In honor of Russian Science Day, we are publishing a story about how student science originated and developed at the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design. The archival research includes previously unpublished facts about the developments of St. Petersburg State University of Pedagogical and Technical Technologies students, their implementation in enterprises, including medical institutions, at which scientific and technical exhibitions and in which countries they were presented, as well as what equipment the university students worked on. The article also includes unique archival photographs.
The process of the emergence of student science is closely related to the emergence of the Student Scientific Society (SSS). The SSS at St. Petersburg State University of Traumatology and Technology was founded in the 1947-1948 academic year, when the university was called the Leningrad Textile Institute of S. M. Kirov (LTI).
In the spring semester of 1948, for the first time, five reports on the results of scientific research by LTI students were presented at a citywide scientific and technical conference.
Student Scientific Society of the Department of Theoretical Mechanics. 1947
At that time, the country’s universities were faced with the task of massively involving students in the research problems being solved by their departments. On May 29, 1952, the rector of the Leningrad Textile Institute, Guriy Iosifovich Arefiev, at a general institute meeting, announced the recommendations of the Minister of Education: “Let 100% of students try themselves in science!”
Meeting of the SSS of the Department of Chemical Technology of Fibrous Materials. 1952
And by 1955, members of the LTI Student Scientific Society were involved in 38 scientific circles at 22 departments. During this period, the Institute actively concluded agreements on cooperation with Leningrad enterprises and, as part of this work, solved not only important economic problems, but also involved students in research activities. Some of these student works were put into production and received high awards. For example, the work of 5th year student of the Faculty of Technology Elena Petrova received a prize from the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the USSR in 1955. And the Department of Chemical Fiber Technology, under the leadership of Professor Alexander Meos, carried out research on the development and improvement of a new model of cord unit for plant No. 506. Another significant work for enterprises was carried out by student Kirill Perepelkin (in the future – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Materials Science LTI). He was able to improve the pre-ripening process in rotating tubes and strengthen the chlorinated fibers for this device.
As a result of the reform of higher education in the late 1950s and early 1960s, not only the number of students increased sharply, but their composition also changed – production workers with experience began to enter the Institute. At the same time, work in relations with production began to change at the Institute. This served as an incentive for the creation in 1960 of the Student Scientific Society of LTI – the Student Design Bureau (SKB).
Meeting of the Student Design Bureau.
Head of the Student Design Bureau Sergei Anokhin.
Student Churinov at work.
Student Nikolai Ashnin (future vice-rector for academic affairs) at work at SKB.
The regulations on SKB defined its tasks: wide involvement of students in experimental work in factories and factories, participation in rationalization and invention, performance of drawing and design work on orders from enterprises, implementation of coursework and diploma design on topics relevant to production. At the beginning, about 50 senior students participated in the work of the SKB. The result of their work was victory in the citywide exhibition-competition “Leningrad Students for Science and Production,” for which participants of the SNO LTI received a cash prize of 3,000 rubles.
In May 1960, the Institute held a competition in which 46 student scientific works were presented, carried out on the instructions of enterprises. The winners were students Arkady Stalevich, Veronika Brekhova, Sofya Tsukerman and Vladimir Tiranov (future Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Institute) for their work under the guidance of Pavel Vladimirovich Melentyev, dedicated to mechanical testing of polymer fibers. A group of students continued to work on their development and the following year were awarded medals from the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education based on the results of the All-Union Competition of Student and Scientific Works.
SNO participants near the installation for mechanical testing of polymer fibers.
Professor Pavel Vladimirovich Melentyev, head of the SSS at the Department of Strength of Materials, with students near the installation for mechanical testing of polymer fibers.
In 1963, in connection with the expansion of its profile, the Institute received a new name – Leningrad Institute of Textile and Light Industry named after S. M. Kirov (LITLP named after S. M. Kirov).
In 1969, participants of the LITLP Student Design Bureau named after. S. M. Kirov, under the scientific supervision of Professor Sergei Osipovich Tsobkalo, completed work on economic contractual topics for 20,000 rubles.
A year later, at an extended meeting of the Academic Council, the following figures were announced: 380 students took part in work on economic contractual topics, and over 1000 people took part in the SSS circles of the Institute. Received 100 awards, 2 medals from the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education. SKB employs 30 students who have completed work worth 52 thousand rubles.
