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Perm State University international contacts wear no tires even under pressure of COVID-19. Recently, PSU has extended a cooperation agreement with the University of Pau and the Adour Region (Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) , France). The cooperation supervised by the Department of Linguistics and Translation on behalf PSU, will be extended for another 5 years.

“So much memories! We hope you are all doing well!” French students are responding to the news.

The PSU and the University of Pau and the Adour Region have been connected by more than 25 years of mutual exchange, cooperation and friendship. More than 100 students have already visited the universities of Pau and Perm during this time, completed practical training, internships, and became acquainted with French and Russian culture.

The University of Pau and the Adour Region (Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) is a French multi-site, public university. Founded in 1972, it is based in Pau (département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques) but also in Bayonne, Tarbes and Mont-de-Marsan in the Adour river basin. Coming administratively under the Academy of Bordeaux, it is the third largest university in southwestern France (after Bordeaux and Toulouse), with some 12,000 students.

The city is located in the heart of the former sovereign Principality of Béarn, of which it was the capital from 1464. Bordered by the Gave de Pau, the city is located 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean and 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Spain. Archaeology has asserted that the site has been occupied at least since the Gallo-Roman era. The history of Pau is marked by the birth of Henry of Bourbon (Henry IV), who became famous for his willingness to put an end to the seemingly endless Wars of Religion.

Pau turned widely with the construction of many villas and mansions to accommodate wintering rich people. The city also developed all elements of modernity for their comfort: baths, funicular and railway station. It was at this time that Pau became one of the world capitals of the nascent aerospace industry under the influence of the Wright brothers, crowned heads then pressed there to observe the flight of the first flying school in the world.

The Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, founded in 1972, accounts for a large student population. The city plays a leading role for Béarn but also for a wide segment of the Adour area. An administrative capital, it boasts a dense economic fabric including service activities. Pau also plays the role of cultural capital with many events, including sports. Pau’s heritage extends over several centuries, its diversity and its quality allowed it to obtain the label of City of Art and History in 2011.

Univerzitet u Beogradu (Republic of Serbia) and Perm State University (Russia), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding – to pursue a mutually beneficial collaboration for education, cooperation, and scholarly activities.

The objectives to be achieved by the universities through the Memorandum include:

• to collaborate to improve the educational process by using educational technologies, including information and media technologies, the Internet, and the computing platforms, for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members of the universities;
• to develop and enhance multicultural and intercultural competences;
• to collaborate to develop academic scholarship and applied research I fields of study appropriate to interests of students and faculty of the universities.

To achieve these objects, the universities will seek to:

• develop academic exchange programs for students and faculty members, with a focus on the creation of joint international educational, scholarly and applied projects;
• develop joint educational, scientific and practical research projects related to issues identified by members of each university:
• involve faculties and institutes in joint international projects.

PSU Collaborations with the University of Belgrade

Perm and Serbian scientists collaborate in both in natural sciences and humanities. For a long time, linguists from PSU and University of Belgrade Faculty of Philology have been performing joint sociolinguistic research urban speech.

In 2019, PSU and University of Belgrade fruitfully worked on the monograph on Dams and Reservoirs at Evaporites, and successfully published at Springer Publishing Company. The publication describes the most common geological hazards associated with dams and reservoirs on gypsum-bearing or saline foundations, as well as a set of geotechnical methods for strengthening such rocks:

Milanović P., Maksimovich N., Meshcheriakova O. Dams and Reservoirs in Evaporites / Springer, Cham, 2019. – 157 p. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18521-3 https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-18521-3

The authors of the monograph include Professor Petar Milanovic, University of Belgrade (Serbia), President of the National Serb Group of the International Association of Hydrogeologists; Professor Nikolay Maksimovich, Deputy Director for Research, Institute of Natural Sciences, PSU, as well as Olga Meshcheryakova, Associate Professor of the Department of Dynamic Geology and Hydrogeology PSU, Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Geology of Technogenic Processes, Institute of Natural Sciences, PSU.

The University of Belgrade: for Reference

The University of Belgrade (Univerzitet u Beogradu) is a public higher educational institution, the oldest and largest university in Serbia, and one of the most important educational and research centers in Europe. Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university.

The University has around 97,700 enrolled students and over 4,800 members of academic staff. Since its founding, the University has educated more than 378,000 bachelors, around 25,100 masters, 29,000 specialists and 14,670 doctors. The University comprises 31 faculties, 12 research institutes, the university library, and 9 university centres. The faculties are organized into 4 groups: social sciences and humanities; medical sciences; natural sciences and mathematics; and technological sciences.

On the prestigious ShanghaiRanking (ARWU), the University of Belgrade ranks between 401st and 500th place, according to the most recent (2018) global ranking. In 2014, it ranked 151-200, specifically in the areas of mathematics and physics.

PSU geologists and microbiologists have patented a way to protect dams from destruction at high concentrations of methane at their base. The new method will improve the safety of the operation of those dams dependent on sandy and clay soils.

“Dams based on clay and sandy soils are potentially susceptible to intensive microbiological processes, as a result of which an abnormal amount of methane can be released in underground space, compared to normal conditions. This, in turn, can lead to the softening of soils and the deterioration of their physical and mechanical properties compared with the design, and therefore negatively affect the safe operation of hydraulic structures. We saw our task in resolution of this problem, ” states Artyom Demenev, senior researcher, PSU Natural Sciences Institute.

PSU scientists have suggested that iron chloride (FeCl₃) be injected into the ground through injection wells and emitters. The addition of additional substances will reduce the emission of methane by microbes, preventing the destruction of dams.

“Microorganisms found in sand and clay can consume all kinds of substances and emit methane during their processing. We decided to replace the products they consume with iron chloride, during the processing of which only iron oxide is released in acceptable standards. Thus, methane emissions will be less, which means the properties of soils should not deteriorate, ”

Vadim Khmurchik, senior researcher, PSU Natural Sciences Institute

According to the research team, the solution they propose is cheaper than standard methods of control, as well as environment-friendly.

“Usually, special antiseptics are used to solve such problems, but they are more expensive and toxic than the method offered. In addition, the formation of harmful substances during the implementation of our technology is reduced, in comparison with traditional methods, ”

Nikolai Maksimovich, Honored Ecologist of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director, PSU Institute of Natural Sciences.

The invention by PSU researchers may be applied around the Volga basin and South Russia, as well as other territories with increased methane generation at the base of dams. It’s adaptation also appears reasonable for the use in landfills and waste shafts with significant underground methane emissions.