PRACTICAL GEOGRAPHY AND XXI CENTURY CHALLENGES 04-06 JUNE 2018 MOSCOW RUSSIA

International Geographical Union
Institute of Geography of Russian Academy of Science s
National Committee of Russian Geographers
Russian Geographical Society
World Wildlife Fund
IGU Thematic Conference dedicated to the centennial of the Institute of Geography of
Russian Academy of Sciences

Practical Geography and XXI Century Challenges
Moscow, 4-6 June 2018

The conference which will be held under the auspices of the International Geographical Union
(IGU) is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Institute of Geography of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) - the largest world-renowned geographical research organization in Russia. This occasion provides an opportunity to make an overview of the domestic and international trends in geography’s development – to analyze the growing impact of scientific research internationalization, the aggravation of global problems, changing theoretical paradigms, radical renewal of research methods and predictions’ validity, as well as to strengthen the integration between social and environmental branches of geography.
In addition to the fundamental research, Institute of Geography has been closely associated
with practical demands aimed at solving urgent national issues related to its research agenda. Its stuff actively participated in the development and examination of territorial concepts, laws and norms regulating environmental protection and large-scale economic programs. Therefore, the main task of the conference is to sum up Russian and international experience in practically oriented research in the fields of social and environmental geography meeting the diverse and critical challenges of the XXI century.
Being the leading geographical scientific institution in Russia Institute of Geography RAS has
always played a significant role in the scientific cooperation between Russian (Soviet) geographers and foreign scholars. Institute of Geography staff has regularly participated in the major international programs and projects, while the Russian National Committee of IGU functions in the framework of the Institute. Renowned geographers from the Institute have been repeatedly elected as IGU Commissions’ Chairs and members and Vice-Presidents of IGU. One of the most well-known was the untimely deceased corresponding member of RAS, IGU Vice-President (2000-2005) Nikita F. Glazovsky. The present conference is also dedicated to him and his scientific legacy.

Programme

1. 100 years of Russian geography
Institute of Geography RAS: contribution to national and international geographic
knowledge, history and people.
Russian geography – practical work: past, present, and future.
N. F. Glazovsky: scientific career and legacy.

PRACTICAL GEOGRAPHY AND XXI CENTURY CHALLENGES 04-06 JUNE 2018 MOSCOW RUSSIA

2. Environmental challenges
Climate change: environmental security, vulnerability and adaptability of territorial
systems.
Water use and the reducing of hazardous hydrological phenomena risks.
Geochemical processes of natural and anthropogenic substances transfer.
The geographical basis for the creation of the territorial environmental framework:
multi-scale analysis and harmonization.
3. Socio-environmental challenges
Natural capital as a strategic resource for territory’s sustainable development.
The geographic dimensions of environmental security.
Natural and social disasters: the role in the shaping of the modern environment.
Natural-like technologies and geoecology.
Mapping and monitoring environmental and social changes.
Protecting and restoring natural and cultural landscapes.
Heritage as a factor for sustainable development.
4. Social challenges
Sustainable urban development: experiences and evaluation methods.
The mobility of the population and economy: limits and constraints.
Geographical scenarios and forecasts: reliability and alternativeness.
The role of geography in the strategic environmental assessment.
5. Geopolitical challenges
The creating of institutions and instruments for international cooperation: a multi-scale
approach.
The geopolitical consequences of environmental and climate changes.
Geography for international law: the role of geographical research in development of
global and regional standards for environmental management.
6. Technological challenges
Remote sensing and spatial analysis.
Big data in the fundamental and applied geographical research.
Mathematical models and system for decision-making support.
7. Informational challenges
The dissemination of geographic knowledge: geographical journalism in the information
society.

Geographical science on television and in the Internet.

The initiative "International Year of Global Understanding" and its preliminary results.
The experience of geographical societies in the promotion of geographical knowledge.
8. Challenges to geographical education
Geographical knowledge and competencies required by graduates of the XXI century.
Academic geography for middle school: new programs and textbooks.