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."
In the last five years, academic staff of RUDN alongside the Chinese universities and research centers has achieved impressive results. More than 1,000 scientific publications were made jointly in a wide spectrum from engineering and technology to medicine and social sciences. 19 of these materials were published in top-rated journals which verifies that the works were world-class level.
RUDN University has been included among the leaders in the BRICS ESG University Ranking among 65 leading universities. They were assessed on 20 criteria, ranging from education and research to environmental and social agendas.
At a meeting of the new RUDN University Dissertation Council in the specialties of 2.1.12 “Architecture of Buildings and Structures. Creative Concepts of Architectural Activity” and 2.1.11 “Theory and History of Architecture, Restoration and Reconstruction of Historical and Architectural Heritage”, three postgraduate students — Natalia Kalinina, Evgeny Ogienko, and Yulia Loginova — were awarded PhD degrees in Architecture for the first time in the university's history.