In 2023, the names of the laureates of the prestigious Crystal Compass International Award will be announced for the 11th time. 408 projects from 11 countries of the world became applicants for the award: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Great Britain, Azerbaijan, USA, China, and for the first time Uzbekistan. Among the Russian regions, the highest number of applications was received from Moscow (57 projects), the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area (19), and St. Petersburg (17).
The competition for the Crystal Compass Award is held under the auspices of the Russian Geographical Society with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. The winners are chosen among the authors of unique projects aimed at preserving the natural, historical, and cultural heritage of Russia. In 10 years, an expert jury has evaluated 3,312 projects and unique achievements from 44 countries of the world. In the special category "Public Recognition", where the laureates are determined by Internet voting, more than 2.3 million people expressed their preferences.
“We have received a large number of various applications and projects. Now the expert council has a big and responsible job to do – to identify the most worthy heroes of today, whose example will become a reference point for many others in the study and popularization of the nature of our planet," said the chairman of the expert council of the Crystal Compass National Award, Honorary President of the Russian Geographical Society, Academician Vladimir Kotlyakov.
As always, the most popular categories were "Education" (89 projects), "The Best Socio-Informational Project for the Preservation of Natural, Historical, and Cultural Heritage" (65) and "Photography" (55).
ayr05257_1.jpg
“This year the Crystal Compass Award will be presented for the 11th time. The ‘geographical Oscars’ award ceremony will bring together the best projects and achievements from different parts of our planet. I am convinced that the laureates of the award will inspire the professional community, and especially the younger generation, to new interesting projects and outstanding achievements," said Ivan Chaika, chairman of the organizing committee of the Crystal Compass National Award.
Among the laureates of the award and owners of the coveted crystal statuette of the past years are Fedor Konyukhov and Frederik Paulsen, Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Institute of Glaciology and Ecogeography, Lanzhou University, and the Swiss Polar Institute, KamAZ PJSC and the National Geographic Society, as well as many others. The award is held with the support of the company OTEKO; the style partner is the company Indever.
The winners of the 10th, anniversary, Crystal Compass Award were awarded on December 8, 2022, at the Moscow International House of Music. The ceremony became a landmark event in cultural and scientific life, bringing together famous scientists, artists, public figures, travelers, people who are not indifferent to the future of our planet. The event was attended by representatives of Russia, France, Serbia, and other countries of the world.