Ecologically safe development of a large region – the Volga basin

04.03.2024

On February 28, 2024, the NNGASU UNESCO Chair sent a report on its work for 2020-2024 to UNESCO headquarters.

On February 28, 2024, the NNGASU UNESCO Chair sent a report on its work for 2020-2024 to UNESCO headquarters. The report contains both information about important research performed and work plans for the coming years. The first important note is a brief report on the main achievements of the UNESCO Chair.

1.      Scientific and expert-analytical substantiation of federal and regional projects for the sustainable development of the Volga-Caspian region as the implementation of the interdisciplinary UNESCO Volga Vision initiative of 2004 with a focus on the environmentally safe development of a large region - the Volga basin. Since the founding of the UNESCO Chair at NNSUACE, this direction has been developing in cooperation with the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO. Main results 2020-2024 include:

-          rationale for creating a UNESCO Geopark in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The research was carried out within the framework of the Russian Geographical Society project and within the framework of the international Platforms project of the Swedish Institute. A monograph and 5 articles have been published in the proceedings of Earth Sciences conference SGEM and the GREAT RIVERS congress.

-          Scientific research has been carried out on natural hazards including extreme heat, lightning and wind-chill effects as a .threat to formation of a comfortable and safe urban environment in the context of climate change. The result is a theoretical explanation the natural phenomenon and the development of a new concept for the design of comfortable and safe green urban area.

2.      Scientific and expert-analytical activities for the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of the Nizhny Novgorod region in cooperation with the ICOMOS national committee.

-          The scientific and expert support of the professors of the UNESCO Chair ensured the completion of a full range of restoration work on the multi-tiered hyperboloid tower of engineer V.G. Shukhov on the Oka River. As a result, this tower received the status of a cultural heritage site of federal significance. Our next goal is to include the Shukhov Tower on the World Heritage List.

-          The activities of the UNESCO Chair for the preservation of cultural heritage were in demand during the preparations for the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Nizhny Novgorod (the city was founded in 1221). The restoration of the Manege building with St. Nicholas Church and the reconstruction of the lost Holy Spiritual Church and the 17th century bell tower of the Transfiguration Cathedral in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin were carried out based on the recommendations of the UNESCO Chair

3.      Scientific and expert-analytical justification of the transition to low-carbon technologies for industrial enterprises wastewater treatment and recycling of organic waste using biotechnology.

-          Processes for producing methane-hydrogen biogas (Biohythane) using organic waste and highly concentrated wastewater as renewable energy sources by anaerobic fermentation were studied.

-          In particular, the influence of pre-treatment of the fermentable substrate (whey) in the apparatus of a vortex layer of ferromagnetic particles was studied.

-          The use of excess pressure and various immobilizing materials on the process of anaerobic fermentation was studied.

4.      Diploma and degree education. Development of the Curriculum “Management of Urban Development of Territories” (2023). The Curriculum follows master’s program 08.04.01 Construction and Sustainable Development Goals - 2030

5.      Additional education projects include

-          The UNESCO Chair participates in the implementation of the largest international educational online project “BIM-management” in the Russian Federation and the CIS, organized by the State Corporation “Rosatom” in cooperation with NNSUACE and other partners (2020-2023). The scientific management of the project is carried out by the rector D. L. Shchegolev. As part of the project under the guidance of Professor of the UNESCO Chair T.P. Vinogradova digitalized the ensemble of the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896 in Nizhny Novgorod.

-          Development and implementation of the educational program of additional education “Heritage Leaders”, dedicated to the development of historical -cultural potential of small towns of the Nizhny Novgorod region

-          Development and implementation, of an educational program for volunteers “School of Restoration” in order to preserve the rich traditions of wooden architecture in the Nizhny Novgorod region, educate a new generation of craftsmen and support existing restorers.

Implementation of the scientific and educational project “Revival of Boldino estate landscapes of the Pushkin era”, dedicated to the celebration of the anniversary of A.S. Pushkin in 2024.