– In 2025, amendments were made to several documents of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia. One of the things changed was the formation principles of state assignments. For instance, the expert review of research topics and reports will become more stringent. Funding for any topic that receives a negative expert review from the RAS will be terminated, – remarked Olga Bakhmet.
The report mostly concentrated on the results of the Centre’s activities and its development prospects. Last year, the research findings of KarRC RAS staff were published in 493 articles in journals indexed in Russian and international scientific citation databases. Seven monographs were published. In 2025, scientists were engaged in studies within 193 research themes, including 36 implemented under state assignment to the KarRC RAS, 20 under Russian Science Foundation grants, 2 within projects funded by the Russian Geographical Society, 18 within other competition-selected projects, 3 within international projects, 2 under state contracts, and 112 under commercial contracts.
Olga Bakhmet paid special attention to the most significant scientific results addressing basic as well as applied problems. For instance, researchers from the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS conducted a comparative study to identify key nutritional and biotechnological indices in common North Atlantic mesopelagic fish species. This study is important for determining the potential nutritional value of these species for humans, as well as their potential for the biotechnology industry.
Researchers at the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS designed a horn-type cell for studying the dielectric permittivity of crystalline rocks in the GPR frequency range. This enables determining crystalline rock parameters and identifying discontinuities within them.
Employees of the Forest Research Institute KarRC RAS analyzed long-term natural patterns in growth and dieback, as well as the spatial structure of mid-boreal spruce stands in Northern European Russia. Based on these findings, principles can be recommended for selecting trees to be logged down in selective harvest systems in protective spruce forests.
Researchers at the Institute of Applied Mathematical Research KarRC RAS designed a data collection methodology for constructing transport graphs. They demonstrated the advisability of using Yandex Maps API data in combination with open sources such as OpenStreetMap, the Federal Information Address System (FIAS) database, and the "Housing and Urban Environment" National Project.
Archaeologists from the Institute of Linguistics, Literature and History KarRC RAS surveyed land lots at projected quarrying sites for the construction of the Volkhov–Murmansk gas pipeline. The surveys detected a number of charcoal-burning sites in the Kondopoga and Belomorsk Districts of Karelia, which are of high academic interest.
Researchers at the Department for Multidisciplinary Research KarRC RAS designed an original methodology for constructing digital elevation models (DEMs) of terrestrial ecosystems. Specifically, they analyzed an area of over 2 million hectares using high-resolution remote sensing data, cloud technologies, and machine learning. This technique can be applied in environmental monitoring.
Publications included eight issues of the Transactions of the Karelian Research Centre RAS journal, which last year were included in the White List of scientific journals at Level 1, as well as four issues of the journal Mathematical Game Theory and its Applications, included in both the White List and the RSCI list on the Web of Science platform. Also, the inaugural issue of the journal STUDIA NORDICA came out in 2025.
A total of 26 events were organized and hosted by the Karelian Research Centre RAS. Last April, the KarRC RAS organized a meeting of the RAS Scientific Council on Arctic and Antarctic Studies, which discussed environmental issues in Arctic territories of the Russian Federation and the related research results from Karelian scientists. Major events included the All-Russian scientific conference with international participation "Connecting Space and Time: Methods of Spatial Analysis in the Study of the Late Stone Age of Eurasia", the Lipids 2025 All-Russian (with international participants) conference and school for young scientists, the Precambrian Summit-2025 All-Russian conference with international participation, and others.
In 2025, cooperation continued with partners from CIS countries, primarily Belarus and Armenia, as well as from Central and South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Agreements were signed with universities in India and scientific organizations of China, Armenia, and Belarus. Networking with scientific organizations from the BRICS+ continued through international webinars "Studies of Human-altered Ecosystems in BRICS Countries: Building an Expert Network" and "Regional-level Cooperation on Climate Change Issues in BRICS Countries".
Olga Bakhmet also touched upon personnel training matters. As of the beginning of 2026, 71 doctoral students were enrolled in KarRC RAS programs for training scientific and pedagogical staff. One post-doctoral (Dr.Sci.) and five doctoral (Cand. Sci.) dissertations were successfully defended. Early-career researchers at KarRC RAS were awarded presidential and republican-level scholarships. Many scientists received various distinctions, state awards, and honorary titles.
Finally, during her presentation, the Centre’s CEO announced important news: the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia has issued an order to establish a council at the KarRC RAS for Candidate of Sciences and Doctor of Sciences dissertations. Further details regarding the establishment of the dissertation council will be available on the KarRC RAS website shortly.
Following the Director's report, the Centre's staff were invited to ask questions. After the discussion, a vote of the KarRC RAS Academic Council was held, resulting in a formal approval of the report on the key scientific and operational results of the Karelian Research Centre of the RAS for 2025.