More than 100 expeditions, in which about 2,000 students and mentors participated, took place within the framework of the project in 2024. The RGS traditionally supports a competition that combines expeditions and tourism in Russia.
"Rediscovering Russia" is a professional competition, the winners of which go on research expeditions to solve strategic problems of development of Russian regions. To summarize the results of the 2024 season, the project team held an in-person student expeditions forum. Students and participants of the "Rediscovering Russia" competition had the opportunity to conduct field research and implement regional development projects, and regional teams gained the support of the best young specialists in the country. The program was organized by the National Research University Higher School of Economics and ANO “Bolshe, chem puteshestvie” (eng."More than a Trip") with the support of the presidential platform “Rossiya — strana vozmozhnostey” (eng. “Russia: The Land of Opportunities" and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.
The business program of the forum began with the presentation of the results of the expedition season. Sergei Korlykhanov, First Deputy Executive Director of the RGS, spoke at the plenary discussion "Expedition as an Educational Experience: Personal Stories."
“In the middle of the 19th century, when the Russian Geographical Society was founded and its active work began, research expeditions became its main focus. However, in those days, expeditions were also considered trips," he said. “We know our legendary explorers – Ivan Kruzenshtern, Pyotr Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, Nikolai Przhevalsky, Faddey Bellingshausen, and many others – as great Russian travelers, although when they set out on their journeys, they went after new geographical discoveries. Today, the boundary between an expedition and a tour is drawn quite clearly. Participants go on expeditions with a specific scientific task, a clear plan of action, and often return with concrete results. Travel doesn't have such strict limits. However, we, in turn, did an experimental project a few years ago that combined expeditions and tourism. The new format of expedition trips in the spirit of citizen science, in which participants perform simple work under the supervision of scientists, has already gathered its audience of advanced tourists.”
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As part of the in-person forum "Rediscovering Russia", an exhibition-presentation by expedition participants was also presented, final reports on the work done were read out, and round tables were held on the exchange of experience among expedition leaders. In addition, the concept of holding a competition in 2025 was developed and presented at the forum. The business program ended with a screening of a film based on materials brought back from last season's student expeditions.