Faculty of Geography and Geoecology, St. Petersburg State University

Background of Creation

Geographical science and education in St. Petersburg began to develop with the establishment of the Academic University by Peter I in 1724. Based on the results of research in 1745, a complete geographical atlas of Russia was published. In the mid 1760s MV Lomonosov developed a new program and textbook on physical geography. He read this subject at the Academic, and then at Moscow universities. He was the first to introduce the terms “economic geography” and “economic land card”.

• Since its renewal (1819), the first lectures on geography and statistics were given by professors K.F. German , K.I. Arsenyev , E.F. Zyablovsky and others at St. Petersburg University. The Department of Geography was opened at the Faculty of History and Philology.
• In 1835, in accordance with the new General Charter of Russian Universities, the Department of Physics and Physical Geography was formed at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, headed by a prominent scientist of that time, academician E. Kh. Lenz ^[2] . Since 1865, it was headed by R.E. Lenz. Under him, independent courses of hydrology, meteorology, geodesy, and zoogeography appeared.
• In 1845, the Imperial Russian Geographical Society was established . His activities gave impetus to the development of geographical science and geographical education in Russia.
• In 1884, the Department of Geography and Ethnography was established at the Faculty of History and Philology of St. Petersburg University in accordance with the new university charter.
• In 1887, the Department of Geography and Ethnography was transferred (at the suggestion of the University) to the natural department of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. It was headed by a famous geographer, prof. University of Bern E. E. Petri ^[3] . After his death in 1899, P.I. Brownov headed the department, and in 1916, the biologist and geographer, later the founder of the Soviet school of landscape science L.S. Berg . Prominent scientists A.I. Voeikov , V.V. Dokuchaev and P.A. Kostychev also lectured at the department. After the creation of the new department, A.I. Voeikov was sent abroad to study the teaching experience in the departments of geography. Thus, two geographic departments appeared at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics: physics and physical geography with general education in geography and physical geography and ethnography with geography as a major subject.
• In 1906, the Geographical Circle was founded at St. Petersburg University.
• In 1910, the Geographical Bureau was organized under the Geographic Office of the Pedagogical Museum under the leadership of V. A. Adler, which was soon replaced by L. S. Berg .
• In 1916, the Higher Geographical Courses began to work under the Dokuchaev Soil Committee of the Department of Agriculture, headed by A. I. Voeikov . (The decision to open the courses was adopted on March 14, 1914). They included the Geographical Bureau. The new educational institution was very popular, although it did not issue a special diploma. The course organizers made efforts to create a specialized higher educational institution.

• On December 3, 1918, a resolution of the People's Commissariat of Education ^[4] was published on the formation of the Geographic Institute on September 1, 1918, which became the first higher geographical educational institution in Russia. In 1919, the number of professors and teachers was 45 people, staff - 18 people, listeners - 577 people. And about. Director appointed I. D. Lukashevich. Since 1919 A.E. Fersman became the director of the Institute. The Institute consisted of two faculties: general geographical and ethnographic, which included 16 departments: general geography with geomorphology; geography; soil geography and soil science; geology with paleontology; petrography, mineralology and crystallography; meteorology with climatology; hydrology of land and sea; geodesy with cartography; astronomy; higher geodesy and mathematics; botanical geography with botany; zoogeography with zoology; human anthropology, anatomy and physiology; ethnography, paleoethnography and general linguistics; statistics; economic geography and doctrine of the economy; physics and chemistry.

For conducting scientific research, the Scientific College of the Institute was created.

The Geographical Institute since 1918 was located in a building on the embankment of the Moika River, 122 (the former palace of the Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich — the son of Alexander III).

• In 1921, the first stationary base was created for conducting academic training practice (the village of Sablino, Leningrad Region), which is still in operation.

• In 1922, the Geographical and Economic Research Institute (GENII) was independently created, transformed from the Scientific College of the Geographical Institute. The first director was elected P.I. Brownov .

Faculty History

• On May 15, 1925, the Geographical Institute by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR was introduced into the Leningrad University as an independent geographical faculty . At the same time, the Geographical and Economic Research Institute was attached to the University.

In the first period of its existence, from 1925 to 1930, the faculty consisted of 3 departments: general geographical, ethnographic and anthropological. The first dean of the faculty was academician A.E. Fersman . Then J.S. Edelstein . In subsequent years, the number of specialties and departments gradually increased.

