II English-speaking Forum for University Students

On November, 26 within the II English-speaking Forum for University Students in the Conference Hall of TSU Scientific library the scientific conference of Biological Institute students entitled "Dive into Science: Wondering, Observing, and Exploring the Essence of Nature" was held.
Organizers and moderators of this conference are the project manager, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Tomsk State University Victor Dyomin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs of Tomsk State University Artyom Rykun, the director of Biological Institute of Tomsk State University, professor Danil Vorobiev, the project manager Elena Shulgina, associate professor of foreign language faculty, Lyudmila Minakova, associate professor of foreign language faculty and  assistant professors of foreign language faculty – Elena Melnikova and Elena Vychuzhanina.
During the opening ceremony Elena Shulgina, the project manager, addressed conferees with an inspiring welcome speech. The plenary report “Current Issues of Population Genetics and Evolutionary Medicine” was given by Anna Bocharova, Junior Researcher of the Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics of Tomsk Research Institute of Medical Genetics.
At the conference 17 oral reports and 24 poster presentations by first and second – year undergraduate students of Biological Institute, participants of the project "Development of Foreign-language Communicative Competence of TSU Students", were submitted. The topics of their reports were of a wide range and attracted great interest of the students and teachers participated in the conference. They concerned not only environmental problems, zoology, virology, evolution of microorganisms, modern methods of treatment for serious diseases, but also projects on science and social networks interaction and well-known for everyone problem of procrastination.
Associate professors of Biological Institute Yulia Frank, Marina Efimova, Natalia Bolshakova also participated in a discussion together with the students and paid great attention to students’ presentation and language skills.
After heated discussion of the reports the students who prepared the best oral reports and poster presentations were named.

Grand Prix Award
Nelson-De-Senna-Soares Maria-Beatriz “What is Aedes aegypti: causes and consequences” Group 01801

Best Paper Award
Romanenko Maria, Lutskaya Elizaveta “How chronic stress affects your organism?” Group 01701
 
Best Paper Award First Runner-Up
Giganova Anastasia, SukhihEvgeny “How to investigate a gene with a pail of cold water” Group 01702
 
Best Paper Award Second Runner-Up
Dergacheva Christina “The beginning of everything” Group 01801
Trofimova Alina “How to make a terrarium” Group 01801
 
Best Poster Paper Award
Kilinchuk Anna, Frankevich Tatyana, Pergaeva Sofya, Sinchileev Dinar “The Pythagorean diet” Group 01802
 
Best Poster Paper Award First Runner-Up
Ilinykh Marina, Topilina Yulia “Huntington’s disease” Group 01801
 
Best Poster Paper Award Second Runner-Up
Serdyukova Sofia, Postnikova Maria “Pollen fertility and viability” Group 01701
Filimonova Yulia, Pozdnyakova Elizaveta “What dragons are made of?” Group 01802
 
In general, the II English-speaking Forum showed the readiness of students to participate and represent serious scientific reports, carry out scientific research and achieve interesting results. They also revealed their deep interest in the future professional activity in spite of the fact they only begin to comprehend the depths of difficulty in Biology. An opportunity to submit and discuss the reports in English only excited the interest of the participants in this conference, having made the task set for students more difficult, responsible and creative. This Forum became a fine tribune for a rehearsal of future scientists to present their scientific ideas at the forthcoming international symposiums and conferences.

Participants’ references:
Christina Dergacheva, Group 01801
“It was a great event where I was able to get rid of the fear of speaking in front of a large audience. It was also very informative, as there were a large number of participants. It was a great way to practice my English, I’m very glad I was a participant of that conference”.
Ksenia Gavrilova, Group 01801
“It was an awesome event!) A lot of emotion and impressions. Firstly, it's a great training for studying English, especially speaking skills. Also, we've known how to prepare and present scientific information in English - it's very important for our future career. I'm waiting for the next conference in order to fix my mistakes and develop my performance”.
Alina Trofimova, Group 01801
“I think it was a great opportunity for all students of Bioligical Institute to develop their skills. Although the audience was pretty large, I felt comfortable and confident as there were lots of friends and groupmates. Everything was awesome. The conference was as good as I expected”.