AltSU sociologists study how people adapt to life in harsh climate and permafrost

From 23 to 28 September, a mountain sociological research expedition took place in the Republic of Altai as part of a scientific project supported by the Russian Science Foundation, on the topic “Changes in climate, glaciers and landscapes of Altai in the past, present and future as the basis for the adaptation model of the population of inland mountainous regions of Eurasia to climate-induced environmental changes.”

Sociologists from Altai State University under the guidance of Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor Svetlana Maksimova worked for six days in the Kosh-Agachsky and Ulagansky districts of the Altai Republic. The participants of the expedition were teachers, graduate students and undergraduates of the Department of Social and Youth Policy of the Institute of Humanities.

Sociologists talked with people to understand how they farm, live, and adapt to climate change. For example, scientists were interested in how people living in close proximity to glaciers adapt to periodically occurring dangerous phenomena: landslides, rockfalls, and earthquakes.

"We talked with residents of the village of Novy Beltir, built for people who suffered from the Chui earthquake in 2003. At that time the village of Beltir was almost completely destroyed. Then we conducted a study in the village of Chagan-Uzun. It is located high in the mountains, next to a glacier and a lake that can overflow and flood the village. We visited several more settlements, conducted in-depth interviews with some people. We asked what people do to survive in such a difficult climate, how they manage their household. The questionnaire also included questions about the number of family members, their education, how they assess their financial situation, living conditions, etc. In total, we interviewed about 400 people," said Svetlana Maksimova.

The project is being implemented jointly with St. Petersburg State University under the leadership of Doctor of Geography, Professor Dmitry Ganyushkin. Scientists from St Petersburg University are responsible for the natural science component. In particular, in this expedition they were engaged in the study of the glacier.

The implementation of the interdisciplinary project is planned until 2025. Studies are planned in the mountainous regions of Altai Krai, the Republic of Tyva and Mongolia.