From February 9 to 11, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) held the educational module of the Floating University Winter School. A total of 227 applications were submitted for the track. Ultimately, 20 students were selected for the Winter School. These 20 students came from across the country, representing eight cities and 13 universities.
The IEE RAS track was "Marine Biodiversity: Methods and Directions for Studying Marine Mammals and Birds." Over the course of three days, the institute hosted lectures and workshops on biology and ecology, as well as the study of marine mammals and birds. Students were also introduced to other areas of work and research by IEE RAS scientists.
Winter School participants will be eligible for competitive selection for the Floating University expedition during the 2026 field season and will also gain access to an aggregator of internships and job openings from program partners.
This is the second time that IEE RAS has served as a platform for the Floating University with its own educational program. We thank the Institute's staff for organizing the educational track and serving as lecturers.