Karelian biologists ran successful trials of a technique for detecting fish infection with helminths based on traces of their DNA in water

Specialists of the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS were the first in the republic to test the method of environmental DNA analysis (eDNA) to detect a model fish parasite in an area impacted by trout farms. This is especially important in the context of a growing number of fish farms that use the practice of transporting stock (fry) from between water bodies, which creates a risk of new parasites appearing in lakes. Currently, fish have to be captured and examined to detect an infection, and for the output to be accurate the sample should be at least 15 fish. This may be problematic in the wild and costly in cage facilities. The eDNA diagnosis system can detect the presence of parasites directly in water samples.

“To move forward, being complementary to each other”: the country's leading scientists discussed interactions in Arctic studies

Research of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems from the economic and ecological perspectives, the international Arctic policy - the results of work on these topics were presented by scientists of the KarRC RAS at the external session of the RAS Scientific Council for Arctic and Antarctic Studies held on April 25 in Petrozavodsk. In the course of the discussion the Council members deliberated on the challenges and opportunities for collaboration within the Arctic theme.

“Arctic resources must be utilized while minimizing harmful effects”: development of northern territories in the focus of attention of leading scientists

The conference “Environmental Problems of Arctic Territories” started at the Karelian Research Centre RAS within an external session of the RAS Scientific Council for Arctic and Antarctic Studies. The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation accounts for about 28% of the country's territory, contains the bulk of the country's oil and gas reserves, immense human capital, and transportation capabilities, while at the same time northern ecosystems are vulnerable and require special treatment. The ways to efficiently use and manage the Arctic while minimizing damage are being discussed by representatives of the country's leading scientific organizations.

Fellows of the Russian Academy of Sciences have gathered in Karelia to discuss Arctic environmental issues

Events related to the external session of the RAS Scientific Council for Arctic and Antarctic Studies have started at the Karelian Research Centre RAS. In the coming two days, the country's leading scientists will discuss environmental problems of Russia's Arctic territories in different formats. In the run-up to the main agenda, journalists' questions were answered by Olga Bakhmet, KarRC RAS Director General, Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute, Anatoly Soloviev, Acting Chairman of the RAS Scientific Council for Arctic and Antarctic Studies, and Mikhail Slipechnuk, President of the Russian Association of Polar Explorers.

Personnel mobility may be key to the development of Arctic enterprises

Scientists have determined that the workforce factor, namely the number of employees, has a stronger impact on the revenue of companies in the Arctic regions of Russia than the capital of these organizations. This correlation is particularly pronounced in regions with a well-developed road network. The reason for this is that a well-developed transport infrastructure makes the workforce more mobile and efficient, which can be regarded as a key factor of economic growth in the Arctic.

Scientists assess the digital divide between communities in Northwest Russia by studying public authority pages on social media

Social media can be an efficient means of communication between citizens and local authorities. Nowadays, settlement administrations are required to maintain public-authority pages on social networks on social networks. At the same time, when analyzed in a certain way, these resources reveal a digital divide at the level of municipalities and settlements. In his presentation at KarRC RAS Learned Council session Egor Prokopyev, Senior Researcher of the Institute of Economics KarRC RAS, reported the results of a study of certain indicators of almost all official VKontakte groups of districts, cities and rural settlements of Northwest Russia and the recommendations developed on its basis.