Meet Reham – an aspiring biotechnologist who’s embracing both scientific discovery and the Russian language at ITMO 🔬

What draws her to this field of study? We’ll let her explain:

I love medical biotechnology because it turns the impossible into hope […] it’s a lifeline, a promise that no illness is unconquerable. Every discovery, from regenerating damaged hearts to vaccines tailored to a person’s DNA, feels like a miracle made real. That’s why I love it: because in test tubes and data, I see humanity’s fiercest act of love – fighting for each other.

Read Reham’s full interview here 👈

#itmofaces

Workday or holiday – we’re always here to give you the most exciting events in the city for the upcoming week!

🌿 Plant Swap
• May 1 | 12 pm - 7 pm | 250 rubles

Bring your own plant and take home another! Alternatively, you can enjoy lectures on biodiversity and other topics, as well as a herbarium workshop.

🏮 Dreamfest festival
• May 2 | 7 pm | 1,500 rubles

The annual water lantern festival will feature unique photo locations, music and flyboarding performances, and, of course, the launch of water lanterns at 9 pm.

🧊 Icebreaker festival
• May 3 | 11 am - 7 pm | Free

The icebreakers docked along the Neva will be open to the public for a limited time, heralding the official start of the tourist season.

🤘 Rock hits: soundtracks and Queen
• May 4 | 3 pm, 7 pm | 700-2,300 rubles

Revisit The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Lion King, and other popular movie-verses. Also on the program are acoustic reimaginings of Queen’s greatest hits.

For more ideas, read the full article 👈

#events

Planning a picnic or a nature getaway? Make the most of it by staying safe 🎒

Here are a few tips to make sure your trip leaves you only with good memories:

🕷 Ticks
These insects live not only in forests, but also in city parks, squares, and gardens.

• Use tick repellent.
• For picnics, wear long-sleeved clothing and pants.
• After an outing, carefully inspect your body, especially folds and creases, for ticks. If you find one, go to a first aid post immediately.

🌾 Allergies
The month of May is when the most aggressive allergen-producing plants bloom – causing watery, swollen eyes, runny nose, sneezing, dry cough, rashes, and itching. If you are aware of your allergies, stock up on antihistamines in advance!

🥶 Cold weather risks
The sun may be hot during the day, but evenings can be chilly. If you’re going on an overnight nature trip, make sure to bring warm clothes to avoid hypothermia.

🐍 Snake bites
It’s easy to accidentally step on a snake at an out-of-town picnic, as these reptiles come out to bask in the sun after hibernation. They usually don’t attack first, but they may bite in defense.

• Do not apply a tourniquet to the bitten limb. The key is to move the affected area as little as possible, which slows the spread of venom.
• Get medical help as soon as possible. Sucking out the venom is usually pointless and even dangerous.
• If getting to the hospital will take a long time, you can take an antihistamine — snake bites often trigger anaphylactic shock.

💐 Avoid picking plants — they may be poisonous.

If you like a flower, take a photo instead. For example, lilies of the valley, though pleasant-smelling, often cause headaches. Giant hogweed, which looks like a harmless leafy plant in early May, can cause severe chemical burns if touched.

Via ITMO Life Safety

Here’s your fresh dose of ITMO news – breakthroughs, tools, gear, and important reminders!

⚡️ ITMO researchers have developed a wireless power transfer room that can charge an unlimited number of devices – phones, laptops, and IoT gear – all at once, safely and efficiently.

🤖 Meet OSA, ITMO’s new AI assistant that cleans up and organizes open-source code to help researchers replicate and conduct experiments with ease.

🦾 ITMO students have started producing cost-effective modular exoskeletons for carrying heavy loads — a potential game-changer for rescue workers, builders, and even hikers.

And now a few useful posts from this past week:

🧳 May holidays are coming – here’s our choice of easy, scenic day trips from St. Pete if you’re craving a quick spring getaway.

📱 International students, don’t forget: you must re-register your SIM cards with biometric data by July 1, 2025 – or risk losing your number!

#newsdigest

Early announcement

🐝 Spelling Bee 🐝 

Think you can spell your way to victory?
Then, join us for a fun and friendly Spelling Bee competition where you can test your English skills and compete with others! 

Who can participate?
- Anyone with a B1+ level of English
- Limited spots available - registration required!

Don't want to compete?
Come and cheer for your friends, participate in mini-games, and enjoy the atmosphere!

Just register as an audience through the link

📅 Friday, May 30
⏰ 17:00
📍 9, Lomonosova, room 3220

What if stepping into the unknown helped you find your truest self? 🤔

For Sara Samine, studying at ITMO wasn’t just about earning credits — it was a bold adventure into self-discovery. Reflecting back on her time at ITMO, she says:

“I discovered that I’m much stronger and more adaptable than I thought. Before going to ITMO, I feared I wouldn’t make friends or that I would struggle with everyday tasks. But over time, I became more independent, flexible, and surprisingly good at handling freezing temperatures!”

In this latest interview, you’ll learn how Sara found friendship, confidence, and a second home in Russia’s cultural capital. Click here to read on 👈

#itmofaces

What are you plans for the extra days off?

👨‍💻 — Catch up on my studies
🌭 — Barbecue!
😴 — Good night’s sleep and digital detox

Spring vibes & soundwaves: here’s what’s on in St. Pete this week 👇

🏙 Urban Poetics. Leningrad in the 1950s-60s
• May 9 | 11 AM - 6 PM | 400 RUB

Discover Leningrad of yore through rare photographs by actor and director Evgeny Zlobin, now on display at ROSPHOTO.

🎼 Music club at Community: psychedelic rock
• May 10 | 6 PM | 250 RUB

Embark on a journey with King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and their latest orchestral experiment at this week’s music club session.

🌳 Spring at Botanical Garden
• May 11 | 10 AM - 5 PM | 900 RUB

Trees, blooms, and birdsong await you at the Botanical Garden – the perfect green escape right in the city.

🪣 Sand Sculpture Festival
• May 12 | 10 AM - 9 PM | 500 RUB

Explore WWII history through stunning sand sculptures by artists from Russia and abroad.

Want more spring plans? Find the full lineup on ITMO.NEWS 👈

#events

Fun ways to stay active without actually doing sports!

🥔 Help a friend plant potatoes
👕 Go on a shopping odyssey
🐕‍🦺 Volunteer at an animal shelter

When rolling out your yoga mat or going to the gym is just not a vibe, there’s still a bunch of ways to close your activity rings. Discover more ideas in this story.

Here’s your latest roundup of ITMO buzz – from bold strategies to spelling bees 🐝

🎯 Andrey Volkov, the director of SKOLKOVO’s Public Strategy Institute, stopped by ITMO’s PI School to share why the future of universities lies not just in knowledge, but in building real-world tech and products.

📺 Want to immerse yourself in Russian pop culture? Here are 5 iconic game shows that have kept generations hooked – brainy, sporty, and sometimes just plain wild!

And now, let’s revisit two key posts from last week 👇

🗣 Got the words? Prove it at ITMO’s English Spelling Bee on May 30 – or come for the vibes, mini-games, and good times with friends.

🚶 Skip the tourist traps and take a quirky city walk around Malaya Okhta – where Swedish forts meet kettle-shaped buildings and shawarma joints.

#newsdigest