Water Museum

In December, students from the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Municipal Services (FEE&MS) attended career guidance excursions aimed at broadening their professional horizons and introducing them to the practical aspects of their future careers.

The first trip was to the Skolkovo Innovation Center. Participants toured the technology park's laboratories, attended lectures by residents, and attended startup project presentations. The students were particularly interested in a lecture on technological entrepreneurship and startup development, which explored modern approaches to the commercialization of innovative solutions.

"I was very lucky to be invited to Skolkovo. We learned about the center's history, the university, and production in a wide range of fields—from video game development to satellite design. We were there for only one day, but even in that time we learned a lot," said fourth-year student Grigory Vorozhtsov.

Also, first-, second-, and fourth-year students went on trips to the St Petersburg Planetarium and the Main (Pulkovo) Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

At the planetarium, students explored a collection of geological exhibits and learned how much the minerals on display would weigh on other planets in the solar system. They then embarked on a virtual journey through the night sky, where they learned about the formation of planets and stars and how the starry sky changes throughout the day.

At the Pulkovo Observatory, the students visited the Astronomical Museum, where they learned about the history of the scientific institution and saw unique instruments and devices from the 19th and 20th centuries, a collection of astronomical clocks, and telescope optics. Of particular interest were the Pulkovo Meridian, which previously served as the reference point for all geographic maps of Russia, and the initial zero point of the country's triangulation.

Tour participants examined a 62-kilogram fragment of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite and peered through the eyepiece of a real telescope. The guide's account of the work of astronomers, past and present, provided a fresh perspective on the role of fundamental science and its importance for modern research.

The final excursion was "The underground world of St Petersburg," a tour for first- and second-year students majoring in Civil engineering (Water Supply and Sanitation). An interactive installation in the Water Museum allowed participants to trace the entire journey of water—from the water intakes at the bottom of the Neva River, through filtration stations and city highways, to residential buildings. Participants took a virtual walk along the bottom of sewer collectors, visited Bely Island and the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, and watched a film about the current state of St Petersburg's water supply and wastewater treatment systems.

"The tour allowed us to see life in the metropolis from the inside and get a feel for its infrastructure. This was very helpful in understanding the importance of training water supply and sanitation specialists. The tours have become an important part of SPbGASU's career guidance program, allowing students to gain practical experience with modern technologies, scientific research, and engineering infrastructure, as well as to see how the knowledge they gain at the university can be applied in real-world applications," noted Yulia Romanova, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Water Use and Environment.