On November 13, a workshop of Research-Educational Center “Baikal” was held. Participants discussed a number of current organizational issues, as well subjects of weekly workshops, which were planned to the end of 2008. The report on realization of financial plan was presented. Participants of the workshop discussed details of the competition for best publication in peer-reviewed journals, which had been announced two days ago. Other issues were also under consideration.  

Moreover, there were discussed results of the REC participation in International Pan-REC Conference devoted to the tenth anniversary of Programme “Basic Research and Higher Education” (BRHE). This Conference was held in Nizhny Novgorod State University. Heads, scientists and young researchers from 20 research-educational centers of the country, as well as representatives from Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) also took part in the Conference. The main subjects of presentations were history, achievements and prospects of BRHE. The results on scientific studies carried out by RECs were also presented. The conveners of the Conference organized a competition for best poster. Delegations of the Conference spoke about tendencies of innovation development of Universities and about contribution of the programme to professional promotion of young scientists.

The Irkutsk delegation took part in all events of the Conference. Alexander Arguchintsev, Executive Director of the Center, Pro-Rector of Irkutsk State University, represented the results of REC “Baikal” activity. He also took part in the discussion concerning prospects of BRHE Programme realization after 2010. Of great interest was a scientific report “Baikal Neutrino Project – a New Window into Universe and Lake Depths” by Nikolay Budnev, Director of Scientific-Research Institute of Applied Physics, Head of REC Unit 7.

Participants of the Conference were also interested in the presentation made by Nataliya Sirina. Her report on “Estimation of Effect of Aluminum Production Enterprises on Environment” was among five works selected by Pan-REC conveners for demonstration of achievements of young researchers. Alexey Pankov, a postgraduate of Physical Department of Irkutsk State University, repeated the success of REC “Baikal” young researchers. His project “Coherent Acoustic Probing as an Instrument for Studying Hydrophysical Processes” was awarded with certificate as the best poster.