Regional Center of the Russian Geographical Society opened in Kazan
The ceremony was held at KFU on 21 March.
In the foyer of the UNICS Center, several hallway exhibitions were organized, including 180 years of the Russian Geographical Society, Symbols of the Volga-Kama State Natural Biosphere Reserve, Unique Rocks of Tatarstan and Ulyanovsk Oblast, and 105 Years of the Birth of Anver Taisin – Author of the First Textbook on the Geography of Tatarstan.
The guests could also join short quiz competitions and join an environmental volunteer movement of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS).
The audience was greeted by Vice-Rector for Earth Sciences Danis Nurgaliev. He encouraged young people to be proactive and to strive for adventure, “Travel is the most pleasant thing in life. It’s so interesting to visit Cape Horn or Cape of Good Hope, see the volcanoes of Indonesia, hop up in a truck and traverse the deserted lands of Australia or the Atacama Desert in Chile. It’s wonderful to see Lake Baikal in winter with its translucent ice. There are many breathtaking places!”
Deputy Chairman of the Regional Office of the RGS Andrei Agarkov reminded that the Society was founded in 1845 by Emperor Nicholas I.
Counselor of the Department of Youth Affairs of the Executive Directorate of the RGS Anna Kholod said that the Society has not ceased its activities for even one day in its 180 years of history. She invited the young people to join the Society and visit the most beautiful and unique places in our vast country. There are no age limitations, and even middle schoolers can partake.
After the opening ceremony, two lectures were presented – about the history of the Volga-Kama Natural Reserve and A. Leonov Underwater Research Team.
Chairman of the RGS Youth Center in Tatarstan, Senior Lecturer of the Department of the Theory and Methodology of Geographical and Environmental Education of the Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies Rustam Farkhullin, said that this opening lays a new path for geography in our region.
“Kazan University has long cooperated with the Russian Geographical Society. The latest events were dedicated to the 205th anniversary of the discovery of the Antarctica held in January 2025. There is a number of meetings planned in the nearest two months as well for employees and high schoolers,” he informed.
