On October 19, 2021, the Russian Geographical Society Award ceremony will be held in Moscow. The most striking and successful projects in the field of national geography, ecology, conservation and popularization of natural, historical and cultural heritage will receive the prestigious award.
Long-term research into underwater temples and estates is an example of unique and significant projects awarded in previous years. The new interactive museum in Rybinsk presents 3D models of lost buildings, as well as a fragment of a bell with the face of Saint Nicholas, found near one of the flooded churches and raised from the bottom of the Rybinsk Reservoir. Standing out among the laureates of the RGS Award are the largest collection of digitized plant samples in Russia collected within the framework of the Moscow State University Digital Herbarium project, as well as the publication of a biomedical atlas of Russia, which in a short time became a real bestseller among epidemiologists.
Many projects-winners of the RGS Award not only continue their successful development, but even go to the international level. Thus continues the restoration of the “Douglas C-47" aircraft, which was raised from the swamps and taken out of the tundra by activists of the Krasnoyarsk Branch of the RGS several years ago. After participating in the RGS Award, the project “Tyurikov’s Plane. The Return” received such fame that at the end of August 2021, an aircraft mechanic from the United States, Timothy Schwalbe, who had previously worked at the “Douglas” plant, joined the team of restorers.
"Behind each project, behind each expedition and story presented for the RGS Award, there are intelligent, determined people striving for new knowledge. They promote science, open new pages of our history, research, study, preserve. A state’s success is made up of such useful initiatives, that are in demand by the people and country," stressed Sergei Shoigu, President of the Russian Geographical Society.
Applications for the RGS Award were accepted from February 17 to June 1, 2020. The Expert Jury evaluated the successfully implemented results of scientific research; outstanding expeditions; innovative ideas in the field of education and enlightenment; popular science films; television, publishing projects dedicated to geography, nature conservation, ethnography, history and culture of Russia.
A famous scientist, President of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" Mikhail Kovalchuk became the Chairman of the Jury of the Award – 2020. The final list of projects was also determined by: Dean of the Faculty of Geography of Lomonosov Moscow State University Sergey Dobrolyubov, Director of the Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory Vladimir Kattsov, Director of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences Olga Solomina, Director of the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography ("Kunstkamera") of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Golovnev, President of the International Geographical Union Yukio Himiyama, General Director of the Presidential Grants Fund Ilya Chukalin, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Sergei Garmash, film director Timur Bekmambetov, management of major TV channels and media holdings, and other famous scientists, public figures, representatives of culture and art.
The winners of the RGS Award in each category will receive a personalized certificate and a cash prize of 500 thousand rubles. The awards ceremony will be attended by the leadership of the Russian Geographical Society, as well as members of the Board of Trustees.
According to clause 5.6 of the Concept of the RGS Award, the names of the finalists and winners are not announced until the award ceremony.
The 2020 award is presented in eight categories:
The best science project. Results of research projects in the field of geography and related sciences.
The best historical and cultural project. Results of projects in the field of archeology, ethnography and related sciences aimed at the study, restoration, preservation and popularization of historical and cultural monuments.
The best educational project in the field of geography. Results of educational projects in the field of geography and related sciences.
The best expedition in Russia. Results of expeditionary research, including underwater research, in the field of geography and related sciences.
The best environmental project. Results of projects aimed at studying, restoring and preserving the environment and biological diversity, as well as promoting the rational use of natural resources.
The best media project. Popular science and documentary films; television, Internet and radio projects; printed publications in the field of geography and related sciences.
The best youth project. The results of science, expeditionary, environmental, educational projects in the field of geography and related sciences, the leaders and/or participants of which are persons aged 14 to 35 years.
The best travel project. Results of projects for the development of domestic and inbound tourism in Russia, including projects in the field of ecological, active, cultural and educational recreation, such as: tourist routes, tourist and recreational complexes, events, large-scale display objects, guidebooks and more.
The RGS Award was established in 2014. It is awarded every two years and has an international status. Both an individual and an organization from any country in the world can apply for the Award, provided that the declared project is dedicated to Russia.
Since 2014, 22 projects have been awarded the Award of the Russian Geographical Society. Detailed information about the past laureates can be found on the Society's website.
You can ask questions about the RGS Award by e-mail premiya
rgo.ru.
Results of the RGS Award – 2018