From July 18 to 27, 2026, the Primorsky Krai hosted the participants of the 5th Vladimir Potanin Foundation School. For the first time in the project's history, the Museum and Exhibition Center in the city of Nakhodka served as one of the main venues. Anastasia Romanenko, an engineer at the Department of Theoretical Mechanics and a second-year master’s student in "Astronautics and Aeronautics," successfully passed a highly competitive selection process to become part of this large-scale event.
Traditionally, the Potanin Foundation School brings together the most active scholarship holders and grant recipients from across the country. The main goal of the event is not only to strengthen horizontal ties within the professional community but also to develop "soft skills," leadership qualities, and interdisciplinary competencies. For several years now, participants have been traveling to Russia's protected natural areas and cultural heritage sites to help preserve, restore, and develop them with their own hands.
Based at the Nakhodka Museum and Exhibition Center, a unique team was formed, comprising students, educators, and museum professionals from various corners of Russia—from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Samara, Murmansk, and Irkutsk, as well as the Republics of Bashkortostan and Karelia.
Over ten days, the volunteers tackled several important tasks. The team renovated one of the exhibition halls at the Museum and Exhibition Center and assisted in organizing a festival at the "Paleo-Village"—a unique educational and tourist complex featuring historical reconstructions built on the grounds of an active archaeological camp at the Yekaterinovsky Gorodishche. Additionally, the participants improved a local eco-trail and curated the "Focus on Nakhodka" photo exhibition.
"The volunteer work provided invaluable experience and allowed me to engage with fields of activity I had never encountered in my daily life. It sparked a multitude of new ideas that I now want to bring to life. Meeting such diverse yet passionately dedicated peers from all over the country inspires me to keep moving along my chosen path and take on new projects," Anastasia shared.
A highlight of the School was the grand opening of the "Focus on Nakhodka" photo exhibition. The exhibition featured photographs taken by the volunteers themselves during their stay in the city. Through their camera lenses, the participants captured Nakhodka through the eyes of a traveler discovering the Primorsky Krai for the first time. The photographs showcased the multifaceted nature of Nakhodka: a port city, a museum city, and a region blessed with extraordinary nature.
At the opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were delivered by Natalia Agritskaya, Deputy Head of the Nakhodka Urban District Administration, and Marina Nurgalieva, Director of the Museum and Exhibition Center. They emphasized the significance of hosting the first Potanin Foundation School in Nakhodka, expressed sincere gratitude to the organizers and volunteers for their hard work, and voiced hope that this wonderful format of cooperation would become a tradition for the city.
Naturally, the School's rich program was not limited to volunteer work alone. The participants also had the opportunity to deeply immerse themselves in the history and atmosphere of the city. Their excursion itinerary included exploring the Primorsky Krai's new eco-trail, the "Octopus Trail," participating in the opening of the "Panoramic" square on Lebedinaya Hill, and, of course, an unforgettable yacht trip out into the open sea.
