– It's great that owing to collaboration with the Kostomuksha Nature Reserve our classes this year are held at lakes Kamennoye and Kontokki. These water bodies are not only interesting in terms of limnology, but are also essential for the city - this is where Kostomuksha's main and standby water intake facilities are located. As part of the school activities, specialists will take water samples to assess the hydrochemical, hydrophysical and hydrobiological parameters of the lakes using modern equipment, – related Anastasia Sidorova, Senior Researcher of the Hydrobiology Laboratory, Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS.
Events of the Winter Hands-on School in Limnology have gathered over 30 participants. The lecturers are scientists from the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS, invited specialists from the Institute of Geology KarRC RAS, Petrozavodsk State University, Institute of Molecular Biology RAS, Karelian Branch of the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography. Traditionally, the classes were attended by graduate and postgraduate students of the Petrozavodsk State University, the Russian State Hydrometeorological University (St. Petersburg), and young employees of NWPI KarRC RAS. Another novelty this year is the involvement of school teachers in the project.
– Our Institute and the Karelian Institute for Continuing Professional Education (KIRO) have signed a cooperation agreement under which school teachers will be able to get in-service training with official certificates based on the results of the Winter Hands-on School. Chemistry and biology teachers will master the methods of analyzing bottom sediments and water samples, which they can later use when preparing research projects with their students, – explained Anastasia Sidorova.
On April 8-9, the participants had practical training on the ice of Lake Kontokki, which has Kostomuksha occupying its southern and eastern shores. The training included water and sediment sampling, measurement of water turbidity, total dissolved solids and other parameters, capturing fish and taking hydrophysical measurements. On April 10, the limnologists will do the same on Lake Kamennoye.
Analyzing samples in the lab
In the evenings, the school participants analyze samples in the laboratory. The researchers work with microscopes, are given master classes on handling ichthyological material, sectioning sediment samples, and processing hydrobiological data. All participants are divided into three groups: the first one performs hydrochemical studies, the second one focuses on zooplankton, the third one on macrozoobenthos. During the training they prepare presentations using the knowledge gained and the results of the studies. On the last day of the school, April 11, limnologists will deliver their presentations to experts. Based on the presentation results, graduate and postgraduate students will be awarded certificates of completion and teachers will additionally get continuing education credentials.
The Winter Hands-on School in Limnology is organized with support from the Joint Directorate of the Kostomukshsky State Nature Reserve and the Kalevala National Park, Karelian Institute for Continuing Professional Education (KIRO), and the Karelian Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.