Certificate of honor from student N.N. Chaklov for active participation in the SNO. 1965
In 1973, at the city exhibition of scientific and technical creativity of youth, from 32 exhibits presented by students of the SNO LITLP named after. S. M. Kirov, 21 projects were awarded 1st and 2nd degree diplomas, one work was recommended for exhibition in Finland. The work of student Svetlana Andrievskaya was awarded by the All-Union Chemical Society named after D.I. Mendeleev and sent to the All-Union SSC Work Competition.
By the mid-1970s, the active involvement of students in research and inventive activities received a new impetus – clubs, scientific student conferences, SKB, SSS, competitions and publications of student scientific works. The total number of people participating in the SSS of the Institute during this period exceeded 2000 people. As part of SSS, students worked with instruments in their departments.
By 1975, 3,060 students had already participated in the work of the SSS. Then 77 student works took part in the city competition, 11 of them were awarded first degree diplomas, 26 – second degree diplomas, 35 works were recommended for promotion at the university. And at the All-Union competition in 1975, two student works were awarded diplomas from the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the RSFSR.
At the Department of Organic Chemistry LITLP named after. S. M. Kirov 20 students were engaged in research work on the synthesis and production of various polymer and copolymer materials. The results of these works were reported at SNO conferences. At the Department of Physics, students studied the properties of fiber-forming polymers using physical methods.
Chemistry students, members of the SSS, participated in the work carried out by the NPO “Plastpolymer”. A new form of creative work has become popular among sewing students – the Student Model House (SDM). Student works were successfully exhibited at SSS exhibitions at the Institute, city and republican competitions.
Graduates of the Department of Design and Technology of Sewing Products viewing the collections of the Student House of Models. 1970s
Display of collections of the Student House of Models in the assembly hall of the Institute. 1970s
Project of the Student House of Models “Clothing models from different times and countries.”
In the work of SNO LITLLP named after. S. M. Kirov also actively involved foreign students. For example, in 1975, the institute newspaper “Personnel for the Country” published an article about the development of a Cuban student at the Department of Chemical Technology of Fiber Materials, R. Guevara. He created a method for dyeing polyacrylonitrile yarn, which was introduced at the Pinsk Knitting Mill.
In the same year, five chemistry students were awarded bronze medals from VDNKh. And in 1976, following the results of the All-Union competition, two students were awarded medals “For the best student work”, in addition, student Vera Pereskokova was awarded a diploma from the USSR Ministry of Higher Education.
In addition, the SSS took part in two exhibitions of student works in the GDR, as well as in the exhibition “NTTS – 1976”, where 23 works were awarded diplomas of the 1st and 2nd degrees, and the work of student Tatyana Lesnova was awarded a silver medal from VDNKh.
1976 Minister of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the USSR Vyacheslav Elyutin at the exhibition of student works of LITLP named after. S. M. Kirov in the Lenexpo exhibition pavilion.
In 1976, with the participation of students – members of the SSS – 18 articles were published, 4 copyright certificates were received. Students of the Faculty of Mechanics organized a student patent bureau on the basis of SKB. In the same year, the Institute hosted the 1st Interuniversity meeting of student inventors of Leningrad, at which students of our university were awarded two cash prizes and two certificates of honor. 18 students participated in all-Union, republican and city student scientific conferences, of which four students were participants in the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of the USSR.
Conference of the Student Scientific Society.
Conference of the Student Scientific Society.
Conference of the Student Scientific Society.
In the same year, the institute newspaper “Personnel for the Country” wrote that over the past seven years of the work of the Student Scientific Society at the Faculty of Engineering and Economics, 90% of students participate in the work of the SSS every year. The faculty also operates a Student Translation Bureau of technical and economic texts. Then, in 1976, the Student Translation Bureau LITLP named after. S. M. Kirov turned 17 years old. His supervisor was a teacher at the Department of Foreign Languages, associate professor Sara Iosifovna Levit. In total, during this time, 1041 translations of journal articles, patents, and prospectuses were completed at the request of departments and laboratories of the Institute, as well as textile enterprises of Leningrad. In 1961, 33 translations were made by 29 students. In 1975 – 127 translations by 57 students. Many of these students successfully defended their theses in a foreign language.
Certificate of assignment to the profession of translator of scientific and technical literature of a member of the Student Translation Bureau.
Students’ research work becomes part of the educational process after the introduction of a special course “Undergraduate Research Work” (URS) into the class schedule. The combination of UIRS, SNO, SKB helps students to better master the skills and techniques of performing scientific research.
UIRS at the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products.
UIRS at the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products.
UIRS at the Department of Design and Technology of Leather Products. Photoplantograph is a device for taking a plantogram of the foot using a photographic method.
