New light scattering model to help assess and predict the state of marine systems

An international research team has developed a three-stream model of light scattering in the sea. It processes satellite data on the incoming and emitted light fluxes into information on water characteristics: presence of impurities, phytoplankton concentration, pollutants, and other parameters. The system of equations for this study was written by Ilya Chernov, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Applied Mathematical Research KarRC RAS. The model has been successfully tested in the Mediterranean Sea, and researchers are interested in trying it in application to the Arctic.

Karelian scientists surveyed the Mekong River Delta within a Russia-Vietnam project

Researchers from the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS Viktor Voronin and Dmitry Bityutsky took part in an expedition to the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, which collected biological material for assessing the ecological status and biological resources of the Mekong Delta using biochemical profiling methods within an international cooperation initiative.

Archaeologist Svetlana Kochkurkina: “I wrote this book out of gratitude to people of Kurkijoki Village”

The new book "Kurkijoki. Archaeology, History, Culture" has turned into a notable event for the academic community, as well as for enthusiasts of Karelian archaeology and history. The authors of the monograph are Svetlana Kochkurkina, Leading Researcher, Archaeology Section ILLH KarRC RAS, and Marina Petrova, Director of the Kurkijoki Local Lore Centre. The work summarizes the findings from many years of research into the archaeology, history, and culture of the Kurkijoki Village and its surroundings.

Zoologists test biological samples from reindeer for toxic content

Karelian scientists have launched a new project as part of long-term studies of the state of the reindeer population. They will test biological samples from the animals for the presence of toxic elements – environmental pollutants. Zoologists are also continuing to monitor these red-listed animals using GPS-tracking collars and camera traps. The project gets funding from Severstal company. All wild reindeer populations in European Russia are listed in the national Red Data Book.

Scientists remind: eating fish regularly is essential for northerners

Biologists at KarRC RAS compared a range of blood plasma indicators – markers of cardiovascular disease risk – among residents of Karelia versus nationwide data. Despite the generally high risks for the heart and blood vessels, the region fares better in a key protective factor – the ‘good cholesterol’ level. Researchers attribute this to regular consumption of fish and fish products. Science confirms: fish, especially its fatter varieties, helps combat atherosclerosis and inflammation – key triggers of cardiovascular diseases, and is a natural way to keep the heart healthy.

Mathematicians at KarRC RAS created a new model for the dynamics of predator-prey population interactions

Mathematics provides tools for modeling interactions between biological species – predators and prey – and predicting the behavior of certain populations depending on the state of other populations. Scientists at the KarRC RAS have created a hybrid 3D model that, among other things, accounts for predator migration in response to food shortage and their return to the patch if the resources are replenished. The development permits estimating the time such a recolonization would take, which has important practical applications.

Doctor of Biology Alexander Kryshen awarded the Sukachev Gold Medal from the RAS

Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences has awarded the Sukachev Gold Medal to Alexander Kryshen, Chief Researcher at the Forest Research Institute KarRC RAS. We congratulate Alexander Mikhailovich on this high professional recognition!

Historians find valuable evidence of the past in a salary raise request by a 17th c. junior official

Historian from KarRC RAS Alexander Bochkaryov has analyzed a rare archival document, in which the life description of a person proxies key events of the mid-17th century Karelia: aftermaths of the Time of Troubles, establishment of the Olonets ‘’’new formation’ regiments, problems of the Army, serf peasants’ flight due to famine and their return by force, landmark episodes of the Russo-Swedish War of 1656–1658, and development of the bureaucratic class in Russia.

Svetlana Murzina, Head of Ecological Biochemistry Laboratory at the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS, awarded the RAS Professor title

The honorary title of RAS Professor has been awarded to Svetlana Murzina, Head of the Ecological Biochemistry Laboratory at the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS. The decision was taken at the RAS General Assembly in December 2025.

KarRC RAS management proves its competences in scientific organization’s business performance

The management of the KarRC RAS has proved its competence in the financial and economic affairs of scientific organizations subordinated to the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The independent competency assessment was conducted for the third time. Having completed the test successfully, Lyubov Shvetsova, Assistant to the KarRC RAS CEO, took part in the Third All-Russian Forum of Scientific Organization Finance and Accounting Directors.

Second part of the comic book “Enlightening Journeys of Karelian Baby Animals” is out of print at KarRC RAS Institute of Geology

On December 18, the Museum of Applied Environmental Research at the Karelian Research Centre RAS hosted the presentation of the children's comic book "Enlightening Journeys of Karelian Baby Animals. New Adventures: Science for the Youngest". The presentation gathered journalists from Karelian media outlets together with children, and editorial staff of My Newspaper+, which includes pupils from Petrozavodsk schools.

Corresponding Academician Nikolai Filatov was awarded the Medal for Merit to the Republic of Karelia

The day before, Head of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov presented government awards to the region’s citizens. Nikolai Filatov, RAS Corr. Fellow, Chief Researcher at the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS, was awarded the Medal for Merit to the Republic of Karelia. Congratulations to Nikolai Nikolaevich on this well-deserved recognition!

KarRC RAS Learned Council had its final 2025 session

The KarRC RAS Learned Council met on its final session of 2025. A presentation titled "Karelia's Geological Heritage as the Foundation for Building the Region's Innovative Development Strategy" was delivered by Sergey Svetov, Director of the KarRC RAS Institute of Geology. Deputy Director of the KarRC RAS Institute of Applied Mathematical Research, Yulia Chirkova, gave a scientific lecture on the analysis of traffic flows on the graph of Petrozavodsk roads. The participants also endorsed the Karelian Research Centre's events plan and the publication frequency and schedule for the journal Transactions of the Karelian Research Centre RAS.

Karelian scientists gave a master class on drawing blood samples from trout for early disease diagnosis

On December 12, a workshop was held at the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS for specialists from trout farms of the republic. The main topic was a modern method of blood sampling from fish for laboratory testing, which allows early detection of diseases.

Irina Novak's work on the study of Karelian dialects has been recognized as the best in the competition among projects supporting ethnic languages of the Russian Federation

Irina Novak, Director of the Institute of Linguistics, Literature, and History KarRC RAS, has won the Keyword All-Russian Public Award for the preservation of the language diversity. Experts acknowledged the linguist's monograph "The Karelian Language Landscape in the Dialectometric Paradigm", which is based on her Dr.Sci. dissertation. The scholar has developed a modern dialect map of the Karelian language, with its supradialects, dialects, and sub-dialectal groups.

New mineral discovered in Karelia is officially registered

Sulfopadmaite, a mineral discovered in 2025, has been formally registered by the International Mineralogical Association. This is yet another discovery made at Srednyaya Padma deposit on the Zaonezhsky Peninsula.