Autumn is near its midpoint! 

Make the most of the season before the leaves fall – check out our articles:

Comfort food only 🌯

Cinnamon Bun Guide to St. Petersburg
A Guide To Pyshki and Donuts in St. Petersburg
Apple Feast: Traditional Russian Treats to Try This Fall
What To Do With All the Pumpkins 
Sbiten and Vzvar: Slavic Way to Gluehnwein 
Russian Tea Culture and Top Spots in St. Petersburg 

City & suburbs 🌇

Scenic Fall Spots in and Around St. Petersburg 
Nature Destinations: Things to Do in Early Autumn
Top Spots for Harry Potter Lovers in St. Petersburg 
Our Favorite Places to Experience Fall in St. Petersburg
Medieval Spots Around St. Petersburg 

Halloween spirit 👻

St. Petersburg’s Spookiest Landmarks      
The Unexpectedly Superstitious Side of St. Petersburg 
Halloween Plans for the Faint of Heart
5 Animated Movies to Get You in the Halloween Spirit  
Eco-Horror: What It Is and Why We Love To Fear It 
Gothic Revival Architecture in St. Petersburg

Self-care time 💆‍♂️

The Experiment: Testing Ways to Feel Alive in the Morning 
The Experiment: Testing Folk Tips for Falling Asleep 
The Experiment: How Healthy Food Can Improve Your Life

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Hackathons, startups, and sightseeing ✨

In our international spotlight this week is Aris Septanugroho from Indonesia, an active student of the program Neurotechnologies and Programming, who didn’t let the language barrier stop him from participating, winning, and making friendships.

On campus, Aris doesn’t limit himself to just his studies; he’s also an avid member of several clubs and communities:

The many clubs and events are actually one of the things I like most about ITMO. By participating in them, you can get a sense of the latest developments in the industry and discover technologies that might not necessarily be covered in your regular university courses. […] That’s one of the most exciting things about these communities for me: they give me opportunities to learn something new.

Read the full interview📌

#itmofaces

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Need a device for a class, project, or other university task? 💻

ITMO.SHARE is a free equipment and component rental service by ITMO Library available to ITMO students and staff.

What is ITMO.SHARE?

ITMO.SHARE allows ITMO students and staff to temporarily borrow devices and equipment for study and work.

Equipment can be rented for 1-4 hours per day and must be used on university premises.

Who can use it?

The service is available to all ITMO students and staff.

When collecting a reserved device, you will need to show your e-pass or student ID.

How can I rent a device?

Submit a Request for ITMO.SHARE Equipment through my.itmo.ru.

You can also find the request in the MyITMO app:

Applications and Queues → Request for ITMO.SHARE Equipment

Applications are processed within 30 minutes during business hours, subject to device availability.

Reservations can be made up to one week in advance. The booking period is 1-4 hours per day. Longer rentals must be agreed upon separately.

Where and when can I pick it up?

Devices are available daily from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM.

Equipment can be picked up at ITMO’s Kronverksky and Lomonosova campuses.

Need specific software?

Different devices come with different pre-installed software. If you need additional software, specify it in your request at least 24 hours in advance and provide a link to the required software.

Please note that installation of requested software is not guaranteed.

What should I keep in mind?

The equipment must remain on university premises and should be returned with all its components in the same condition in which it was issued.

Return the device to the administrator or librarian no later than 10 minutes after your reservation ends.

If you fail to pick up your reserved equipment twice in a row, your booking access will be blocked for one month.

Only one device can be requested per application. Equipment is provided subject to availability and full financial responsibility, and the library reserves the right to refuse a rental.

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🔬 ITMO weekly digest: Nobel Prizes 2026 edition

The prizes have found their laureates – and ITMO NEWS has got it covered.

🧪 The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai, whose work sheds light on origins of life as well as opens new horizons for modern pharmaceuticals.

We spoke with Dr Ekaterina Skorb, head of ITMO’s School of Life Sciences and Infochemistry Scientific Center, on the importance of this breakthrough.

🧊 The Nobel Prize in Physics went to Francis Halzen for work connected with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.

Dmitry Karlovets, a senior researcher at ITMO’s Faculty of Physics, explains the discovery and ITMO’s involvement in this research field

🧬 The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was presented to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their work on optogenetics.

Vera Medvedeva, a senior scientist at ITMO, helps explain this field and the significance of their discovery.

And here are other key stories from this week:

☕ Coworking spaces at ITMO

ITMO has more coworking spaces than you might think. Find out where they are, when they’re open, and what benefits they offer.

🍂 Make the most of autumn

Discover beautiful places to explore around ITMO, along with exciting activities to enjoy this fall.

#newsdigest

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🎓 Open Doors Scholarship – registration is ongoing!

Dreaming of studying at ITMO University tuition-free? The Open Doors contest is your chance!

This year, prospective students can apply via one of the following tracks:
📌Bachelor's
📌Master’s
📌PhD

🗓 Important dates

Registration for all tracks is open until November 1.

Bachelor’s track:
1️⃣ First stage – portfolio competition and entrance test: August 20 to November 13, 2026
2️⃣ Second stage – problem-solving challenge: November 13 to December 21, 2026

Master’s track:
1️⃣ First stage – portfolio competition and entrance test: August 20 to November 13, 2026
2️⃣ Second stage – problem-solving challenge: November 13 to December 21, 2026

PhD track:
1️⃣ First stage – portfolio competition and entrance test: August 20 to November 13, 2026
2️⃣ Second stage – problem-solving challenge: November 13 to December 21, 2026
3️⃣ Third stage – interviews with potential supervisors: December 22, 2026 – February 26, 2027

📝 If you participated last year, remember: old accounts have been deleted. You’ll need to create a new one and fill out your portfolio again.

For more information, visit this page.

#opportunities

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Chemistry, computer science, and a love for adventure! 🌍

Meet Mohona Jahan Momy from Bangladesh, a new arrival who is joining ITMO’s Infochemistry program.

Speaking about her journey and decision to join ITMO, Mohona says:

I completed one year [of computer science studies], but I still felt that something was missing. Then, I discovered infochemistry, a field where I could combine my knowledge of computer science with my interests in other subjects. When I returned home, I discovered the scholarship opportunities in Russia, which eventually brought me to ITMO.

📖 Read the full interview

#itmofaces

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