Gubkin University students went on environmental expeditions in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area

In July-August 2018, Gubkin University students of the Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering went on environmental expeditions in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area of the Russian Federation. The expeditions were organized by the Russian Center for Arctic’s Development with the support of the Vice-Rector for Innovation and Commercialization Mikhail Silin under the guidance of the Professor of the Department of Industrial Ecology Elena Mazlova.

As part of the first expedition, Gubkin University students were first trained in the mountains of the Polar Urals in order to test their physical and moral readiness. During the training, the students climbed the Rai-Iz Massif and visited the territory of the abandoned meteorological station.

Later on, Gubkin University students with other volunteers from Green Arctic cleared the territory of the Vilkitsky Island in the Kara Sea from scrap metal and other debris. In addition to volunteering, the students were engaged in environmental studies – they took soil samples to determine the level of contamination with oil products and checked the effectiveness of bioremediation of soils in this zone.

The second expedition took place on the territory of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. The purpose of this expedition was to assess the accumulated environmental damage in the Arctic regions. The students were engaged in conducting a full analysis of the terrain, identifying the main sources of anthropogenic pollution of the abandoned tropospheric station “Kama” located near the village of Mys Kamenny and the military base located at Mys Setnoy, as well as suggesting methods for reclamation of these territories.

As a result, the students acquired practical experience and got the opportunity to re-evaluate the environmental situation in the Russian Arctic.