Head of the Center for Mathematical Modeling and Design of Sustainable Ecosystems RUDN notes promising forms for strengthening cooperation with German partners
The Center for Mathematical Modeling and Design of Sustainable Ecosystems, headed by RUDN professor Yakov Kuzyakov, prepared proposals for inclusion in the road map of cooperation between Russia and Germany in the field of education, science, research and innovation.
Among the priority topics are assessment of ecosystem services of urban soils and green infrastructure, smart technologies for sustainable development of megacities in the context of global climate change, biogeochemical cycles in the soil-plant-atmosphere system, development and application of remote sensing and high-frequency monitoring.
At the moment, the interaction between the Center for Mathematical Modeling and Design of Sustainable Ecosystems and German partners is realized on the basis of scientific groups, as well as students and academics mobility. Yakov Kuzyakov noted the promising forms for strengthening cooperation:
- opening of a laboratory for analysis and modeling of ecosystem services of urban soils;
- development and implementation of the joint international field summer school " Monitoring, modeling and management of urban soils and green infrastructure" in cooperation with the Technical University of Berlin;
- development and implementation of the international network program of the graduate program "Green infrastructure and Sustainable Development" in cooperation with the Technical University of Berlin (Prof. T. Nehls and G. Wessolek), the Free University of Berlin (Prof. M. Rillig) and the University of Getingen (Prof. Kuzyakova, Prof. E. Blagodatskaya);
- conducting research together with the Department of Chemistry and Pedology of Soil of the University of Hohenheim (34th place in QS World University Rankings ranking in "Agriculture and Forestry").
According to Yakov Kuzyakov, "the implementation of cooperation in these areas will significantly expand the range of the Center’s research, get new interesting scientific results and contribute to the promotion of the RUDN image both in Germany and in the whole of the international scientific community."
A RUDN agrotechnologist has identified wheat genotypes that are resistant to a dangerous fungal pathogen that infects plants even before the snow melts and reduces yields.
RUDN University engineers have calculated the parameters of a system that can prevent lunar power plants from overheating. These developments will be needed when planning for long-term lunar missions and colonizing the satellite.
Landfills are the third largest source of anthropogenic methane in the world. They account for ~11% of estimated global emissions. Methane is 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide and is the second largest driver of man-made climate change. Scientists from around the world met at Zhejiang University's Hangzhou campus to determine the best available technologies for recovering energy and materials from non-recyclable residual waste.