TOMSK, Oct 8 - RIA Tomsk. Students and postgraduate students of Tomsk State University (TSU) and Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) studied advanced physical and chemical research methods under the course of Francisco Aires, professor of Lyon Institute of Catalysis and Ecology; coeducation became a test of "Big University" format, TSU press service reported on Tuesday.
Earlier it was reported that the regional authorities want to create a “Big University” in Tomsk by 2020, which, while retaining legal independence, will include all universities and research institutes. Integration is necessary to win the competition of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation to create one of the 15 world-class research and educational centers (REC). Tomsk is already on the list of 20 cities where conditions for the formation of REC have developed.
According to the press service, students and postgraduate students of TSU and TPU together underwent training under the course of the professor of Lyon Institute of Catalysis and Ecology Francisco Aires. Students mastered new physical and chemical research methods that will allow them to control the properties of nanoparticles and create new materials with a modified surface.
"For us this joint training course - is a test ball, an attempt to test the training in a new format, which involves the "Big University", uniting all Tomsk universities and research institutes. A collaboration of universities and research institutes will work to create a REC", - the director of the TSU Institute of "Smart Materials and Technology" Irina Kurzina is quoted in the message.
It is noted that Lyon Institute of Catalysis and Ecology for 25 years has been one of the leaders in the development of active catalysts, new catalytic technologies and the introduction of research tools in catalysis and surface science. TSU has been cooperating with the leading employee of the Institute professor Aires for 17 years.“I trained a team of 35 students and postgraduate students from two universities, helped them master advanced research physicochemical methods. At the same time, the task of the listeners was not only to learn the theory, but also to gain practical skills and protect their own projects”, - Aires commented.
It is clarified that Aires taught methods that make it possible with atomic accuracy to establish the structure, composition and morphology of the surface, control the properties of nanoparticles and determine the mechanisms of catalytic reactions. Tomsk citizens mastered atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy.
It was previously reported that by 2024 at least 15 world-class research and educational centers should be created in the Russian Federation based on the integration of universities, scientific organizations and enterprises in the real sector of the economy. The Government of the Russian Federation included Tomsk among the 20 cities where the conditions for the formation of the REC were formed. Tomsk did not get to the number of “pilots” of the project, along with other applicants it will have to go through competitive selection in 2020.