On March 20, 2026, the St Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Scienceshosted a science and discovery conference for high school students and young people. The event was part of the Festival’s business program and marked the 110th anniversary of Znanie — Sila magazine.
The conference was opened by Ekaterina Sukhacheva, Festival Organizing Committee Chair, Director of the Dokuchaev Central Museum of Soil Science, and Professor at St Petersburg State University. She highlighted the importance of such events in introducing young people to modern science.
Welcome remarks were given by Natalia Androsenko, Vice-Rector of St Petersburg State University of Economics, and Vladimir Gurzhiy, Professor at St Petersburg State University. Olga Almyasheva, Academic Secretary of the St Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized: “Science begins with wonder and becomes a living adventure.”
The conference was opened by Ekaterina Sukhacheva, Festival Organizing Committee Chair, Director of the Dokuchaev Central Museum of Soil Science, and Professor at St Petersburg State University. She highlighted the importance of such events in introducing young people to modern science.
Welcome remarks were given by Natalia Androsenko, Vice-Rector of St Petersburg State University of Economics, and Vladimir Gurzhiy, Professor at St Petersburg State University. Olga Almyasheva, Academic Secretary of the St Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized: “Science begins with wonder and becomes a living adventure.”
The keynote presentation on retinal prosthesis technology was given by Mikhail Firsov, who spoke about modern approaches to restoring vision.
Young researchers presented their work:
- Andrey Koshkin
- Denis Lyozov
Students and young professionals also took part:
- Stepan Akinshin
- Viktoria Khlebko
- Egor Moroz
- Anastasia Turenko
- Anton Solomonov
The moderator, Anastasia Kuzmina, a postgraduate student at St Petersburg State Forest Technical University, highlighted the importance of such events in making science more accessible and engaging for young people.
More than 180 participants attended the conference, including school and college students and teachers from educational institutions across St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.
The Festival continues to bring together the city’s scientific and educational communities, giving young people access to modern knowledge and new opportunities to explore science.
More than 180 participants attended the conference, including school and college students and teachers from educational institutions across St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.
The Festival continues to bring together the city’s scientific and educational communities, giving young people access to modern knowledge and new opportunities to explore science.