As a key outcome of the trip, Karelian scientists are launching collaboration with Indian colleagues.
Karelian scientists presiding at a conference
During the visit, Indian colleagues offered the Karelian scientists a busy program, with three scientific conferences at three different universities in Karnataka and visits to several of the universities’ partner institutions. The conferences lasted two to three days, each attended by over 130 Indian scientists representing not only the host university but also nearby research and educational organizations. Some also included representatives of municipal authorities. The main themes of the conferences were climate change, water resource management, and conservation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
KarRC RAS Deputy Director General Alexander Slabunov delivering a talk
Three members of the KarRC RAS group made presentations at each conference. RAS Corresponding Fellow Olga Bakhmet presented the activities of the Karelian Research Center, its main research areas, international cooperation and its future prospects. Research Center’s Deputy Director Alexander Slabunov covered the impact of geological changes on climate change, and Yulia Lukina, Director of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS, talked about the water resources of Karelia, issues related to their management and conservation of aquatic ecosystems, and about the institute's outputs, particularly those potentially useful for Indian colleagues.
The main topics considered for collaboration are water resource conservation and management, studying carbon pools in various ecosystems, using remote sensing data, and making GIS maps. After each presentation, Indian scientists asked many questions, proposed research topics that could be promoted jointly, and discussed the possibilities of applying Karelian scientists’ research outputs to tackle practical problems in India. According to the speakers, some Karelian developments could be taken as a basis and customized for India.
Each conference gathered over 130 Indian scientists
It is worth noting that all the institutes that hosted the conferences are active in the international arena and have a fairly extensive agenda for collaboration with scientists from the US, Canada, Australia, and other countries. As for Russia, contacts with the Karelian Research Center’s COEs were the first steps for these three universities in establishing scientific cooperation with Russia.
While in the Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belagavi, the Russian group met with the Vice-Chancellor of the VTU, Professor Vidyashankar S. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to establish cooperation between our organizations. The collaboration will focus on the study of integrated water resource management and the adaptation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to climate change.
The MoU prepared and agreed upon in advance was signed with the Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering. The focus under this memorandum will on joint research into water and forest resource management, adaptation and resilience to regional climate change.
During meetings with the management of Indian universities, exchanges of scientists, faculty, graduate and post-grad students were discussed. Olga Bakhmet proposed doctoral studies at the KarRC RAS, which offers programs in 29 specializations. Indian colleagues expressed interest in this opportunity. Furthermore, the Indian side has previously proposed to invite our scientists to lecture at Indian universities.
KarRC RAS delegation
Olga Bakhmet also invited Indian colleagues to take part in the international conference on developing BRICS environmental cooperation, scheduled for September 2026 and honoring the 80th anniversary of the founding of the KarRC RAS. The Indian counterparts have already confirmed they will participate.
Olga Bakhmet shared that the KarRC RAS management, as well as Indian colleagues, are now preparing proposals for specific lines of collaboration. After these have been agreed upon, online meetings will be organized so that by September we have concrete proposals to discuss regarding areas to proceed with. The main goal is to establish the network for our and Indian scientists to start collaborating.
- It was a pleasant surprise to see our Indian colleagues felt positive about cooperating in various formats: scientist exchanges, joint research, study trips and internships, doctoral studies. It should be noted that science in India is developing at a tremendous pace. This is happening not only due to the significant financial resources the state allocates for the development of scientific and educational activities, but also due to private investments in higher education and research. All this definitely places India among the world's leaders in scientific development, so we must mainstream interactions with our Indian colleagues and utilize these opportunities to develop our own scientific potential, — said KarRC RAS leader Olga Bakhmet.