Orenburg state university

Steppe Forum in OSU

On 27^th of May Orenburg State University became a center for the International Steppe Forum of Russian Geographical Association and the 7^th International Workshop "Steppes of the North Eurasia".

The scientists from 42 regions and 10 countries took part in this event: from practically all leading Russian universities and nature reserves of Hungary, Germany, Kazakhstan Republic, Azerbaijhan and Ukraine. This meeting was associated with the Steppe Day — official holiday in Orenburg region celebrated on 30^th of March. Workshop "Steppes of the North Eurasia" is organizing once in three years from 1997.

A special guest of this workshop — Artur Chilingarov, first Vice-President of Russian Geographical Association, President of State Polar Academy, Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Russian Federation.

Artur Chilingarov congratulated Orenburg’s scientists on the III National Award "Crystal Compass" in the sphere of geography, ecology, preservation and popularization of natural and historical-cultural heritage of Russia. The project "Reserved Orenburg region" of Steppe Institute in Ural Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Orenburg Branch of Russian Geographical Association took the first prize. In frames of this project the authors created few state reserves and national parks such as "Orenburgskiy", "Buzulukskiy bor", "Shaitan-Tau".

The plenary session was continued by Aleksandr Chibilev with the report "Steppe Eurasia: problems of identification and preservation for the main landscape area of the continent". It was possible to see the steppe world of Eurasia at the exhibition located in lobby. Artur Chilingarov, first Vice-President of Russian Geographical Association, also met with students of Orenburg universities. Thematic sessions, round tables were conducted at OSU premises until 29^th of May.