Russian Scientists Call for an Increase in Arctic Research Funding
- 27.03.2021
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The all-Russian scientific and practical conference «The Future of the Arctic Architecture. Comfortable dwelling in the Arctic» took place in «Synergy Online» digital environment on the 23-24th of March. The event was organized by the educational consortium of seven Russian universities «The Future of the Arctic Architecture and Climate Dynamics». The participants called on the Russian government to support research and innovations in the Arctic.
On the 26th of March, the organizing committee issued a resolution stating that around 650 billion rubles were allocated for basic and applied research. About 6.7 billion were assigned for the Arctic-related activities what comprised just 1% of the total funding.
International cooperation
Educational institutions, authorities, business and the Russian Academy of Sciences took part in the two-day conference to discuss issues of comfortable living environment in the Arctic, infrastructural development and adaptation of architectural systems to the extreme regional climate. The participants agreed that the further development of the Arctic territories required international collaboration.
The rector of the Oslo School of Architecture and Design Ole Gustavsen became a special guest of the conference. He noted that since 2017 the Russian and Norwegian scientists had been actively cooperating in the field of Arctic research. Moreover, Gustavsen said that due to the «dramatic» climate changes this collaboration should be intensified.
The Norwegian scientist offered his Russian colleagues to promote resource and academic exchange, have more joint lectures and research, work together in various committees and civil organizations.
«However, we are not going to limit ourselves to science and research — we’d rather facilitate cooperation with the Russian and Norwegian authorities and business», Ole Gustavsen says.
Locals
The Arctic has remained a home for numerous generations of indigenous peoples. The most valued resource of the region is neither oil nor gas, but its human — creative and intellectual — capital. Therefore, to develop the Russian Arctic we need to consider the interests of its people.
«The northerners feels it is vitally important to retain their identity. Whatever decision — even an innovative one — you want to make in the Arctic, this identity suffers no neglect», the rector of the Murmansk Arctic State University (MASU) Irina Shadrina says.
MASU carries out fundamental and applied research in the fields of ecosystem monitoring and preservation, socio-economic aspects of living in the North, urban planning.
«We live and work in the Arctic and therefore our environment is the top research priority at MASU. We are proud that our university pioneered in the field of Arctic design. Our scientists and pedagogues prepared numerous urban environment projects. Moreover, being advocates of practice based education, we regard it crucially important to conduct these research and projects together with our students», Irina Shadrina says.
Innovative projects
During the conference, scientists exchanged Arctic research experience and presented their Arctic-related architectural and design projects. Some of them are currently carried out.
Among the ideas that still wait for their implementation is the project of transportable platforms that would serve as dwelling, schools and other infrastructure elements. The author of this innovative way of living and exploring the Arctic is Vitaly Troshin — Honored Architect of Russia and the head of Centre of Artificial Habitat at the Moscow Architectural Institute.
According to Troshin, the walking houses made of lightweight materials would stand on special pier-legs and rails that would ensure vertical and horizontal mobility. Crossing tundra with the speed of 4 km per hour, the constructions would not damage soil or leave a significant carbon footprint.
Road map
The conference was concluded with the announcement of a joint educational programme that would help the Consortium members to prepare experts equipped with Arctic competences in various fields, particularly in architecture and design. Furthermore, the organizing committee spoke of a coming scientific volume that would include articles and projects of pedagogues and students from the Consortium member-universities.
Students who carry out Arctic research may take part in several relevant events. In April, for example, they will have a chance to join a practice based educational programme called the Foresight-icebreaker «The Student Dimension of Modern and Future Arctic». The professionals from various fields will assess students' projects and help to improve them. MASU representatives will be among the experts.