ASU Rector Daud Mamiy Addresses the SPIEF Panel on Promoting Mathematics and Natural Sciences

The panel discussion "Challenges and Opportunities in Teaching Natural Sciences. How to Make the Complex Fascinating?", which took place on the first day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), was attended by Rector of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Dmitry Livanov, Rector of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI Vladimir Shevchenko , Scientific Director of the Center for Pedagogical Excellence, Director of the Moscow Center for Continuous Mathematical Education Ivan Yashchenko, Dean of the Biology Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Kirpichnikov and Rector of Adyghe State University Daud Mamiy. The discussion was moderated by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Dmitry Afanasyev.

During the panel discussion, participants discussed the popularization of mathematics and natural sciences, key changes that should occur in the teaching of mathematics and natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology), and the profile of applicants to engineering and technical universities by 2030.

How to get as many schoolchildren interested in mathematics and natural sciences as possible and increase the number of those applying for engineering and natural science specialties? How will the concepts of developing mathematical, physical, biological and chemical education change school and university education, and what is the role of universities and research institutes in mass career guidance and teacher training? The speakers of the panel discussion presented their vision of solving the problems voiced and shared their experience of overcoming them.

As noted by the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Dmitry Afanasyev, the country needs a huge number of engineers, researchers in areas that are only emerging today. At the same time, the interest of schoolchildren in the natural sciences is lower than necessary, there is a shortage of teachers. It is necessary to restructure the work of schools and strengthen the role of universities and research institutes in mass career guidance and teacher training. Federal efforts are needed, including regulatory ones, active work with applicants, university teachers, and the development of regional subsystems in which the university, the region and the regional education system work on one task, including using best practices.

As an example of building an effective system for identifying and supporting gifted schoolchildren, the successful experience of the Adyghe State University was noted, which became the organizer of a number of mathematical projects of the all-Russian and international level, including the Caucasian Mathematical Olympiad, the Summer Mathematical School in Adygea and the November Mathematical Educational Program at the Sirius Educational Center, the effectiveness of which is evidenced by the increase in the level of mathematical training of schoolchildren and the success of the participants of the shift at the VSOSH.

– In 2015, for the first math shift in Sirius for schoolchildren in the South of Russia, we selected 200 children – the best from each region, and began working with them. At that time, there were three leading regions (Adygea, Krasnodar Krai and Rostov Oblast), schoolchildren from which quite regularly became winners and prize winners of the All-Russian Secondary School in Mathematics. There were no winners from the other regions. Today, we have results when prize winners from Astrakhan, Volgograd Oblasts, Stavropol Krai, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia have appeared. There are winners of the International Mathematical Olympiad. We see obvious results. And the heads of the regional education system saw that this was possible. Then the question arose: how to build this system within the region? And today, in a number of regions, there are interesting projects that cover the regions as a whole, – shared the rector of ASU Daud Mamiy. 

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is the main business event in Russia, which has been held annually in June in St. Petersburg since 1997, and since 2006 under the patronage and with the participation of the President of the Russian Federation. SPIEF-2025 is being held at the ExpoForum Center from June 18 to 21, its key theme is “Common Values — the Basis for Growth in a Multipolar World”. The forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation.