The Russian Science Foundation is the largest research funder in Russia that provides financial and organizational support to outstanding researchers of all career stages in a wide range of research areas. During the last 10 years the RSF funded 20,000 projects worth of some 220 billion Russian rubles, including 5,800 projects of individual postdocs and youth research groups. The sessions in Sochi were particularly focused on young researchers agenda.
The booth of the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) featured short popular science lectures by successful young researchers, presentation of a new book containing personal stories of several RSF grant holders, virtual tours of research laboratories, and a coffee talk with the Foundation's management. Participants had the chance to leave their mark in the history of the Congress by taking an instant photo and placing it on a large panel that became an art object.
Additionally, the RSF presented the research results of grant recipients in the Science Lounge through showcase of research objects and interactive lectures on science and careers.
Andrei Blinov, RSF Deputy General Director, discussed with the participants review of applications and scientific reports, specific features and peculiarities of the various RSF funding programs, including regional research funding program, and their informal feedback on the implementation of the RSF-funded research projects.
Andrei Blinov, RSF Deputy General Director. Photo by Roscongress
Special review session engaging distinguished members of the RSF Expert Councils provided insights into process of evaluation of proposals and scientific reports. The speakers were Andrei Blinov, RSF Deputy General Director, Alexander Veraksa, Panel Chair of the RSF Expert Council for the Presidential Research Funding Program, Alexander Klimenko, Chairman of the RSF Scientific and Technological Council, Ekaterina Zhuravleva, member of the RSF Scientific and Technological Council, Stepan Kalmykov, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Valeria Strokova, Director of the Innovative Industrial Center for Nanostructured Composite Materials, Timofey Nestik, Panel Chair of the RSF Expert Council for Projects.
The third RSF-led session was facilitated by Alexander Klimenko, Chairman of the RSF Scientific and Technological Council, Sergey Gavrilov, Deputy Chairman of the RSF Council of the Scientific and Technological Council, Peter Lazarenko, Head of the Laboratory of the National Research University "Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology", Rostislav Kovalevsky, Innovation Director of EFKO, Roman Ivanov, Biotechnology Research Director of Sirius Unversity. The participants discussed new RSF funding programs related to applied research and core technologies.
RSF PR division led by Maria Mikhaleva featured master class facilitated by Yulia Krasilnikova and Yulia Shishkina on promoting research ideas in the research community. The participants learned how to communicate effectively with society and media. The RSF press service team spoke about existing RSF tools and resources that may help researchers to present their research results in the media.
Maria Mikhaleva on Master Class. Photo by Roscongress
Deputy Head of the RSF Public Relations Yulia Krasilnikova took part in a discussion on digital solutions and services for the research community. Modern Russian digital services and research support tools provide the new opportunities for professional growth in the research community. Thus, the Russian Science Foundation, together with Skoltech, St. Petersburg State University, Ural Federal University, Russian Chemical Technology University, Tomsk State University and Southern Federal University, presented the first video guide in Russia for young scientists on the use of laboratory equipment LabInfo. The project helps to improve the level of training and qualifications of young researchers. In addition, Yulia Krasilnikova talked about scientific volunteering, presenting some of the grant recipients' projects in which volunteers are involved.
Yulia Krasilnikova is taking a part in a Discussion on digital solutions for researchers. Photo by Roscongress
RSF Deputy Director General Andrei Blinov also spoke at the session "Research Teams: A Success Story from Scratch". The participants discussed tools to attract foreign researchers to conduct research in Russia as well as the forms of support for foreign scientists for successful use of Russian research infrastructure. Andrei Blinov also announced new funding opportunities for foreign scientists that will appear in 2025 known as "mega-grant" for outstanding international scientists. RSF is planning to roll out such program next year.
Finally, young RSF grant holders Dmitry Panov, Yulia Ivanova, Diana Yuzhakova, Irina Kudryakova, Andrei Blinov, Alina Yanak, Farid Orujev, Ivan Polevshchikov, Andrei Nagdalyan, Daria Pominova, Svetlana Morozova, and Daria Kolotova, gave popular science lectures. They talked about the unique properties of "smart" materials, interdisciplinary approaches to studying tumors and aging processes, biodegradable films from marine resources, and other interesting projects funded by the RSF.
The RSF stand also presented the Foundation's multimedia projects, including a unique collection of virtual tours "Science in 360° Format". Using special touch screens, the Congress participants examined in detail the laboratories where RSF-funded research is conducted, places where large and small discoveries are made every day. Another photo project "Colors of Science" created by the RSF highlights the beauty of research activity. The project's palette already includes 11 unique colors inspired by the works of the Foundation's grant recipients.
Interactive Exhibition organized by RSF. Photo by RIA News
Popular science lectures by the Foundation's grantees were delivered in Science Lounge by Zalina Kusraeva, Marina Solomonova, Karina Ponomareva, Vladimir Cheptsov, Evgeniya Sheremet, Margarita Goldberg and Elena Koshel. Showcase of research objects featured the results of works by Alexander Gostev, Elena Nazarova, Olga Parfenova and Andrei Blinov.
All RSF-led sessions are available here.
