On December 19, the ceremony of presenting government awards was held held in the Nobility Assembly Hall of the National Museum of the Republic of Karelia. Head of the Republic of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov celebrated citizens of the region who have gained recognition in their specific fields. Greeting the gathering, he emphasized that the republic's greatest asset is its people.

The Medal for Merit to the Republic of Karelia was awarded to Nikolai Filatov, Chief Researcher at the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS.

Nikolai Filatov is a Corresponding Fellow of the Russian Academy of Sciences, geographer, oceanologist, and hydrologist known in Russia as well as abroad, advisor to the KarRC RAS Director General. The scientist was the organizer and first director of the KarRC RAS Northern Water Problems Institute. Nikolai Filatov is the author of over 600 scientific publications.

Today, Nikolai Filatov is one of Russia's leading experts in integrated studies of inland water bodies and sea coasts. In 2021, the scientist was awarded the Litke Gold Medal for research on climate change impact on large lakes and seas of Northern Eurasia. This October, Nikolai Filatov was given the honorary title of Merited Geographer of the Russian Federation.

The oceanologist's research is both of basic-science significance and of practical value. He contributed to developing solutions for the preservation of the resources of Lake Ladoga and Lake Onego during the hydraulic engineering phase of designing water intakes and spillways, as well as to designing the dam and flood protection structures in the Gulf of Finland for St. Petersburg. His results were taken into account when addressing the problems of dramatic water level decline of Lake Sevan in Armenia and the Caspian Sea. The research results produced by NWPI KarRC RAS are now required when determining the permissible level of anthropogenic load on lakes and the White Sea.

The scientist has always tended to employ state-of-the-art technologies: he was among the first geographers in Russia to apply geographic information systems and remote sensing aerospace tools. The researcher continues to be a proponent of innovative approaches, including the use of AI theory methods and systemic methods for analyzing complex ecological-socio-economic processes.

"I am grateful to everyone who has helped me, with whom we worked together to establish the Northern Water Problems Institute of the Karelian Research Centre in 1991. I am grateful to my colleagues in Karelia and in many cities across Russia and abroad: we cooperate with India, China, and other countries", – said Nikolai Filatov after the ceremony, talking to Sampo TV 360 journalists.

Congratulations to Nikolai Nikolaevich on the award and best wishes of health, wellbeing, and grand scientific achievements!

Photo: Media Office of the Republic of Karelia Government