“Thank You to the Scientists and the Mass Media for Your Openness and Popularization of Science”

This week, the University hosted the 3rd Beauty of Science Award ceremony. It has already become a good tradition to honor science, scientists and media representatives who have significantly contributed to promoting the University at the regional, federal and international levels.

During the awarding ceremony, the scientific results of the year and information events that found maximum response from the media in 2024 were announced.

At the ceremony, the Rector Vladimir Bogatyrev noted that news about results of the University’s scientific and educational activities is intended for the University’s wide target audience – schoolchildren who are just deciding on their future profession, young people who are thinking about their future careers, industrial partners, state corporations and, of course, the authorities of the region and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

“By talking about the University’s achievements, we involve young people in science, become clearer for our industrial partners and state corporations, which come to the University, order research projects to be made by our scientists and hire our graduates. Regional and federal authorities receive more complete information on the University’s activities and its contribution to developing the region”, emphasized Vladimir Bogatyrev, addressing the main heroes of the ceremony. “I thank the media that support us, as well as the University’s scientists and other staff: you generate concepts and ideas that form the basis of information materials; thank you for your openness and participation in popularization of science”.

This year, 16 scientists and 14 media representatives became laureates of the Award, and 23 more university employees were awarded with the Rector’s commendations.

Roman Skidanov, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics, became the undisputed newsmaker of the year and the record holder for media attention in 2024. Several materials about sending into orbit hyperspectral equipment developed by the scientific team, in which Roman Vasilievich works, and its operation in space, are leaders in terms of being read by tens of millions of people in the country.

“Communication with the media and popularization of science are very important processes. The more people learn about our work, the better: it will help interest the younger generation in science”, noted Roman Skidanov.

Igor Belokonov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Interuniversity Department of Space Research, is among the scientific leaders of the year. Igor Vitalievich, together with the staff of his Department, did everything possible to make the space theme resound at the University. This year, the SamSat-Ionosphere nanosatellite manufactured by the Department’s staff was successfully launched into the target orbit. At present, being supervised by the scientists, the device has begun carrying out responsible scientific tasks.

Igor Vitalievich directly at the ceremony showed the audience a colorful photo to have been received from the Earth’s orbit, with reference to the specific location of the nanosatellite. This image shows the interfluve between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the place where human civilization originated. It is symbolic that in the same photo, on the banks of the Tigris River, there is also a city called Samarra, only spelled with two letters “r”.

Throughout the year, the University’s colleagues from the FIAN Branch did not tire of surprising the media. It’s about joint research and scientific experiments that provide answers to questions about the origin of life on the Earth. Due to them, in 2024, everyone of us have become a few steps closer to the most important answer that worries earthlings. At the ceremony, Ivan Antonov, Associate Professor at the Department of Optics and Spectroscopy and Senior Researcher at the FIAN Branch, noted that the experience of communicating with the media is a new job for him: he has been popularizing research only for the last two years, but he enjoys it very much.

But, of course, there are several components in popularization of science. And one of the most important is the communication channels. That is why the ceremony is participated by the media and specific journalists, which in 2024, talked about the University’s life and research.

“Being a graduate of Samara University, I’m always pleased to write and read about science, and we will continue to work”, noted Viktor Shepelev, an award winner and presenter of programs on the GTRK (State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company) “Samara”, at the ceremony.

The University’s openness, willingness to engage in dialogue and prompt provision of information on a wide range of topics were also noted by staff reporters of leading federal news agencies, such as RIA Novosti and TASS, as well as their colleagues from regional media.

There is a set stereotype that Samara University is focused on outer space. But this is not the case: the University is a multidisciplinary scientific and educational centre that implements projects at the intersection of various sciences. And as the practice shows, studies from a wide variety of fields of science is in demand in the media. For example, one of the winners of the Beauty of Science Award is Yaroslav Golubinov, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of History. This year, his works have aroused notably great interest in federal and regional mass media, but the paper on the impact of World War I on the environment of Eastern Europe stands out in particular.

The creative project on the University’s educational audio podcasts “Sergey Korolev’s Naukofon” is also in demand by a wide audience. The podcast includes a wide range of themes related to psychology, history, literature, the Russian language, and natural sciences. The regular audience of the podcast is over 30,000 people, and the geography includes Russia and foreign countries.

One of the active heroes of the podcast is Sergey Berezin, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Psychology. “Samara University is a major scientific centre, and its educational activities are noticeable far beyond Russia’s borders. Undoubtedly, the University is also an important element of the cultural process of the region and the country. And I am very happy and flattered to be a small part of this process”, noted Sergey Berezin, adding words from Shakespeare’s work as a metaphor: “When we conceal our valor, it’s as if they did not exist”. “Thank you to the University’s press centre and the media for not hiding our valor”, concluded the scientist.

