1 September 2014

10th International Symposium on Permafrost Engineering

A delegation of 21 MPI scientists led by Director, Dr. Mikhail Zhelezniak, attended the 10th International Symposium on Permafrost Engineering in Harbin, China, 22-24 August. The International Symposium on

Permafrost Engineering (ISPE) is organized by the Melnikov Permafrost Institute (Yakutsk, Russia), the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (Lanzhou, China), and the Heilongjiang Institute of Cold Region Engineering (Harbin, China) to provide a forum for discussion of permafrost engineering issues, as well as for exchange of practical experience in construction and maintenance of infrastructure on frozen ground. Since the first meeting in Chita in 1993, the symposiums have been held once every two or three years alternately in Russia and China. The local organizer of the 10th Symposium, the Heilongjiang
University, brought together over 300 researchers and practitioners to report their latest research advances and findings in frozen soil mechanics, engineering construction in permafrost regions, frost-resistant technology in hydraulic engineering, and permafrost, ice and snow monitoring.

After the Symposium, the MPI delegation visited the Heilongjiang Institute of Cold Region Engineering and the Heilongjiang University, which resulted in signing of bilateral MOUs on scientific cooperation. By invitation of Prof. Wei Ma, Mikhail Zhelezniak and his assistant for international relations, Lilia Prokopieva, visited the CAREERI Institute in Lanzhou to discuss opportunities for further collaboration. The parties agreed to explore the possibility for joint projects and to conclude a MOU during this September. 

For more information on the ISPE series, click here.