management, which SPbPU conducted together with its long-term German partner, the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH). The opening ceremony was attended by guests of honor: representatives of the German Consulate in St. Petersburg, TUHH, University of Genoa (Italy). On behalf of the German Consulate in St. Petersburg, Mr. Dirk CIRPKA, Deputy Head of the Department of Economics of the German Consulate General, welcomed the participants. “People all over the world are starting to use renewable energy sources. Therefore, we do need experts in bioresource management and bioprocessing. I am sure that many new discoveries to be expected will help making this world a better place,” Mr. Dirk CIRPKA pointed out.

The head of the TUHH delegation, Professor Niels VICHOREK, also said that scientific cooperation between states is getting a particular significance. “Science begins to play with new colors when young people take over. I wish you all that the outcomes of your joint work will bring new solutions for global challenges. I am very glad that scientists of Russia and Germany work on these problems together,” the professor added.

Mr. Dirk CIRPKA, Deputy Head of the Department of Economics of the German Consulate General welcomed the participants
[The head of the TUHH delegation, Professor Niels VICHOREK greeted the participants of the Week of Germany in St. Petersburg

The Bioprocessing and Bioresources Management School for graduate students is an important training component of a joint research project implemented by SPbPU and TUHH over the period 2017-2020. The ABiRe project is dedicated to the development and implementation of innovative bio technologies for processing particular types of algae: Chlorella sorokiniana and Lemna minor. Currently, a number of important studies have already been carried out and extensive scientific material has been accrued in the field of algae cultivation and technologies for obtaining valuable components. Thus, the School that was opened today is an opportunity for both students and professors of the two universities to share the accumulated knowledge and the results achieved in the course of teamwork.

Graduate students will take lectures on various topics. The young scientists will talk about waste disposal, water purification, waste recycling, take part in workshops and practical seminars, visit the modern laboratories of Polytechnic University. “It is quite difficult today to overestimate the role of biotechnology in the world. Scholars have high hopes for overcoming problems associated with the exhaustion of natural resources,” said project coordinator from the Russian side, Professor of the SPbPU Higher School of Biotechnology and Food Technologies N.A. POLITAEVA.

The Bioprocessing and Bioresources Management School for graduate students is an important training component of a joint research project implemented by SPbPU and TUHH

Professor of the University of Genoa, Vincenzo BIANCO taught the first lecture on the “Identification of economic factors affecting energy consumption and carbon emissions.” The professor spoke about the relationship between the economy and power production and the role of energy saving in economic processes. The young scientists accepted the lecture with great interest and attention.

The Bioprocessing and Bioresources Management School for graduate students will go on at SPbPU for three days. Let us remind that in 2019, Polytechnic University holds two more events as part of the Week of Germany: the Falling Walls Lab contest of scientific ideas and the “Following the Tracks of Karl von Siemens” project session.

“In the course of many years, Polytechnic University has been participating in the German Week in St. Petersburg. Last year, such major events as the DFG information seminar, lectures of the DAAD vice-president, the Falling Walls student competition took place at the university. This year, together with DAAD, we have also planned a lot of interesting events. All this confirms that cooperation with German universities and research centers is a strategic direction of the international activities of SPbPU,” Vice Rector for International Relations D.G. ARSENIEV concluded.

Prepared by International Academic Cooperation Department. Text: Olga Dorofeeva

Print version