Today, Moscow State University, the leading university in the country, hosted its traditional winter open house. This year, MSU is ready to accept about 10,000 graduates from all over Russia into the first year. They are proud of the number.
See Alyona Rogozina's report on surprises the university has up its sleeve.
Naked mole-rats, long-livers from Africa, help scientists in their search for a cure for old age.
Maxim Skulachev: "They're wonderful creatures. They're rodents related to the mouse, you see, they're similar in size. They managed to turn off the aging process. They are forever young, forever kids".
Maxim Skulachev is a son of the legendary professor Skulachev, who discovered innovative antioxidants that slow down aging. The young biologist runs a division with the most advanced laboratories. He's working on extending the lifespan — Up to 150-200 years. Molecular biology is one of the most promising and most popular areas among applicants to MSU. Besides, a lot of applications are expected in the School of Foreign Languages, the School of Mechanics and Mathematics, and the School of Physics.
Alyona Olifirenko, student: "I didn't think there are so many sub-divisions in the School of Physics. I thought there'd be just Physics but it turned out there are fields I'm interested in, for example, Medical Physics".
Artyom Konovalov, a 10th-grader from Sarov, wants to become a scientist. He's going to join, as he puts it, "classical physics". He wants to solve the problems associated with the generation of gravitational waves. If Artyom manages to enter MSU, then in the near future, people will be able to communicate over infinite distances.
Artyom Konovalov: "As a matter of fact, a lot depends on chance, I mean you might have a good idea at some point or you might not".
The ambition of the winner of urban and regional school competitions deserves respect. Like Artyom, most of the students who gathered in the main hall of MSU dream of the Nobel Prize.
Viktor Sadovnichy, rector of MSU: "A person's talent should be seen in school, then it should be brought up in a scientific school, only after that he or she will become a scientist, a competitive one and even more, maybe the leader in a field".
There are more than 3,000 students and their parents. The future applicants are interested in different, sometimes unexpected things. They asked the rector about his attitude toward girls, what car he drives. However, majority of the questions were about the entrance examinations. Moscow State University has a special status. Those who are willing to enter the university should pass exams in addition to the Unified State Exam.
Dmitry Grishin, second-year student: "Moscow State University teaches you to think, to show a creative approach when in an extraordinary situation".
The second-year students are taking end-of-term exams. As experienced people, they are sure: the students who enter MSU have clear life goals and scientific experience, that is, they are a source of knowledge as well.
Yesterday's applicant Elizaveta Nemygina shares her experience... It's important for mentors that students here, in the university labs, could have access to all the information even before they enter the university.
Elizaveta Nemygina: "In our school, the scientific practice begins since the first year. When I was in the tenth grade, I tried to make some scientific discoveries in this lab".
Today the researches that can be implemented as soon as possible make up the gateway for the educational and scientific-technological breakthrough. One of the most interesting areas is new materials for solar energy.
Alexey Tarasov, advanced materials laboratory chief: "We applied a completely new approach, which is to use metallic lead as the original substance for creating perovskite solar cells".
Solar cells consist of several layers of a very thin nanofilm. The method for application of the layers was developed by the advanced materials laboratory. You can coat a car, for example, and transport it to the permafrost zone where there are no fuel stations or anything else for normal life.
- If you had a chance, what would you study now?
Tamara Ismailova, applicant's mother: "I'd join the School of Economics and maybe the School of Law".
There'll be more than 30,000 applications but MSU admits only 10,000 applicants. The main share will get free tuition. The main point isn't about the quantity but to select the worthy ones. The MSU program is 6 years long and there are also hundreds of interdisciplinary courses and internships.
In September, the first Russian-Chinese joint university will open its doors for students from around the world for the second time in Shenzhen. You can feel the scale and power of the country's main university here…
Lenin Hills, the main building of Moscow University. When you realize this is a huge 36-story building, which has its own observatories, labs, a supercomputer, and even high-speed elevators, tens of thousands of students, postgraduates, and professors who work not in a factory but on providing the country with scientific innovations... This is just impressive. Round-the-clock and all-the-year-round, Moscow State University conducts calculations, studies, builds prototypes, and makes scientific discoveries that bring the Russian and world science and industry to a new level.
Today's open house day is the first meeting with applicants this year. They still have entrance exams ahead of them. But it's already clear the future in their hands.
Alyona Rogozina, Victor Prikhodko, Ivan Murashov, Anton Kosimovich, Igor Belogurov. Vesti Nedeli, Moscow.
