The Winter School of the All-Russian Project "Floating University" has finished its work in Sevastopol. The event was traditionally held on the basis of two major research centers – Marine Hydrophysical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas.

For three days, from 5 to 7 February, a rich scientific and educational program was organized for 45 young scientists and senior students from 11 regions of Russia. They listened to a series of unique lectures by leading Russian experts in oceanology and marine biology. The Sevastopol site of the Winter School worked in three main areas: remote sensing of phytoplankton, hydrochemistry of the Black Sea and microplastics in the marine environment.

As part of the theoretical sessions, the School participants had an opportunity to visit the research vessel Professor Vodyanitsky. The workshops on satellite data processing, determination of biogenic elements in marine and surface water samples, processing and analysis of seawater samples for microplastic content were of great interest.

A separate one-day educational track was aimed at high school students of Sevastopol schools and was held on the Russian Science Day – 8 February. The youngsters were very excited to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of oceanology, visiting the MHI Museum and the aquatic life storage facility of the A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas.

According to the participants themselves, the Floating University Winter School in Sevastopol left them with the most positive impressions. The young researchers highly appreciated the opportunity to become engaged in a challenging program and to study for three days in their chosen field under the guidance of experienced specialists. Having taken the School"s intensive theoretical and practical courses, they acquired new knowledge and skills, which will undoubtedly be useful to them in their future scientific work.