On 15 June, the Venevitinovo biocentre of VSU accepted the first group of students from the Faculty of Medicine and Biology (“Ecology and Natural Resource Management” programme) for practical training this year. During practical training they will learn more about different natural communities near the biocentre and visit the Nature Museum of the Usmanskiy Pinewood Forest.
The students completed the introductory briefing. Head of the centre Alexey Lopatin and lecturer from the Department of Ecology and Land Resources Elena Negrobova told the students about the observation of the rules and fire safety. The students learnt about the danger of blood-sucking insects and mites that spread diseases and about poisonous mushrooms and plants. They were also taught how to act in case they meet a wild animal.
On 16 June, Alexander Prokin, the leading biologist at the Venevitinovo biocentre, gave the students a hydrobiological tour along the coastal area of the Usman River. They learnt about the local conditions of the river, the diversity of water inhabitants, and underwater and coastal vegetation and they also visited a valley lake near the river.
On 17 June, Elena Negrobova gave a tour of the Novousmansky district near the village of Maklok and told the students about the consequences of natural fires in 2010. She also talked about the plant and animal life in the forests near the village. The students saw some natural monuments of the Usmanskiy Pinewood Forest, including lakes Cherepashye, Chistoye, and Ugolnoye and Klyukvennoye swamp.
“Our biocentre has been accepting students for practical training for over 70 years since the first group came here in summer of 1946. The biocentre, previously known as VSU zoological centre, regularly serves as a scientific and educational platform for practical training of several faculties of our university. Between 2006 and 2009, first year students from the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University did their practical training here. It is not surprising that our colleagues from Moscow are interested in these places because our area offers a lot of unique natural sites and great biological diversity,” said Alexey Lopatin, Head of the Venevitinovo biocentre.