In 1977, the university held its first all-institute student Science Day, where, as part of a scientific and technical conference, a competition was held for the best student research work, and the results of the activities of the SSS were summed up. Each department took part in the competition for the best department stand for student scientific work. 705 scientific reports from students were heard at all departments.
The work carried out by the Department of Chemical Fibers with the participation of members of the SSS for Leningrad clinics is of great practical importance. Department of Chemical Fibers LITLP named after. S. M. Kirova entered into an agreement with the Department of General Surgery of the Pediatric Institute to conduct experimental and clinical research in the field of creation, research and use of medical products made from antimicrobial chemical fibers. A group of Institute students is developing a method for the rational use of collagen-containing waste from the production of protein sausage casings. With the participation of students, a pilot batch of a dry preparation – collagen – was produced and transferred to the Leningrad regional hospital and to a dental clinic for medical and clinical trials. Student work to determine the electrical conductivity and elastic-elastic properties of a viscose tow treated with various avionics was carried out under the joint supervision of teachers from the Department of Physics and the Department of Chemical Fibers. The department also presented eight exhibits developed by SSS students at the exhibition “Days of Higher School”, held in the city of Karl-Marx-Stadt in the GDR.
Meeting of the SSS at the Department of Social Sciences.
SNO in the robotics laboratory of the department of automation of production processes. Mid 1980s.
In 1978, an exhibition of scientific and technical creativity of students “NTTS-78” was held in the Lenexpo pavilions. 25 works of chemistry students were exhibited here, 7 of them were awarded 1st degree diplomas and 10 were awarded 2nd degree diplomas. The inventive activity of SSS students was successful: in 1978, 6 positive solutions and one certificate of authorship were received for works involving SSS students. Sewing students presented 83 exhibits at NTTS-78. Six works were awarded 1st degree diplomas, four works were awarded 2nd degree diplomas.
Guests of the Institute’s stand at the exhibition “Student and Scientific and Technological Progress” dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Komsomol. 1978
Exposition of the Institute at the exhibition “Student and Scientific and Technological Progress”.
In 1981, at the exhibition “NTTS-81” at Lenexpo, the results of student science at LITLP named after. S. M. Kirov over the past decade. 90 percent of the Institute’s students were members of the SSS. They published 460 articles, received 45 copyright certificates, 350 works were awarded at All-Union competitions, exhibitions and Olympiads.
That year, at “NTTS-81” from LTI, more than 100 student works were presented, carried out in line with the main scientific directions of the university:
— technology of dyeing and printing textile materials with foam compounds (students A. Filippov, S. Belyaev and O. Glebova);
— a new collection of children’s and school shoes (students N. Galashova, T. Orekhova, N. Gubkina, G. Vasilyeva);
— electroflocked materials with a given set of properties: carpets, floor coverings (students: E. Korobova, T. Zvanok, V. Esipovich);
— a number of knitwear products developed by students at the Sport factory (students T. Shiyanova, L. Koshaeva, T. Aksenova, E. Ivanova);
— new suit and coat fabrics using regenerated wool (student V. Sharok);
— carpet products designed by students;
— overalls for workers in the oil refining industry, tested at the Kirishi Oil Refinery (students V. Maksimova, G. Tsidaeva, V. Gavrilova);
— filters for ultrafine purification from mechanical impurities of acids and alkalis for JSC Svetlana (student V. Kukhnover);
— organosilicon polymers used in pulp and paper mills to impart shrinkage and wear resistance to cloth (student V. Bezdenezhnykh);
— a method for producing antimicrobial knitted fabric with a reduction in the technological cycle by 2-4 times for the Krasnoe Znamya factory (student I. Kolomeitseva);
— a device for laying a tourniquet, which significantly improves sanitary and hygienic working conditions and was introduced at the Khimvolokno plant (students O. Ponomarev, S. Levin and V. Surkov);
— textile materials for medicine and the medical industry: hemostatic non-woven material to stop bleeding;
— radioactive fibrous materials for radiation therapy; collagen suture threads for ophthalmic surgery (students E. Ivanova, E. Plotkin, S. Savchenko, S. Gorokhova).
In the same period, the Student Design Bureau of the Leather and Footwear Faculty of LITLP named after. S. M. Kirova is working at the Skorokhod factory to create a machine for covering and adhesive tightening shoes.
SSS during classes at the Skorokhod factory.
Students at classes in the workshops of the Skorokhod factory. “Desma” installation for molding PVC shoe bottoms.
