SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko and Faculty of Geography Dean V.Z. Makarov participated in XV Russian Geographic Society convention that took place on Lomonosov Moscow State University on November 7, 2014.
The first Russian Geographical Society festival happened before the convention. 85 RGS branches presented their projects and achievements. Saratov branch platform was very popular among the visitors.
Board of Trustees Chair, Russian Federation President V.V. Putin, Russian Geographical Society Presidents S.K. Shoygu, 226 representatives and honorary guests took part in the convention.
Russian Geographical Society Presidents S.K. Shoygu opened the convention and thanked the participants for their work. “I would like to thank everyone who helps RGS development, everyone who together with Russian Geographic Society develops science, discovers new facts of our history, studies, researches and preserves. They contribute to the success of our country. Our nation’s success makes us proud of the Motherland and inspires new achievements”, said he.
Talking about the organization’s work at the last five years the Society President mentioned that they have created the largest geography expert society. “Diuring these five years the experts have reviewed about 3,000 applications, agreed 297 grants and 119 theme projects. Russian Geographic Society awarded 22 grants together with Russian Foundation for Basic Research”. During the reporting period the RGS awarded 50 grants and supported 41 project including SSU projects. SSU scientists received grants for “Saratov region natural history educational atlas”, “Volga panorama” and “Volga is the main street of Russia” projects.
Saratov State University Rector A.N. Chumachenko spoke during the discussion of the report. He suggested making Geography one of the main school subjects and introducing a compulsory Unified State Exam on it. This suggestion got the RGS President support. S.K. Shoygu said creation of RGO geoportal could help solving geographical ignorance problem. RGS Saratov branch scientists are already familiar with this kind of work as they are creating a similar portal for Khvalynsk national park.
“Regional branches have to work on keeping geographical, cultural and historical heritage of their region”, said S.K. Shoygu. Saratov is at the front on this issue. There is the first Russian museum of nature conservation area based in one of Saratov schools. The regione also hosts annual festivals “Clean note” and “Khvalynsk wave” .
The convention also approved new organization regulations and chose the President, revision commission and Academic council members. SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko became a member of Academic Council Presidium.
Board of Trustees Chair, Russian Federation President V.V. Putin awarded outstanding Russian scientists and travelers and suggested some initiatives, e.g. developing a unified geography standard and new geography textbooks based on it. “I know teachers are not satisfied with modern study guides and their content. Geography could and should become one of the most interesting school subjects”, said the head of the state. He also suggested some ideas for improving geography knowledge, among them is All-Russian Geography Dictation similar to Russian Language Total Dictation.
In Saratov representatives’ opinion, the XV Russian Geographic Society convention was successful. RGS administration welcomes ideas and initiatives of its regional representatives.
