Tyumen State University ecology professors visit UAA, seek future partnerships

This is a press release from Tyumen State University describing a visit by two of its ecology professors to UAA in March 2012. Find the original Russian language version here.

Scientific Research in the Arctic - a "hot" topic

By Dr. Andrei Tolstikov (Tyumen State University)

Scientific research in the Arctic was a "hot" topic in meetings held in March 8-11, 2012 at the University of Alaska Anchorage with Dr. Andrei Soromotin, Director of the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resource Management and Dr. Andrei Tolstikov, Director of International Research Programs. Attending on the American side in the meetings were deans, dhairs, and directors of the biological, geological, and engineering faculties, and the director of the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources, University of Alaska Anchorage.

There is no doubt that the Tyumen University and University of Alaska Anchorage are prospective partners. Both sides are interested in a study of biodiversity and ecosystems in the Arctic, and new approaches to the revegetation of disturbed areas. Many of the themes of research at both universities in fact coincide.

At a meeting with Dr. Fred Rainey, Assistant Dean for Science of UAA's College of Arts and Sciences, director of the Department of Biological Sciences, and professor of microbiology and Dr. Douglas Causey, professor of ecology, and former Vice Provost for Research at UAA, the U.S. side expressed strong interest in joint projects focused on environmental and microbiological research related to oil and gas fields in the territory of Western Siberia and Alaska. Plans were made to develop a collaborative program of baseline studies leading to proposals for funding future research. Dr. Rainey expressed interest for cooperative research between institutions in Alaska on common problems.

At a meeting with Dr. Jeffrey Welker, director of UAA's Environment and Natural Resources Institute, possible joint work on Svalbard Island was discussed to study the hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms. He will spend the next year there on Fulbright-sponsored research and has the opportunity to invite our researchers there, which is very well suited to planned collaborative research.

Prof. A. Soromotin lectured in the course "Environmental Problems of the North" for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students at UAA and, through videoconferencing, to students of the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Dr. Tolstikov also held a seminar at the University of Kansas on the theme "Siberia: Past and Present."

Students from the United States are interested in training opportunities and internships in the TSU. In addition to typical American students, many UAA students are the descendants of Russians who lived in Alaska prior to the sale of the Russian Empire to the United States in 1867 and spoke in Russian with Drs. Soromotin and Tolstikov.