Scientists from the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Altai State University study nature together with schoolchildren

Biologists of Altai State University are actively working with schoolchildren of the region within the framework of the project “Practical Science for Schoolchildren. University Level”, which received support from the Presidential Grants Foundation.

One of the latest trips took place in the Altai region to the activists of the Adopt a Wildlife Sanctuary regional program. Ekaterina Vernigor, student of the 10th grade of Altai secondary school No. 5, activist of the ecological and local history circle "I am a researcher!" shares her impressions:

“I would like to tell you about our interesting expedition, which took place over four days together with scientists from the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology. On the first day, our team "I am a researcher!" together with our friends from the neighboring village of Sarasa - the Younnat team and the Caravan team from the Pervomaisky district, went to Fadeev Log, which is located near the village of Altayskoye. We quickly set up a camp, lit a fire and started cooking dinner, after which everyone had fun playing the interactive board game Home for the Stork. Didn't even notice how it started getting dark. The sunset was gorgeous! Delicate rose petals were scattered across the sky. The next day, in a friendly company, we went to a botany lesson with Doctor of Science, Professor Tatyana Terekhina. The lesson was very interesting, we learned a lot, collected plants for herbarium. Returning to the camp, they repeated the names of the species encountered, compiling labels for each collected plant specimen. After lunch, we went to check the population of the bird houses, which the guys and I hung in the log in the spring and autumn of last year. In the evening we decided to turn off our tent camp and moved to the Arbanak log near the village of Sarasa. After exercising in the morning, we sat down to test our knowledge of botany, recalling the plants from the collected herbarium. After the "test" the organizers of our expedition, Viktor Nikulkin and Lyudmila Pozhidaeva, presented prizes for the participation in research competitions of the Adopt a Wildlife Sanctuary program. We got a portable bluetooth speaker, which we plan to use to study the birds of our area. Many birds are well attracted to the voice of their fellows, the recordings of which can be easily played in nature on the phone through such a speaker. After the awarding ceremony, all together, under the strict guidance of the "mistress" of the Arbanak log - Victoria Berdyugina, we went for a walk. It is here, in the log, that the Younnat team designs an educational route. And we became the first visitors to this ecological trail! We met many of the inhabitants of these places: among them a rare butterfly from the Red Book of Russia, Apollo common, as well as a rather interesting creature - a viper. After lunch we met new guests - zoologists came to visit us: Elena Shapetko and Elena Kuchina. We had a great time with them, observing vertebrates and insects. At 5 o'clock the next morning, together with Elena, we went to watch the birds. Not far from the camp, in a puddle, we saw the trail of a badger, learned to hear and distinguish the voices of birds: yellow hammer, rose finch, warblers, eastern turtle doves, chiffchaff, chaffinch, lesser whitethroat, nuthatch, oriole, and pipit. Later we went again to the surroundings, but this time on an entomological excursion, where we again met Apollo. It was interesting and exciting, we learned a lot of new and interesting things, and also made acquaintances with wonderful people! I am delighted with this expedition and am immensely grateful to the organizers for the invitation!"