Several representatives of interested parties met with Rector Ilshat Gafurov on June 6th.

He thanked them for their interest to KFU and noted the importance of field research opportunities which are provided by such cooperation.

Chair of the Department of the History of Tatarstan, Archaeology and Ethnology Ayrat Sitdikov said, “The Volga Region is terra incognita for Western scientists, and serious research work can help us uncover many secrets, including those of climate change”.

This objective, as he opined, must become the primary one for a new international research group to be based at the Archaeometry Center. The work will be concentrated in Bolgar and Sviyazhsk – two unique historical settlements in Tatarstan. The project is aimed to be presented for the next governmental megagrant contest.

A number of local and overseas experts plan to join the team. Among the latter are Carlos Cordova (Department of Geography, Oklahoma State University), Mikhail Blinnikov (Geography Department, St. Cloud State University), and Elena Ponomarenko (Department of Geography, University of Ottawa). A Russian national, Professor Yekaterina Yershova (Department of Geobotany, Moscow State University), also plans to partake. As was also mentioned, a new carbon dating lab must be established at KFU before the project can gain full steam.

This planned undertaking will involve several KFU institutes and further strengthen the practice of interdisciplinary research at the University. Naturally, new programs in paleoclimatology and geoarchaeology are also in the works.

Dr. Blinnikov shared, «Tatarstan and Kazan University evidently have the potential to prepare experts for the global science. I am impressed by your initiatives. Speaking about joint projects, we are certain that we can load the prospective new lab for the next three years – we have many plans, ideas, and objectives. There is currently a big interest towards Russian science, and your region stands out in concentrating different such opportunities. I hope this will help us and KFU colleagues co-author many interesting joint papers and attract resources».

In particular, if the megagrant will be won and the lab established, the planning horizon may expand to five or even ten years. Such a timeframe will suffice not only for local archaeometrical research in Bolgar and Sviyazhsk but also for more large-scale theoretical takeaways about planetary paleoclimatic processes.

The delegation is staying in Kazan for a few more days to outline the partnership and participate in preparing the applications for the megagrant.