Environmental Summer School for Harbin Institute of Technology Students Held at INRTU with En+ Backing
The summer school for ecology students from Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) took place at INRTU, supported by En+. Participants attended workshops on the Baikal region’s ecosystem and visited the Baikal Museum of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS), the En+ water bottling plant, and the Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Plant.
The educational project was implemented under the framework of the International Research Center for Pure Water, established jointly by HIT and INRTU in 2024. The center’s mission is to combine the parties’ competencies in water quality technologies and reducing anthropogenic impact on the environment.
The HIT delegation included Prof. Sun Kai, Prof. Bai Langming, and 12 students specializing in Ecology. The summer school was coordinated by the Department for International Scientific and Educational Projects, led by Constantine Grigorov.
The program featured lectures, workshops, and field research covering diverse areas of ecology, sustainable development, and environmental protection.
The Chinese delegation visited the Baikal Museum (SB RAS) in Listvyanka village, a research institution dedicated to studying the evolutionary specifics of Lake Baikal's ecosystem. The museum boasts a unique exhibition that includes a virtual submersible dive, allowing visitors to explore the lake's depths and observe the natural wonders of the Baikal floor.
The Chinese students also visited Port Baikal village, home to En+ water bottling plant. The participants gained insights into water production technology and toured quality control laboratories at the facility.
The program further included educational trips to Bolshiye Koty village and the Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Plant. The Chinese delegation also traveled to Arshan and visited Chersky Volcano in the Tunkinsky district.
According to Constantine Grigorov, the first environmental summer school was successfully concluded in June:
"Last time, we hosted a delegation of postgraduate students from Harbin Institute of Technology. These projects strengthen the partnership between our universities and enhance ecological proficiency for both students and faculty.
During this intensive program, we developed plans to expand cooperation in academic mobility for students and staff, joint degree programs, and conservation initiatives for the Lake Baikal ecosystem. We hope that these summer schools will become a tradition, alternating between INRTU and HIT campuses."
INRTU and HIT have been collaborating since 2019. The Russian and Chinese universities are connected by a joint Ecology and Green Technologies master's program, which is currently accepting applications. This three-year program (one year in Russia and two in China) is implemented with the support of En+. Graduates receive two diplomas and guaranteed employment at En+. For more details about the program, please follow the link.
Photos by Arseniy Chekmarev and Sun Kai
