Science Brings Us Together

On May 31, 2025, international academic curators hosted Science Connect for International Students — an event that offered students insight into research at HSE, brought them together, and created an evening of connection and fun with like-minded peers.

HSE Academic Curators — a student initiative of the Science Republic — work to engage international students in the academic life of HSE and introduce them to the university’s research opportunities.

The event began with an interactive session where students got to know one another and formed teams for a science-themed quiz. The questions covered topics such as science, HSE, and the academic opportunities available at the university. This was followed by an engaging presentation focused on the research prospects open to students at HSE. Speakers from the Academic Curators initiative spoke in detail about the various support programmes for early-career researchers, including grants and internships, encouraging students to pursue their interests in academia. A relaxed networking session gave participants the chance to share experiences, discuss future plans, and strengthen international connections within the student community.

The organisers emphasised that such events promote integration, foster an international academic environment, and help build lasting ties between students from different countries. The event was warmly received, and many participants expressed interest in taking part in future initiatives.

Dmitry Zimin, head of the Academic Curators project and fourth-year Law student

— This was our first event, and we started planning it from scratch with a new team in March. At first, it was not clear whether we would be able to pull it off, but after three months of hard work, we managed to build communication with other student departments and developed a clear structure. During a retreat in Voronovo, we finalised our concept and eventually created a science-focused networking event. We were thrilled to see international students not only from HSE, but also from other top universities such as Skoltech. We are not planning to stop here — we already have ideas in mind for an even more exciting event next year, so stay tuned!

Shalu Tomar, member of the Academic Curators project and first-year Master’s student in Population and Development

— Science Connect exceeded my expectations. It was a wonderful platform to clear up academic doubts and connect with students from different universities. The experience truly inspired and motivated me to continue my research in the field of yoga and public health. I am looking forward to more opportunities like this!

Ali Sher Durrani, second-year Master’s student in Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy

— This event served as an informational bridge for international students with limited Russian-language skills, giving them access to the research opportunities and infrastructure that HSE has to offer.

Stay tuned and join us at future events! Announcements for upcoming activities will be shared via the Academic Curators Telegram channel.

June 20, 2025