Lobachevsky University showcases sites of popular science tourism and of the Science and Universities National Project

On June 20, Lobachevsky University hosted a press tour of the sites of the Science and Universities National Project and its popular science itinerary developed under the Popular Science Tourism initiative launched within the Decade of Science and Technology. During the press tour, UNN scientists presented their unique research in the fields of implantology, neurobiology, artificial intelligence, chemistry and medicine. 

"The development of popular science tourism is an important area which helps to make science more understandable and accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of training. Within the Decade of Science and Technology announced by the President, 39 science tourism itineraries have already been created in 11 regions of Russia. Thanks to their work, it is possible to get into modern science laboratories, ask questions to real scientists and take part in thematic master classes. By 2025, we plan to expand the map of science sites available for tourism to 200 locations in 40 regions," commented Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Co-Chairman of the Decade of Science and Technology Coordination Committee.

The press tour participants were able to see scientists at work, learn about Lobachevsky University’s research projects and visit modern research laboratories. 

Lobachevsky University is part of the world-class Nizhny Novgorod Research and Education Centre, which is one of the first such research and education centres established in Russia under the Science and Universities National Project. One of the main areas of its research is high-tech personalised medicine and medical instrumentation. Scientists use artificial intelligence to create state-of-the-art devices, implants and applications that are essential in modern approaches to diagnosing and treating various diseases. In addition to participating in the Science and Universities National Project, UNN is part of the popular science tourism programme within the Decade of Science and Technology.

"Developing popular science tourism within the Decade of Science and Technology is an excellent idea aimed at attracting the attention of schoolchildren, students and adults in our country to advanced research, to major science and education centres in various regions. Lobachevsky University is an active participant in the Science and Universities National Project, it was included in the federal programme of strategic academic leadership "Priority 2030" in the "Research Leadership" track, it is a member of the world-class Nizhny Novgorod Research and Education Centre. We are happy to host guests, happy to showcase our laboratories and present cutting-edge research of the university's scientists. Together we will be able to show that science is very important and very interesting," shared Oleg Trofimov, Acting Rector of Lobachevsky University.

At the UNN Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, the press tour participants learned about research in the field of neurobiology, brain diseases, and modern approaches to their treatment.

Researchers from the Department of Analytical and Medicinal Chemistry at the UNN Faculty of Chemistry told them about how a new generation of sensors for the "electronic nose" is being developed. Such devices detect and recognise odours and tastes using a sensor array and are used for early warning of man-made, chemical and biological threats, environmental monitoring as well as in healthcare and food industry.

In the laboratories of the Faculty of Physics and the Research and Education Centre "Physics of Solid-State Nanostructures", the press tour participants saw the process  of creating memristors, electronic components which enable the accurate imitation of the brain's neurons and provide the basis for the development of neural networks.

The participants also visited the Nizhny Novgorod Radio Laboratory museum, where they learned why Nizhny Novgorod is the capital of radio, and were able to discover the laws of physics in a laboratory room called "The Physical Picture of the World. Oscillations and Waves in Experiments".

The press tour in Nizhny Novgorod was the second such tour to the sites of the Science and Universities National Project and of the popular science itinerary within the Decade of Science and Technology. Earlier, research results were presented to the press by scientists from Moscow and Dubna.