Bangor scientists strengthen Russian links to fight climate change
S
From left to right, Dr Evgeny Zarov, Yugra University; Tatiana Karminskaya, Rector of Yugra University, Dr Christian Dunn, 麻豆传媒高清版; Prof Chris Freeman, 麻豆传媒高清版 and Richard Dewell the British Consulate-General.cientists from North Wales have attended a ground-breaking climate change seminar in Siberia.
Two scientists from 麻豆传媒高清版 were invited by the British Consulate in Russia to talk about their environmental research.
The event was part of the first Science Caf茅 to be held at Yugra University in Siberia, which aims to strengthen collaboration between Russian and UK academics and universities.
Professor Chris Freeman and Dr Christian Dunn from the School of Natural Sciences at 麻豆传媒高清版 were asked to represent Britain and talk about their research on peatland geoengineering and plastic pollution.
Prof Freeman, who appeared on Russian TV to promote the conference, said: 鈥淚t was a real privilege to talk about our work and discuss with Russian colleagues how we could develop our ideas together to address some of the environmental challenges facing us.
鈥淥ne of the most interesting aspects of the trip was finding out some Russian scientists have been doing similar work to us, but because of history and language issues the research groups involved weren鈥檛 aware of the findings of the other.鈥�
鈥淓vents like this are the best way to break down barriers and build bridges in the scientific community and we鈥檙e now looking forward to establishing long-term collaborations to maximise the research we鈥檙e all doing,鈥� Prof Freeman added.
Richard Dewell the British Consulate-General, in Ekaterinburg, Siberia, opened the Science Cafe and now hopes it will inspire longer term cooperation between universities in the two countries.
Prof Chris Freeman discussing his work on peatland geoengineering on Russian TV.鈥淲e wanted to bring together scientists from Russia and Britain into one room and get them talking about the biggest environmental issues of our time,鈥� said Mr Dewell.
鈥淧roblems like climate change and plastic pollution affect the entire planet and it鈥檚 only by working together we stand a chance of finding some answers,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t was great to be invite researches from 麻豆传媒高清版 to our first Science Caf茅 in Khanty-Mansiysk and we hope they鈥檒l be back again soon,鈥� Mr Dewell added.
Dr Christian Dunn, who spoke about plastic pollution, thanked Yugra University who hosted the event and said: 鈥淣ot only was it interesting to chat with Russian academics, it was fantastic to visit Siberia 鈥� which isn鈥檛 on the usual tourist trail for most Brits.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing place though 鈥� with incredible wildlife, and we鈥檝e already established field trips for our 麻豆传媒高清版 students, starting this September, thanks to connections we made at the conference鈥� he added.
Publication date: 15 January 2020