#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The 11th All-Russian ecological gathering of young polar explorers Our Planet took place in St. Petersburg. This year it is dedicated to the 185th birth anniversary of the Russian traveler, geographer and naturalist Nikolay Przhevalsky. The event brought together 99 participants from 13 cities and nine regions of Russia. Among them there were eleven schoolchildren from Norilsk.
The purpose of the gathering was to improve the environmental education of young people, increase environmental culture, attract attention to environmental problems, and create interest among young people in studying geography.
The program of the meeting included presentations and research works defense, intellectual competitions, master classes on meteorology and cultural and educational events.
The gathering of young polar explorers is traditionally held with the support of the St. Petersburg Committee for Arctic Affairs. The department’s representatives were part of the jury in the competitive program of research works presentations devoted to ecology and the study of natural resources of the North.
“St. Petersburg has historically been the starting point for many studies that have gone down in history. And therefore, it is very important for our city and country that the ties between the Northern capital and the regions, including the Arctic zone, are strengthened and multiplied, so that the conquerors of the North are replaced by a younger generation of Arctic and Antarctic researchers”, said Alexandra Taleyeva, the St. Petersburg Committee for Arctic Affairs’ cultural relations sector’s acting head.
“The trip was wonderful. I learned a lot of interesting things, visited places I didn’t know about before, made new friends and acquaintances. I participated in all the events, and the most difficult moment for me was passing the sports standards, since this is not my strongest side. But I didn’t let the team down!” – shared Alexandra Trofimova, an 8-grade student at Norilsk grammar school No. 4.
Her classmate Marina Akulinkina noted that there were a lot of various activities, nevertheless, there was time for excursions and communication, everyone got a lot of unforgettable impressions.
“I really liked everything, it’s a pity that we only had a few days to spend in St. Petersburg. I appreciated the teams’ presentation, and was impressed by the acquaintance with the Yakuts. In addition to official events, I visited the sights of the Northern capital”, Timofey Popov, a student of grade 8 at grammar school No. 4 in Norilsk, shared his impressions.
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Text: Irina Chernyshova, Photo: students of school No. 4
