Environmental Ethics
and Public Policy
Ernest Partridge, Ph.D
www.igc.org/gadfly


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Classical Guitar:
"The Other Profession
"

 

 

 

THE ST. PETERSBURG SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS

 

by Alexander S. Karpov
(Edited by Ernest Partridge)
 

In three trips to Russia, over the past decade, we have had the opportunity to see, first hand, the work of the St. Petersburg Society of Naturalists, and to meet many of the distinguished members of that organization, now in its 137th year. In July, 1997, we were honored with a membership in the Society.

Our friend, Alexander Karpov, sent us the following description of the Society. (EP)

 

Status: The St.-Petersburg Society of Naturalists is public non-profit organization. The Society was founded in 1868, and was most recently registered with the Russia government in 1992. The Society has operated continuously since its founding.

Management: The governing body of the Society is selected in a general meeting, which is held once every five years. In the period between the general meetings the management is transferred to the Board. The Society is managed by the President and Executive Committee.

Structure: the Society consists of 18 sections of biological and geological branches.

Staff: full-time employees - 3 persons.

part-time employees - up to 30 pe (on grants, contracts etc.)

volunteers, participating in the Programs of the Society - from 30 up to 50 persons.

In all the Society is comprised of about 300 members. Since 1995 the Society has been a member of Union of Scientific Societies of Russia.

Main fields of activity:

Education and research;

Protection of the environment;

Promotion of public activity in support of the sciences.

The Society is actively involved in the of organization and technical support of scientific research; the providing of advice and expertise for state administrative bodies and the lobbying of projects. Special attention is given to programs which support student scientific activity and research in the environmental sciences.

The Society has several continuing programs:

  • Organization of scientific expeditions and support of field researches of the students, post-graduate students, and young experts. The Society now sponsors three expeditions (about 150 scientists annually) working throughout Northwest Russia.

  • Publishing program for the books of the members of the Society Manuals and high school textbooks (with the support of St. Petersburg State University, sponsors and foundations).

  • Organization of international and regional conferences and meeting, scientific readings and public lectures .

  • Nominal stipends for the students from Faculty of Biology and Soil Sciences and Geological Faculty of St. Petersburg State University.

  • Competition of Diploma Thesis and Magister Thesis - for the students of several universities of St.- Petersburg and in North-west Russia.

  • Honor Awards of the Society and Nominal Awards for outstanding research in several natural disciplines.

  • An interlibrary exchange.

International and regional cooperation: The Society works in close co-operation with such international organizations as the World Wildlife Fund, the European Union for Coastal Conservation, and the Helsinki Committee. It has established connections with regional environmental organizations in Northwest Russia as well as in neighboring Baltic countries. The cooperative links of the Society with the universities in the region are of primary importance.

Sources of funding:

Grants from charitable and scientific foundations.
Income from production and publishing.
Volunteers' work.
Charitable donations from business and private persons.
Membership payments.


Contact information:

Alexander S. Karpov, Expedition Director
Kuznetzovskaya St.,, Apt. 2
St. Petersburg 196105 RUSSIA

Home Tel. (812)298-97-50 tel. office (812)247-18-36


Dr. Ernest Partridge is a consultant, writer and lecturer in the field of Environmental Ethics and Public Policy. He has taught Philosophy at the University of California, and in Utah, Colorado and Wisconsin. He publishes the website, "The Online Gadfly" (www.igc.org/gadfly) and co-edits the progressive website, "The Crisis Papers" (www.crisispapers.org).  Dr. Partridge can be contacted at: gadfly@igc.org .