On November 18, Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valerii Falkov visited the research laboratories and the Botanic Garden, Saratov State University.

In the Digital Integrative Bioengineering Systems Interfaculty Technological Fablab, the Minister was told about the training of highly qualified specialists in robotics, instrument engineering, medical diagnostic equipment, and innovative technological production. The SSU fablab includes laboratories for additive technologies, bioengineering, robotics, and electronics, as well as the technological sector. Its main goal is to make the scientific results into products and technologies. For example, in cooperation with LLC "Science and Innovations", a unique digital sensor of a finger photoplethysmogram (a sensor that registers pulse waves) has already been developed.

Valery Falkov was shown the Metamaterials Laboratory, the Research Institute of Mechanics and Physics. Here, the scientists are developing a new generation of electronics using magnonics, spintronics, and spin-orbitronics. Due to this, they will be able to develop faster and more powerful electronic devices.

The Minister was told about approaches to early diagnosis and treatment of oncological, infectious, and cardiovascular diseases using the method of photoacoustic flow cytometry at the Research Medical Centre. In the Laboratory of Biomedical Photoacoustics, the scientists presented their developments in this sphere. At the centre, they study the patterns of various systems of the human and animal body, as well as develop unique methods, devices, and prototypes of laboratory equipment for functional diagnostics and monitoring various pathologies and their treatment.

Using the DRON-8T diffractometer, the staff of the X-Ray Diffraction Analysis Laboratory examine the microscopic structure and composition of almost any materials. One of the important parts of cooperation between the laboratory scientists and enterprises is a comprehensive characterisation of the functionality and structure of various objects.

After a tour around the laboratories, Minister Valerii Falkov was shown the work of Saratov State University research projects supported by the Priority 2030 programme.

In the Research & Development Centre, SSU, the staff study vacuum metallurgy and the production of metal-cutting tools made of hard alloy. Using vacuum technologies, the developments make it possible to carry out thermal and chemical-thermal manufacturing of types of steel, alloys, and parts made of them.

The unique KVAZAR software is designed for modelling various molecular structures, in particular biomacromolecular structures and composites. Due to the project, you are able to move from atomic structures to composites and use appropriate convenient methods. The software package uses methods of molecular dynamics using the quantum method of strong coupling, as well as coarse-grained and atomistic modelling. The developed complex of molecular modelling is designed to solve a wide range of tasks in biophysics, medicine, and nanoelectronics.

The geographers demonstrated the digital platform of administrative management of territories developed by them, which is based on the use of distributed databases. For many years, Saratov State University has been carrying out various projects based on the use of geoinformation technologies and aimed at solving various regional tasks as part of research and development.

The software of automated routes for oversized cargo is aimed at increasing the competitive advantages of JSC Russian Railways over other market participants in the transportation of oversized and heavy cargo. The scientists automate the processes of calculating oversized and cargo clearance indices. In the future, the project will reduce the risk of infrastructure damage, as well as expand the market share in the transportation of oversized cargo and the possibility of providing multimodal transport services.

The researchers shared the achievements of the Smart Sleep Laboratory in studying the restorative properties of sleep. The scientists have developed special hats for new-born babies that help remove toxins from the brain during sleep. The device uses two stimuli – light and inaudible sound. Through the light guides sewn into the cap, a stimulating signal is sent to the lymphatic vessels-vacuum cleaners that purify brain tissues from toxins and metabolites.

The meeting participants learned about the system of support for medical decision-making in foot surgery. The ORTUGA software allows doctors to more accurately determine the quantitative radiological parameters used in the diagnosis of valgus deviation of the first toe.

The objectives of the Teachers in the Educational Paradigm strategic project include reforming the national system of continuing education of teachers and professors, taking into account new social challenges. The Russian Minister of Higher Education and Science found out about the functioning of the Virtual Pedagogical Classroom, SSU, an educational project for high school students, future teachers. 300 high school students, including 80 schoolchildren from the People's Republic of Luhansk, have started their studies this year. The university has developed its own curriculum, which could expand the ideas of schoolchildren in the region about teaching.

At the end of the meeting, Russian Minister of Higher Education and Science Valerii Falkov will visit the Botanic Garden Education-to-Research Centre, SSU. Nowadays, there are 33 specialized collections of plants in the garden – more than 4 thousand different varieties of plants, including those in the Red Book.

The university administration together with the staff of the Botanic Garden Education-to-Research Centre proposed the ideas to improve the territory to the Minster. Their implementation will make the botanical garden another point of attraction for residents and guests of the region, as well as will provide Saratov with an additional research-to-education site.

Valerii Falkov thanked the research teams and their leaders for their warm hospitality and the opportunity to get acquainted in detail with the leading developments in medicine, nanotechnology, and other breakthrough areas of science.

After the inspection of the facilities, the Russian Minister of Higher Education and Science held a meeting on the university development with the staff. During the discussion, Valerii Falkov proposed to develop a three-year programme to upgrade the infrastructure and start from 2024.