The Student House of Models continues its work. Every year its participants develop 50 new models of industrial and household clothing. At that time, the Student House of Models entered into an agreement with Lenshveyprom on the year-round work of the student team at the enterprises.
Student Bogdanova setting up a device at the Department of Design and Technology of Sewing Products.
In 1985, students of the department of design and technology of garments prepared 320 scientific works (abstracts, clothing models, sketches, special costumes, samples of national clothing). These works were exhibited at an international exhibition in Syria and at the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of the USSR. 65 students took part in scientific conferences in Kyiv, Moscow, Tashkent. 160 reports were presented by sewing students at conferences of the department and faculty SSS. 167 student theses were recommended by state commissions for implementation. 20 students became co-authors of scientific articles. Student L. Firitova received an author’s certificate, and the innovation proposal of student A. Kazachenko was registered in the patent department of the Institute. Students from the SSS club of the department took part in the development of special suits for protection against phosphorus, oil and petroleum products for workers in chamber furnaces of shale processing and for workers-painters of ship installations.
Scientific conference at the Department of Leather Products Technology. Conducted by the dean of the leather and footwear faculty, Petr Petrovich Botkin.
In 1986, at the Faculty of Technology LITLP named after. S. M. Kirov, on the basis of two departments – spinning and mechanical technology of fibrous materials – a new form of scientific work was created – the Student Research Laboratory of Spinning (SNILP), where students worked on experiments and the implementation of their results on the basis of agreements with customer departments. At the same time, the Student Technology Laboratory (STL) has been operating at the Department of Technology and Equipment for Knitting Production for 10 years. Members of the STL are students of the SSS, who presented their developments at student scientific conferences at the Ivanovo and Moscow Textile Institutes, and at the Vitebsk Technological Institute of Light Industry.
In the same year, the institute’s fashion house, technology laboratory, design bureau, electronic laboratory, translation agency, economic analysis bureau, design and technology laboratory merged into the Student Design and Technology Bureau (SKTB). While working at SKTB, the student gained experience in collective creativity, as well as results embodied in a diploma project, copyright certificates for inventions, publications of scientific articles, reports at All-Union and Republican conferences, diplomas at student work competitions, diplomas of participants in various exhibitions. For example, postgraduate student Elena Mitina has been studying in SSS clubs since her second year, and as a result, her diploma work was implemented at the Trud association with great economic effect.
Postgraduate student Elena Mitina.
By that time, 100% of the students of LITLP named after. S. M. Kirov were engaged in science thanks to SKTB.
In 1989, student activity in participating in SSS began to decline. On the pages of the institute newspaper “Personnel for the Country,” a discussion unfolded about the problems in organizing students’ research work: “There is a sharp decline in the activity and participation of students in the work of SSS for the following reasons: the forms and methods of attracting students to scientific work are outdated, there is no modern material base, namely the latest instruments, high-quality equipment, computer technology, etc., the maximum teaching load of teachers, there is no latest literature, insufficient material interest of students.” At the same time, during Science Days, the deans noted a lower level of student science.
Conference program “Days of Science – 99”.
A memo from the dean of the sewing faculty on awarding active participants in Science Days.
Today the SSS SPbGUPTD has more than 1000 students. Members of the university SSS are engaged in developments in various fields: polymer chemistry and ecology; new materials and technologies for light industry; digital technologies; thermal power engineering and solutions for the pulp and paper industry and others. SNO SPbGUPTD is a member of the Association of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists and the Student Scientific Society of the North-Western Federal District. The project of the SNO SPbGUPTD entered the top 5 in the nomination “Best student PR project” of the advertising and PR festival “MCUnite”. At the Interregional competition of student scientific societies of educational organizations of higher education of the North-Western Federal District in 2022, the Student Scientific Society of St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Technology became a prize-winner. In 2023 and 2024 it became the winner of the competition of student scientific communities of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the owner of a grant in the amount of 1 million rubles. For 2020 – 2025 SNO organized more than 70 scientific and scientific popularization events: a congress of student scientific societies of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region; open round table on the topic “Applied Chemistry and Polymer Technologies” with representatives of the company Novbytkhim JSC; regional competition of innovative projects on polymer topics; scientific quiz on the eve of Russian Science Day; I All-Russian Scientific Student Conference “Scientific Challenge: Prospects and Opportunities”; scientific evenings at St. Petersburg State University of Pedagogical and Technical Technologies; scientific battle “Lomonosov Readings”; scientific battle and others.
