CBU organized courses I attended previously - Part 2

The second CBU organized course I attended was held in Russia. That was a great experience for all of us, especially for foreign students which have heard and they were told a lot about Russia, but unfortunately had a lucky chance to visit the neighboring country, but that was the exciting opportunity we could not missed. St-Petersburg Forestry Technical Academy was hosting the CBU intensive course "Forestry and forest industry in Russia". Besides diverse study programme we had spare time to hang out in the center even though the weather was cold enough (about -15C), but the city center was already nicely decorated for New Year and Christmas celebrations. We had saved some spare time to visit pubs along Nevsky Prospect and to taste delicious beer brewed in Saint Petersburg.

But lets come back to studies ))) We had a well planned combination of outdoor and indoor sessions. The rage of lecture themes have varied a lot and include: biodiversity conversation, road construction and forestry planning, forest inventory in Russia and forestry law. Besides that we had students' presentations part and I did not stayed aside, I did present the results on a study "Heterobasidion spp. infections allocation and its causes in Russian Karelia".

Apart from lecture and presentation we had an opportunity to visit entomological and hunting museum of Academy as well as incredible botanical garden with huge collection of flora from different climatic zones. Additionally we had excursion to the production unit of non-wood forestry product enterprise specializing on berry processing and packaging, however due to bad climatic conditions the travel there and back was twice longer than it was planned, but otherwise the hosting institution providing good meal and interesting excursion there.

The housing was organized for us in dormitory, however in some respect I could feel the Soviet echo in there (common showers and toilets in the main corridor) and for the foreigners who are not aware of past Russian history were slightly shocked.

Nevertheless we had great experience in Saint Petersburg and I'm looking forward to visit this wonderful city and Forestry Academy again.