• 1930 In connection with the reorganization of the University, the faculty was renamed into the faculty of geography and geophysics . The ethnographic department is being transferred to the Leningrad Institute of History and Literature (since 1937 the philological faculty of Leningrad State University ), and is currently located at the historical faculty of St. Petersburg State University .
• In 1931–32 An experiment was conducted with the liquidation of the faculties and departments of the University, which were transformed into "training sectors". Accordingly, a geography training sector was created. It also restored the geological formation, which was returned from the Mining Institute ^[5]
• 1933. The geological-soil-geographical faculty was established.
• 1934. The faculty moves to the building on Mendeleev Line, 5.
• 1937. The faculty is divided into geographical and geological-soil departments ^[6] . Before separation, the faculty consisted of 19 departments: general geology, historical geology, petrography and geochemistry, crystallography, physical geography, soil geography, experimental soil science, paleontology, mineralogy, hydrology, climatology, statistics, economic geography, cartography, geomorphology, soil science, polar countries, geography. 1278 students studied at the faculty, it was the largest in LSU both in the number of departments and in the number of students ^[7] .
• By 1941, the faculty included the following departments: physical geography and regional geography, economic geography, geomorphology, hydrology, climatology, plant geography, and cartography. 572 students and 37 graduate students studied at the faculty ^[8] .
• In 1941-1945 many teachers and students went to the front, including as part of the university unit of the people's militia. Currently, the memory of those killed in the battles is kept by a memorial plaque in the building of the faculty. The university was evacuated to Saratov and returned in 1944 after lifting the blockade.
• In 1952, the faculty was transferred to the building of the former mansion of Count Bobrinsky on Krasnaya Street (now Galernaya), 60.
• In 1966, the faculty and research institutes of geography were transferred to the building at the address: ul. Smolny, d. 3.
• In 1969, the faculty had 8 departments: 1) physical geography, 2) economic geography, 3) geomorphology, 4) cartography, 5) climatology, 6) oceanography, 7) land hydrology, 8) biogeography. 750 students were trained, the teaching staff consisted of 15 professors, 24 associate professors and 21 assistants, 30 support staff ^[9] .
• Since December 1983, the faculty and NIIG are located on the 10th line of Vasilyevsky Island, d. 33/35. Before the revolution, the Bestuzhev Higher Women's Courses were located in this building, some rooms of which are still preserved almost in their original form.

• In 1987, the Faculty of Geography was renamed the Faculty of Geography and Geoecology . The faculty was the first in Russia to train specialists with higher geographic and environmental education.
• In 2005, the faculty celebrated its 80th anniversary.
• In 2007, the Institute of Geography of St. Petersburg State University was integrated into the faculty.
• Since February 1, 2014, the faculty has been part of the Institute of Earth Sciences ^[10] .

In 2008, 1200 students studied at the faculty, including from 15 foreign countries. The reception amounted to 140 budget and 50 paid seats.

The faculty participated in the publication of the scientific journal "Bulletin of St. Petersburg University, Series 7: Geology, Geography", published 4 times a year.

Deans

• 1925 - 1928 - A.E. Fersman
• 1933 - 1937 - J. S. Edelstein
• 1937 - 1940 - I.N. Gladtsin
• 1940 - 1941 - S.V. Kalesnik (in 1943-1949 - vice-rector for scientific work)
• 1941 - 1949 - L. S. Berg
• 1949 - 1953 - S.V. Kalesnik
• 1953 - 1965 - V. Kh. Buinitsky
• 1965 - 1969 - M.P. Petrov
• 1970 - 1976 - B. N. Semevsky
• 1977 - 1982 - N.V. Razumikhin
• 1982 - 1986 - L. N. Alekseenko
• 1986 - 1989 - V.S. Zhekulin
• 1989 - 2001 - P.P. Arapov
• 2001 - 2006 - V.V. Dmitriev
• 2006 - 2010 - N.V. Kaledin
• 2010 - 2012 - T. A. Aliev
• c 2013 - N.V. Kaledin

In the direction of "geography"

Natural Geography

• physical geography and landscape planning;
• geomorphology;
• biogeography and nature conservation;

Public Geography

• regional studies and international tourism;
• economic and social geography ;
• regional politics and political geography.

In the direction of "hydrometeorology"

• climatology and environmental monitoring;
• land hydrology (engineering hydrology);
• oceanology;

In the direction of "ecology and nature management"

• geoecology and nature management;
• environmental safety and sustainable development of regions (basic department of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS);

In the direction of “cartography and geoinformatics”

• cartography and geoinformatics;

In the direction of "land management and cadastres"

• land management and cadastres.

• Category: Graduates of the Faculty of Geography and Geoecology of St. Petersburg State University

1. Dmitriev V.V., Chistobaev A.I. Scientific research of university geographers through the prism of history // Theory and Practice of Ecological and Geographical Research / Ed. V.V.Dmitrieva et al. St. Petersburg: TIN, 2005. ISBN 5-902632-03-X
2. History of Leningrad University. 1819-1969. Essays. L., 1969
3. Calendar-reference Leningrad State University. A.S. Bubnov for 1937. L .: Leningrad State University, 1937.
4. Leningrad University. Quick reference. L .: Leningrad State University, 1969.
5. Muzalyov A.A. The house that he built ... // Geographical Journal. - 2009. - No. 2. - S. 6-9.
6. Muzalyov A.A. The house that he built ... (Part II) // Geographical Journal. - 2009. - No. 3. - S. 6-9.
7. University personnel department report for 1940. L .: Leningrad State University, 1941.

• Official site