Category: Moscow

The representatives from four diplomatic missions, including the Republic of Guinea, the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Uganda, researchers and students from Moscow universities, as well as schoolchildren, attended the forum.

In his inaugural address, RUDN Rector professor Oleg Yastrebov, highlighted the university’s unwavering commitment to guide a new generation of specialists to embrace the boundless possibilities of their chosen domains еnriched by the profound gift of Swahili proficiency, covering the language mastery and translation skills.

Oleg Yastrebov

His Excellency Haba Niankoye, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Guinea warmly welcomed the attendees and wished success to all those studying the Swahili language.

Ms. Semeni Nandonde, First Secretary of the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in the Russian Federation, passionately affirmed Tanzania’s steadfast support for RUDN noble efforts in promoting the Swahili language learning among Russian students. She reiterated her country’s enduring commitment to championing this initiative.

Thomas Edwin Williams, the President of the Association of African Students at RUDN University inspired those gathered to enhance their awareness of African culture and unique linguistic landscape, while learning the Swahili language that speaks to the soul of a vibrant and vast continent.

The research part of the event incorporated reports by distinguished representatives of Academia, youth scientists, and leaders of non-profit educational initiatives. Aslan Abashidze (RUDN Law Institute Director, Full Professor, Dr in Laws, member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), Andrey Barinov (PhD in Economics, Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Global and Strategic Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences), and Alexander Brumarov (founder and leader of AfrikaDa, Russia’s first school of African Languages) highlighted multifaceted treasures of Africa, its cultural and linguistic jewels that serve as living testaments to the continent enduring legacy.

The program of the event was adorned with heartfelt performances prepared by students and schoolchildren who are dedicated to learning Swahili at Moscow’s esteemed universities and schools. A theatrical parable in Swahily from students of the Russian State University of Humanities warned against selfishness through the story of a haughty tree. The audience was also captivated by passionate Swahili songs from MGIMO and RUDN students, as well as from schoolchildren of Moscow school № 1517 . Multilingual sketches about students’ life imbued the event with a true spirit of an international university.

Sevgi Akhmedova, Mikhail Smirnov, Russian State University of Humanities

Student communities from African countries supported the event with cultural exhibitions and stanning dancing performances.

Developing Swahili as one of educational tracks, RUDN University enriches a multilingual agenda in education, and fosters its belief in the transformative power of education.

Sergey Shirinsky,

Associate Professor of the Department of Electromechanics, Electrical and Electronic Apparatus at NRU “MPEI”.

The main speaker of the seminar was Irina Adarchenko, a graduate student from the Institute of Ecology at RUDN University with the presentation “Innovative Tools for Bioeconomy: the case of microalgae production.”

Production

Microalgae production is a key source of valuable bioproducts, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and various other beneficial compounds. However, their extraction involves a complex, multi-stage process.

First, microalgae are cultivated under controlled conditions, whether in open ponds, closed photobioreactors, or fermenters. The biomass produced this way is then harvested and dehydrated. To release the contents of the cells, it is necessary to remove the cell walls. This can be done through mechanical, chemical, or enzymatic methods. Next step is the extraction process, where organic solvents, alkalis, acids, and enzymes are utilized to isolate specific compounds. The resulting extracts are then separated and purified to obtain the product.

For example, high-purity proteins are extracted using alkaline extraction or enzymatic hydrolysis, while Omega-3 fatty acids are obtained through lipid extraction with organic solvents followed by separation. Vitamins and natural pigments are extracted using specialized solvents. Antioxidants and other specific compounds are extracted using solvent extraction and chromatography

Areas of use

Proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates derived from microalgae have potential applications in the food industry, for example, as additives, ingredients for functional foods, and aquaculture feed. Vitamins, pigments, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements. In the energy sector, lipids are used for the production of biodiesel, while carbohydrates are used for bioethanol. In agriculture, microalgal biomass is becoming a biofertilizer. Furthermore, microalgae are used for wastewater treatment and in the production of biodegradable plastics.

Bioeconomy uses microalgae for several reasons:

1. Microalgae exhibit rapid growth rates, allowing for the production of biomass in significant quantities in a short time frame.
2. It does not require arable land, as they can be cultivated in controlled environments.
3. Microalgae are capable of absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the greenhouse effect.
4. It also plays a crucial role in bioremediation, cleaning up wastewater and contaminated sites.
5. The diverse range of microalgal species, each with its unique composition, opens up avenues for a wide variety of products.

Anna Popkova

Deputy Director for International Activities at the Institute of Ecology of RUDN

Microalgae provide proteins and micronutrients to the population, addressing the global challenge of food security. They also play a crucial role in ensuring energy security by offering renewable sources of biofuels, which helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The exciting prospects for using microalgae are tied to advancements in cultivation, processing, and scaling up production technologies. In the future, we can expect the emergence of new bioproducts derived from microalgae, as well as an expansion of their applications across various industries.

Technologies for cultivating microalgae

There are several technologies for cultivating microalgae.

• Open ponds represent the most cost-effective option, although they do not allow for complete control over growth conditions.
• Closed photobioreactors provide more regulated environments, ensuring higher productivity and biomass purity, but they come with a significantly higher price tag.
• Hybrid systems blend elements of open ponds and closed photobioreactors to optimize the production process.
• Additionally, fermenters are used for cultivating certain types of microalgae in the dark, utilizing organic substrates for growth.

The implementation of these technologies in production comes with a range of challenges and obstacles. The high costs of production require substantial investments in equipment and infrastructure. Additionally, the low productivity of certain strains and processing methods needs further optimization and scaling efforts. Cultivation and processing processes are highly energy-intensive, highlighting the need to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. Another critical concern is the risk of water body eutrophication when microalgae are used in bioremediation, which necessitates strict monitoring and regulation. On top of this, scaling up laboratory innovations to industrial production remains challenging, compounded by logistical issues and difficulties in storing biomass and derived products.