The 15th Forum and Competition “Current Issues of Subsoil Usage” under the auspices of UNESCO took place in St. Petersburg in May 2019. Delegates from 85 leading Universities and fuel and energy companies from 30 countries presented their research findings.
The Forum annually becomes a discussion platform for young scientists working in the field of mineral resources and fuel industries. The event gives its participants an opportunity to present their scientific findings and hear advice from professionals.
“First of all, this is a platform for communication between young researchers. It was created for them to maintain their interest in science, move forward, receive new knowledge on key trends in the development of the industry”, explains Vladimir Litvinenko, Rector of St. Petersburg Mining University.
Mining University in Russia’s Northern capital was chosen as the venue for the Forum. Young people present their breakthrough projects on new hydrocarbon processing technologies, which allow obtaining materials with unique properties; recycling industrial and domestic waste, advanced conversion of coal, digital and energy-saving technologies, environmental protection, and methods to increase oil and gas production rates. These are not just theoretical musings — the effect from developments presented at the Forum and eventually launched into production over the 15 years of the Forum existence is measured in billions of dollars.
The delegates paid a special attention to international cooperation enabling progressive development of the entire humankind. The Consul General of Bulgaria in St. Petersburg Angel Antonov remarks: “The Forum promotes cultural communication between people, sets new areas for cooperation, taking our friendship and neighborly relations to a new level. It is symbolic that this year’s contest is patronaged by the International Center for Competencies in Mining Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO, established under the initiative of the Mining University.”
The future holds numerous challenges for the humankind. This includes rapid overpopulation, increased numbers of manmade accidents, greenhouse gas emissions damaging the environment, low reproduction rate of mineral resources, falling profitability of oil mining, and many other factors. Participants of the “Current Issues of Subsoil Usage” Forum are preparing to tackle these issues today.
Based on forpost-sz.ru