Published on: 2026-04-16
Source: Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship – Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At the end of March, the XI International Youth Forum on Sustainable Development took place in Moscow — one of the flagship projects of the economic club MGIMO OECONOMICUS named after A.V. Makarenko. This year, the event acquired an international scale for the first time, unfolding activities at two venues — in Moscow and Tashkent. Participants competed in solving current cases related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), presenting innovative ideas and practical projects capable of changing the urban environment and future economy.
SUCCESS
The performance of the delegation from the RUDN Institute of Ecology deserves special attention. University students successfully passed a rigorous competitive selection and demonstrated a high level of training, becoming winners in one of the forum’s categories.
The victory was won by the team consisting of:
- Gimaletdinova Evelina Albertovna(4th year, major “Energy- and resource-saving processes in chemical technology, petroleum engineering and biotechnology”);
- Loseva Valeria Alexandrovna(3rd year, major “Ecology and Nature Management”);
- Dianova Natalya Albertovna(3rd year, majoring in “Ecology and Environmental Management”).
Students competed in the “Sustainable Urban Development” committee, which acted as a practical solutions laboratory at the forum. The committee’s work was dedicated to finding a balance between rapid urbanization and the preservation of natural ecosystems. Participants were to develop comprehensive proposals for implementing “green” technologies, optimizing transport systems, and rationally using resources to create a comfortable and environmentally friendly urban environment.
During three days, the RUDN team worked on solving a case that required not only deep theoretical knowledge in the field of ecology and environmental management, but also skills in project management, economic modeling, and intercultural communication. The concept proposed by the students was recognized by the jury as the best — as the one most meeting the criteria of sustainability, feasibility of implementation, and social significance.
The essence of the winning solution
Our team has developed an eco-settlement model for 1200 residents, in which the data processing center becomes not a source of thermal pollution, but the energetic core for housing, greenhouses, and aquafarms.
The key elements of the model became:
- thermal accumulator ponds— for the accumulation and redistribution of excess heat;
- cascade water useA — for multiple reuse of water with sequential reduction in its quality requirements;
- closed cycle of wavesА — for the processing and reuse of all types of waste;
- carbon neutrality — there are zero net greenhouse gas emissions;
- Economic modelA — for proof of the calculated profitability and payback of the project.
“In the team, we distributed roles as follows: I was responsible for calculating the cluster’s economics, Valeria for cluster management and risk assessment, Natalia for the carbon balance and the water cascade. As a result, we proposed a ready-made model in which the EED becomes the driver of sustainable development, and the settlement moves towards a carbon-positive balance,” —Evelina Gimaletdinova.
Impressions of the event
According to the student, participation in the forum became a valuable experience for the girls, as it set a very high standard this year. The format of the “laboratory of practical solutions” forced the participants to move away from templates and think like real urban practitioners.
“The work was carried out in an intensive mode: we analyzed real cases, took into account economic constraints and, most importantly, the inevitability of preserving natural ecosystems in megacity conditions. For us, students of the Ecology Institute of RUDN University, it was fundamentally important to prove that the city’s ecology is not just about greening, but about a comprehensive approach: from energy efficiency of buildings to integration of water-green frameworks into transport infrastructure. This victory is the result of our teamwork and the fundamental base that we received within the walls of the institute.”I am confident that the solutions we proposed have the potential for real implementation, and I am glad that we were able to contribute to shaping the ecological urban environment of the future,” —Evelina Gimaletdinova.
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