Scientific Visit to the Republic of Belarus
The trip was accompanied by Ksenia Andreevna Petrova, a Senior Lecturer and postgraduate student in the Department of Animal Science, Fish Farming, Agronomy, and Land Management at PetrSU. Marina Yuryevna Buturlina, a representative of PetrSU's Department of Youth Policy and Social Development, also participated in the trip.
The PetrSU delegation spent their first day in the Republic of Belarus in the capital, Minsk. There, they met with Margarita Nadeeva, a staff member of the Belarusian State University. Margarita led the participants on a short tour of the capital, including a visit to the National Library of Belarus, an observation deck located at the top of the high-rise storage facility, and the Church of All Saints.
On October 13, the first meeting with representatives of Polessky State University took place in Pinsk. Participants met with Irina Prigodich, Vice-Rector for Research at Polessky State University, and Ksenia Artemchik, Secretary of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM) Public Organization. They also visited two leading laboratories at Polessky State University. In the "Longitudinal Studies" laboratory, participants learned about modern research in molecular biology and genetics.
In the "DNA and Cell Technologies in Plant and Livestock Production" laboratory, the delegation learned about the use of biotechnology for micropropagation of plants. The day concluded with a scientific seminar, "Science, Education, and Production in Aquaculture in the Union State." Presentations were given by undergraduate and graduate students from Polessky State University and Petrozavodsk State University, as well as invited guests—researchers from the Ichthyology Laboratory of the Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Seminar participants discussed current topics in aquaculture in Russia and Belarus and highlighted the work of the scientific societies of Polessky State University and Petrozavodsk State University.
The following day, the guests visited the largest fish farm in the Republic of Belarus, the Selets Experimental Fish Farm, where they learned about the cultivation of various fish species in Belarus. They discussed with the farm's chief fish farmer the specifics of hydraulic structures and technologies used in cultivating carp, sturgeon, and other fish species. The PetrSU representatives were introduced to the culture and history of Pinsk during a fascinating tour of the historic part of the city, led by Sergey Aleksandrovich Demyanov, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marketing and International Management.
On the final day, the delegation visited the fish processing workshop at the Lakhva Fish Farm, where the workshop foreman explained the technological process of cutting, salting, drying, and smoking freshwater fish. The cultural program of the day included a visit to the Museum of Belarusian Polesye.
The results of the popular science visit were discussed at a master class, where participants were able to make small souvenirs using the equipment provided. The delegation was accompanied throughout the visit by Alexey Borisovich Shikunets, an Assistant Professor at the Poles State University Department of Aquaculture and Environmental Design, and Alexey Viktorovich Kozyr, a Senior Lecturer at the Poles State University Department of Aquaculture and Environmental Design.