For reference:

The Laureate Diploma of the Beauty of Science 2024 Award for contributing to popularization of the results of the University’s research and development activity at the regional, federal and international levels has been awarded:

·         Antonov Ivan Olegovich, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Optics and Spectroscopy, Senior Researcher at the Samara Branch of the FIAN;

·         Belokonov Igor Vitalievich, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Interuniversity Department of Space Research;

·         Berezin Sergey Viktorovich, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Psychology;

·         Golubinov Yaroslav Anatolievich, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of History;

·         Zvyagintsev Maksim Anatolievich, Design Engineer of the Engineering Centre;

·         Zubrilin Ivan Aleksandrovich, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Director of the Engineering Centre, Head of the Youth Research Laboratory “Power Facilities”;

·         Ivanushkin Maksim Aleksandrovich, Head of Samara University’s Cyberphysical Factory of Small Spacecrafts;

·         Ivlev Sergey Dmitrievich, engineer at Samara University’s AAES (Advanced Aerospace Engineering School);

·         Kayurova Elena Aleksandrovna, agronomist of the Flora Department at Samara University’s Botanic Garden;

·         Krasavin Georgy Sergeevich, student at the Institute of IT and Cybernetics;

·         Kurganskaya Lyubov Viktorovna, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Leading Researcher at Samara University’s Research Institute of Problems of Modelling and Management;

·         Lukianov Oleg Evgenievich, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Aircraft Construction and Design;

·         Skidanov Roman Vasilievich, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics;

·         Timchenko Elena Vladimirovna, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Laser and Biotechnical Systems;

·         Khalitov Bulat Lenarovich, student at the Institute of Aerospace Engineering;

·         Yakovleva Polina Sergeevna, student at the Institute of Aerospace Engineering;

Mass media:

·         Akimova Eva Nikolaevna, editor, RBC Life;

·         Berezina Marina Mikhailovna, correspondent of the regional editorial office in the Volga Federal District, RIS Interfax JSC;

·         Bykov Dmitry Aleksandrovich, columnist of the section “Power and Politics”, GAU SO (State Autonomous Institution of the Samara Region) “Volzhskaya Kommuna” (Volga Commune)

·         Dmitrenko Olga Andreevna, senior correspondent of the branch of FSBI (Federal State Budgetary Institution) “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” (Russian Newspaper), Samara;

·         Kelasieva Svetlana Vyacheslavovna, correspondent, MBI (Municipal Budgetary Institution) “Samarskaya Gazeta” (Samara Newspaper);

·         Maleeva Daria Alekseevna, special correspondent, the regional news editorial office of the TASS News Agency in the Samara Region;

·         Sokolova Daria Ivanovna, correspondent, the International News Agency “Rossiya Segodnya” (Russia Today) in the Samara Region;

·         The team of the Publishing House “Argumenty i Fakty” (Arguments and Facts);

·         The team of the Information Portal “Volga News”;

·         The team of the Publishing House “Komsomolskaya Pravda – Samara” (Komsomol Truth);

·         The team of Samara GIS JSC;

·         The team of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company “Samara”;

·         The team of GAU SO (State Autonomous Institution of the Samara Region) “Samara Regional Broadcasting Agency”;

·         The team of the Sobaka.RU magazine.

Samara University’s Rector officially thanks for cooperation and active participation in projects aimed at positioning and promoting the University in the information space and awards:

·         Bogdanova Nadezhda Viktorovna, Director of the Air and Space Museum;

·         Doroshin Anton Vladimirovich, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Director of Samara University’s Centre for Commercial Space;

·         Drobinin Dmitry Vladimirovich, Candidate of Law, Associate Professor at the Department of Criminal Procedure and Forensic Science;

·         Zhurcheva Tatiana Valentinovna, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature and Public Relations;

·         Zrelov Vladimir Andreevich, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Aircraft Engine Construction and Design;

·         Kalashnikova Olga Vladimirovna, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology and Life Safety;

·         Karpenko Gennady Yurievich, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor at the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature and Public Relations;

·         Korchikov Evgeny Sergeevich, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology, Botany and Nature Conservation;

·         Kurapova Elena Sergeevna, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Russian Language and Mass Communication;

·         Kurenkov Vladimir Ivanovich, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor at the General Designer D.I. Kozlov Department of Space Engineering;

·         Leikovsky Ilya Fimovich, engineer at the Department of Aircraft Engine Construction and Design;

·         Makurina Olga Nikolayevna, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor at the Department of Ecology, Botany and Nature Conservation;

·         Okun Aleksandr Borisovich, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of General History, International Relations and Documentary Studies;

·         Perepelkin Mikhail Anatolievich, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor at the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature and Public Relations, Samara University;

·         Platonov Igor Artemievich, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of Physics;

·         Pozdnyakov Konstantin Sergeevich, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor at the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature and Public Relations;

·         Rytov Gleb Lvovich, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology, Botany and Nature Conservation;

·         Starinova Olga Leonardovna, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Flight Dynamics and Control Systems;

·         Torbin Aleksey Petrovich, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Physics;

·         Feoktistova Irina Aleksandrovna, Director of Samara University’s Planetarium;

·         Shevchenko Vyacheslav Dmitrievich, PhD, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Head of the Department of English Philology;

·         Shipilova Aleksandra Viktorovna, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of General and Theoretical Physics;

·         Shumkina Inna Viktorovna, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Russian Language and Mass Communication.

Photo by Olesya Orina