The 3^rd Symposium of Research-Educational Center “Baikal” will be held on August 1-5, 2008. Besides traditional discussions on results of work and prospects of development of the Center, International Scientific Conference “Baikal as a Unique Natural Laboratory for International Scientific Studies of the Earth” will be held within the framework of the Symposium.

REC “Baikal” together with representatives of DFG initiated a meeting between Russian and German scientists on the shore of Lake Baikal whose scientific interests are associated with studies of the lake. This Conference was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) and DFG (an analog of RFBR) that solved logistic and financial issues in their countries. This idea was also supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and by Irkutsk Scientific Center of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences.  Some events of the Symposium will take place at the Baikal Museum of Irkutsk Scientific Center in Listvyanka thus demonstrating serious cooperation between Irkutsk State University and Irkutsk Scientific Center within the framework of REC activity.

The Conference will be of an integrated character. Scientists of Germany and Russia will meet on the shore of Lake Baikal, reveal mutual scientific interests which subsequently could grow into joint projects. Each participant will present a review report with their own motivations, potentials and achievements. Following the main REC principle – interdisciplinary approach to Lake Baikal survey – scientists will work together instead of working in small specialized groups. Then potential partners will be able to communicate with each other in the lobby and, if the idea of similar meetings proves its value, joint projects of researchers from different countries, as well as of various specialties will be elaborated.

The Conference is focused on main aspects of the REC “Baikal” activity. For REC “Baikal” this meeting will become an additional external source of resources and intellectual and technical potentials.