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Irkutsk Science Centre |
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Mathematical methods of sustainability and monitoring of complex systems, including those in economy and environment, are under elaboration in the Institute of System Dynamics and Control Theory. On the basis of studies of complex organic and hetero-organic compounds and reaction mechanisms, the Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry, in collaboration with some local chemical enterprises, works out novel chemical products, among which those broadly used in medicine and agriculture, and can offer high-efficiency technologies for wood and biomass processing. The Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry elaborates techniques for cultivation of agricultural plants in the severe Siberian climate using knowledge of physical and chemical processes and genetic information in plant cells, and deals with problems of preservation of biodiversity. The Department of Regional Economic and Social Problems and the Design and Technology Institute for Beam Technologies work as affiliations to the Presidium of the Science Centre. The Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics has a national scale research basis for studies of fundamental problems of solar physics and near-terrestrial space.
The Melentiev Institute of Energy Systems, established during construction of the Angara hydroelectric cascade, became one of the most important centres engaged in theoretical work on energetic complexes and systems to provide a scientific basis for the unified energy strategy for Russia and its regions. The institutes of the Irkutsk Centre have long-existing strong relations with the Irkutsk State University and the Irkutsk State Technological University, two major higher schools of the city. As a result, there exist joint educational and scientific complexes in mathematics, power engineering, biology and geology, a few tens of chairs where scientists from the research institutes are involved in teaching, specialised dissertation councils. Students and postgraduates have many opportunities to go through practical training in the academic institutes and scientific field trips. Scientists from the Irkutsk Science Centre of the SB RAS work closely with the institutes of the East-Siberian Centre of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. They perform joint research in radioecology, study the effect of various viruses and ecotoxicants on health of people and Baikal living organisms and elaborate new biologically active preparations and medicines. Unique natural objects in the region, availability of a complex of major scientific installations and the world level of research at the Irkutsk Centre made it possible to establish three international research centres. The Baikal International Centre for Ecological Research, the International Centre of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, and the International Centre for Active Tectonics and Natural Disasters are successfully running research. Irkutsk Akademgorodok is a complete self-operating district within the city limits, by the side of the Angara River, which comprises residential and working zones with well-developed logistic and social infrastructure. The institutes of the Irkutsk Akademgorodok are joined into a local computer network by an optic-fibre cable and have access to Internet through their own communication unit. |
The Irkutsk region is located in the south of Eastern Siberia, north and west of Lake Baikal. Vast forests that occupy over 75% of the territory make its main wealth. The region is known as a site of the Angara cascade of hydroelectric stations, large pulp-and-paper mills, chemical and machine building industries. Like Tomsk, Irkutsk has been an important cultural centre of Siberia since long ago.
