Turning St. Petersburg into Russia’s Science Capital
The second season of the 'Scientific Petersburg' project is kicking off. This year, ITMO University’s team is joined by partners from across Russia, including the Russian Geographical Society, the Tretyakov Gallery, the 'EcoPatrol' movement, Kamchatka State University, and the Lenfilm film studio.
Sci-Comm in a New Format
The experimental science promotion platform 'Scientific Petersburg' is expanding its venues and events, offering lectures, discussions, and meetings with scientists. ITMO will host a multimedia space for outreach events and broadcasts, as well as a VR tour created in collaboration with the Lenfilm studio.
The project is run by ITMO’s Center for Science Communication with support from the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education. This year’s focus is on developing citizen science, supporting initiatives where residents become volunteer researchers. One example is the 'Chestnut Compass' project, implemented with EcoPatrol and the Russian Geographical Society, which monitors the condition of chestnut trees in urban areas nationwide.
Another returning program blends science and art — 'Masterpieces Through Scientists’ Eyes.' Participants learn how scientists interpret paintings and what perspectives science can bring to art. Originally launched by the Russian Museum, this project has expanded beyond St. Petersburg, bringing public lectures, tours, and educational sessions to regional museums.
The 'School of Scientific Souvenirs' creative workshop will also continue. Artists, researchers, and designers will collaborate to embed science into everyday objects, showing how teamwork and the fusion of diverse fields can shape the future.
Teaching Invention with Neural Networks
A special session will focus on using generative AI to create science communication content. Science communicators, journalists, and PR specialists will study best practices for visualization and audience engagement. This will be a key event in the educational program, training newcomers to apply neural networks effectively for producing not only visually appealing but also informative content.
Looking for Followers
The project is becoming an annual fixture in Russia’s science communication calendar, with its reach expanding each year — and the door open to international participants. Organizers had hoped other cities would adopt St. Petersburg’s model as early as last year, and they’re ready to share their expertise.
“We believe our project will not only offer a new perspective on St. Petersburg but will help other cities launch similar initiatives. We’ve planned several video lectures on how to adapt our methods for use in any Russian city,” said Yulia Volzhina, a marketing specialist at ITMO’s Center for Science Communication.
While similar science outreach projects exist abroad, ITMO’s approach is unique in scale and in combining science, art, AI, and VR as tools for innovative communication.
Creative and Engaging
'Scientific Petersburg' is building a new model of science communication — dynamic, creative, and engaging. In this format, science escapes the confines of academic offices and becomes accessible to the public. Trending areas such as VR tourism, digital souvenirs, and AI-generated content could evolve into standalone media-educational products, while the generative AI workshop could become a regular training school for science communicators and journalists.
The festival format and emphasis on citizen involvement help attract broad audiences to science and education events. Such initiatives lay the groundwork and provide tools for developing science tourism as a distinct and meaningful field.
