Andrey Yurtaev on the new wave of Arctic research

Two years ago, representatives of University of Tyumen landed at the Bely Island in the Kara Sea. This marked the expansion of the scientific activity done in the Arctic by the university.

Andrey Yurtaev is the head of the UTMN International Complex Research Laboratory for the Study of Climate, Land Use and Biodiversity and a Candidate of Geographical Sciences. In this interview he shares about his work on the northern island, about the prospects of the research in the Arctic done by the university, potential collaboration with the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug researchers and large scientific organizations of Russia. 

– Andrey, how did you end up as the "plenipotentiary" of the university for the Arctic mission?

– It was a gift of fate. Back in 2014, I accepted a proposal from my direct supervisor, the vice-rector for scientific work of University of Tyumen, Andrey Tolstikov. He advised me to frankly "go dig at the Arctic". Working in the Arctic is a dream of many scientists and an ambitious task for every soil scientist.

I want to note that I was not the only person who represented the university on the island. From the get go, during the first year of the project, an ornithologist from the University Zoological Museum, Dmitry Nizovtsev, joined in. Also our students were engaged in the ecological cleaning of the island, working there as part of an international group of volunteers.

The research we do on the island is complex and covers a lot of ground, as it should, according to the name of our laboratory. This year we were joined by scientists from the Institute of Geosciences – geographers Alexander Marshinin and Ildar Idrisov, soil scientist Artem Yakimov, representative of the Center for Industrial Engineering and Geoinformatics Philip Fadeev.

– It has been two years already, since the works at the Bely Island started. Since then the team of research has grown exponentially. Does this mean that the university is planning to stay and work at the Arctic for a long time? 

– We always were connected to the Arctic some way or another. Albeit, we did not conduct projects of this scope, but we still tackled smaller projects here. Now University of Tyumen is actively conducting research at the Bely Island and we won’t stop there. The Scientific Research Institute of Ecology and Rational Use of Natural Resources is creating a permanent mobile base, and soon, we will have a joint Arctic research ground with the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug near the Nadym city. Much credit for this belongs to Andrey Soromotin, Director of the Research Institute of Ecology and Rational Use of Natural Resources.

I think that University of Tyumen has a long standing tradition of studying the region with utmost care.  This served as the basis for the invitation to work at the Bely Island, when it became part of the state program of full-scale research in the Arctic.

On the island, the entire process is organized by the Russian Center for Arctic Development (RCOA). This non-profit partnership was established by the government of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in cooperation with leading Russian scientific centers and with the support of the Government and the President of the Russian Federation. We have very fruitful partnership relations with the Center and the Department of Science and Innovation of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Here I would like to express gratitude to the director of the department - Alexey Titovsky, who never fails to be attentive to our proposals for scientific research.

– Would you mind sharing about the progress done at the Bely Island?

– The first year could be attributed as a trial period, but it turned out to be successful. We studied the island from south to the north and from the west to the east and collected a large number of samples. Almost all of them have been processed in the laboratories of the university. Based on the results of the findings we will be preparing publications. Three have already been published, including one with a very influential publisher – Zoological Journal. This year we studied the northwestern part of the island. A group from the Earth Cryosphere Institute worked with us. In general, in terms of science scene, the island is becoming quite popular, but there is enough work for everyone, so we try to collaborate.

Our interests are determined by the research program: last year, at the request of the RCOA, we participated in the creation of a Comprehensive three-year program for the study of the Bely Island. It has several main directions: landscape, soil, geochemical, ecological research, biodiversity studies, etc. For example, my students are currently engaged in dendrochronological research. There is a lot of drift-wood on the island, its origin is interesting, and they are studying its cuts. 

To summarize, our university is currently carrying out comprehensive geographic research at the island. Many departments of the university, which can help further the study, are involved. And we hope that by ensuring the collaboration between specialists from different departments of UTMN we will show our ability to carry out high-quality research quickly. So far, of course, not all of the directions of the program are sufficiently covered, but it’s only a matter of time for us to expand.

– Who will benefit the most from this work?

– It’s important for everyone! 

Working in the Arctic is challenging: the area is expensive and difficult to get to, and most importantly there is a lot to be studied. Colleagues from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District have provided immense help in expanding our knowledge. Any university is proud to carry out work in the Arctic and it’s highly prestigious for scientists to take part in this work. In addition to growing as a professional, there is a potential for discovery, which leads to publishing the findings in influential journals. 

Our caulegs from Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug also conducted a whole range of various studies at the highest scientific level. In the future, the island will have a monitoring platform where changes of the Kara Sea will be registered and a forecast for the mainland will be made based on them.

– What are the future prospects of this work?

– There is atlest two more years to go before we forfill the program’s plan. We are also exploring other options, including the creation of a permanent scientific and educational base. If possible, we would take students there. We have specialists and resources to undertake this difficult task. Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug has a need for qualified stuff, and University of Tyumen State can provide the personnel.

In addition, work in the Arctic has encouraged a lot of fruitful collaboration with other researchers. We have done several joint works with colleagues from the reputable academic Institute of the Earth's Cryosphere. Back when we were only starting with developing a comprehensive program for the study of Bely Island, St. Petersburg Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic joined in.

This project creates new opportunities for expanding the personal contacts of a scientist. This year, for example, a colleague from St. Petersburg commissioned me to forward him some soil samples. Based on his findings we will have two joint publications with St. Petersburg University.

As I see it, most importantly the work that is done here acts as a foundation for implementing an important state program of University of Tyumen: Socio-economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation 2020.