On May 24, Open Day of universities of Volga Federal District was held at the Russia exhibition and forum in the lecture hall of the Knowledge Society in Pavilion No. 57 of VDNH. Saratov State University became one of the 13 universities of Volga District that presented achievements in science and higher education.

Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia, made a welcoming speech.

‘Open Days at the main exhibition site of the country are a unique opportunity for universities in all regions to reach a wide audience and talk about the opportunities that have been created in higher education in Russia.’

At the beginning of the presentation of Saratov State University, Vice-Rector for Research and Digital Development Alexei Koronovskii addressed the audience online.

‘This year, Saratov State University will turn 115 years old, and we can proudly say that our university harmoniously combines the traditions of classical education and world-famous scientific schools with innovative teaching methods and research discoveries that ensure the future of Russia,’ he emphasized.

In the video shot by the SSU Film Studio, Maria Chevtayeva, Head of the Office for Youth Initiatives Development, and Vladislav Bykov, Chair of the Council of Undergraduates and Postgraduates, demonstrated one day in the life of the university. The guests found out about the history of the oldest university, its infrastructure, scientific schools, as well as with training, volunteering, creative and sports activities of students.

Then, full-time, Chair of the Department of Dynamic Modelling and Biomedical Engineering, Head of the education-to-research laboratory of the Digital Integrative Bioengineering Systems FABLAB Anatolii Karavayev spoke about personnel training and early introduction of students to science.

He noted that SSU has a glorious academic tradition and is internationally known for its scientific schools in all fields of science, which today rely on young scientists. An important element of the training of highly qualified personnel at the university is the active involvement of second- and third-year students in research projects and contractual work. The students actively participate and win in all-Russian and international conferences, scientific and technical creativity contests, and olympiads.

Due to the scientific achievements shown by SSU for decades, the university was able to enter the Priority 2030 programme in 2021, participating in which helps qualitatively develop the main areas of the university. Saratov State University is implementing four strategic projects – Technologies of Personalised Medicine, Chemistry and New Materials, ICT-Electronics, and Teachers in the Educational Paradigm. These directions correspond to the priority topics for Russia. The researchers are solving the tasks of import substitution, technological sovereignty of the country, and the development of fundamental and applied science.

As part of the Technologies of Personalised Medicine project, unique methods for diagnosing cancer cells based on flow photoacoustic cytometry and methods for removing toxins from the brain have been developed, diagnostic medical devices have been created.

In chemistry and new materials, the scientific schools of Saratov State University are developing new chemical current sources, metamaterials with programmable properties for high-tech industries, and nanocapsules for targeted drug delivery.

According to the ICT-Electronics project, new semiconductor structures for microwave electronics are developed, which will allow to increase the performance of modern microprocessors in thousands of times.

The Teachers in the Educational Paradigm strategic project provides continuous teacher training conducted by the university teaching staff. The model assumes the work of the SSU Pedagogical Classroom, the CONSILIUM Support Centre for Young Teachers, the holding of the Summer School for Young Teachers, and the creation of a motivating university environment for the training of teachers-to-be.

Saratov State University is successfully solving the task of a shortage of developers of software and hardware systems. The training of modern engineering and technical specialists requires specialised facilities, therefore, in 2023, as part of the Priority 2030 programme, a unique educational and scientific laboratory Interfaculty Technological FABLAB entitled Digital Integrative Bioengineering Systems was established at SSU. The student projects implemented at the FABLAB include brushless motors, educational robotic platforms, unique biosignal sensors, hardware and software complex for stress diagnostics, devices for diagnosing pathologies of the circulatory and respiratory organs, as well as radiophysical chaos generators.

Saratov State University presented the creative side of its university life. The cultural programme was presented by the Vocal Group of SSU headed by a winner of All-Russian and international competitions Victoria Kovsharova.

‘This is the first time we are performing at such a venue. This is a huge experience for us. Such events should be held, they bring together students from different regions and provide an opportunity to share their creative experience,’ Victoria Kovsharova said.

The acquaintance with Saratov State University continued on May 26. On the site of Pavilion No. 55 of VDNH as part of the Russia International Exhibition and Forum, the staff of the Institute of Physics, SSU, presented scientific and technical developments at the exhibition stand of achievements of Russian universities.

Chair of the Department of Dynamic Modelling and Biomedical Engineering at the Institute of Physics Anatolii Karavayev, Associate Professor of the Department Ekaterina Borovkova and Assistant of the Department Alexander Kurbako demonstrated devices created at the education-to-research laboratory Interfaculty Technological FABLAB entitled Digital Integrative Bioengineering Systems as part of the Priority 2030 programme.

The scientists have shown diagnostic devices for personalised medicine, namely a stationary device for screening diagnostics of disorders in the cardiovascular system and wearable daily monitors for the diagnosis of diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems.

The exhibits also included the joint developments of the Institute of Physics and the Injection R&D enterprise – various versions of the device for controlling the laser soldering machine.

The scientists also presented the installations used to teach students how to program microcontrollers as part of the professional retraining programs of the Digital Departments – a training board, a tracked performer chassis, and a programmable robot arm.

‘Since childhood, I have had good impressions and great admiration for VDNH. I heard about the students who presented their designs at this exhibition, and I was kindly envious of this opportunity. For our country, VDNH is the brightest venue, and it is a great honour to have the opportunity to perform at it. To present our dear university at such an exhibition is very important and significant for the popularisation of Saratov State University among applicants,’ Anatolii Karavayev said.

To note, Open Days of universities with the participation of more than 80 universities of Russia are held at the Russia exhibition and forum from May 16 to May 31. The events are organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Knowledge Russian Society.