How Do We Turn Temperature Minus into a Plus?

The project includes hosting Glaciology Symposium, Congress “Development of Snow-Covered Territories”, International Ethno-Anthropological Congress and Exhibition “55 and Above”, International Exhibition “Industry of Snow-Covered Areas”, the World Snow Forum, and the International Practical Conference devoted to permafrost studies “Resources and Risks of Frost Regions”.

Plenary session called “Steady Development of Snow-Covered Areas” became the central event of the project. Regional officials and experts present at the plenary session discussed the issues of ecology, social and economic development, architecture, management of territories located in the Northern hemisphere including areas situated close to the polar circle.

According to first Vice-Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Anatoly Sobolev, it is not by accident that this project united several platforms, because steady development implies complex approach to solving problems in technological, ecological, cultural, and humanitarian spheres.

‘I’m glad that the Novosibirsk Region receives guests from regions and countries that place great importance to solving the problems of developing northern territories. I believe that the “Snow Season” Project, which unites several formats, will give a good start to the new business year, and will grant us an opportunity to discuss actual issues and find the right solutions,’ – emphasized Anatoly Sobolev. It is the first time that the discussion devoted to developing snow-covered areas includes an ethnographic component. The “55 and Above” Exposition features the Photo Exhibition “Temperature of the Look”, as well as the shamanism exhibition “Those Who Speak with the Spirits”, which demonstrates shaman attributes from the Novosibirsk Local History Museum that were not previously presented to the public.                                          

Deputy Minister of Culture for the Novosibirsk Region Igor Reshetnikov said that the “55 and Above” Project held as part of the “Snow Season” Project was one of the major events to be conducted during the Novosibirsk Region Year of Culture, which had started before.  

The glaciology symposium is presided over by President of the Russian Geographic Society Vladimir Kotlyakov. The symposium features over 100 specialists from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Tomsk, Barnaul, Irkutsk, Yakutsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kirovsk, experts from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, Israel, China, and USA.

Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Andrey Ksenzov noted that difficulties related to living at northern territories must be regarded as pluses, additional opportunities for development. He added that the “Snow Season” Project was becoming an important platform for interaction between specialists and experts from different spheres related to development of northern territories.

‘This forum is vital for municipal entities as well as for development of cities and towns,’ said Andrey Ksenzov.