SPbU scientists discussed the future of international cooperation in the Arctic
On 12-13 October 2016, Russian International Affairs Council with support of the Executive Office of the Government of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia held the Conference titled “International Cooperation in the Arctic: New Challenges and Vectors of Development”. Scientists from Saint Petersburg State University took part in this conference.
The conference was attended by experts of History, Politics, Asian Studies, Geology, Ecology, Oceanography and others, as well as heads of ministries and agencies, diplomats and representatives of Business.
The objective of the conference was to determine the outlines of the institutional development of the Arctic Council, the prospects for legal regulation of activities in the Arctic, as well as the potential of economic projects in the region and of cooperation with such non-regional players as China, India, Japan and Singapore.
“The extreme conditions of the Arctic throughout its history required coordinated international efforts. The activities of the Arctic Council continued the good tradition, based on the experience of pioneering researchers,” – said the dean of the SPbU Institute of Earth Sciences, Kirill Chistyakov. He also mentioned that St. Petersburg State University spoke in favor of international efforts’ unification in exploring of the Arctic region.
“We believe the most important component of international cooperation in the Arctic is the realization of educational and scientific projects,” – said Kirill Chistyakov. “The topics mostly centered around the problems associated with the study of mineral and hydrocarbon resources, climate change, preservation of natural and cultural heritage, as well as the study of the traditional cultures of the peoples, and the sustainable development of the Arctic regions, taking into account their development and the development of transport and logistics systems.”
According to Chistyakov, such events provide Russian and Foreign Universities an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and bring the Arctic research to a new level.