Russian Geographical Society Initiates Inaugural Celebration of BRICS Geographer’s Day

The Russian Geographical Society’s headquarters in Moscow held the first-ever celebration of BRICS Geographer’s Day on 18 August 2024. The event was held as part of a Russian initiative to establish a single professional holiday for BRICS countries during Russia’s BRICS Chairship in 2024.

The celebration of BRICS Geographer’s Day at the Russian Geographical Society’s headquarters was attended by specialists in geography, nature conservation, tourism, and related fields from BRICS countries, as well as representatives of Russian agencies and organizations, foreign embassies, and the media. The experts spoke about the special role of geographical sciences in their countries and presented reports on the key results of their research. BRICS specialists gave presentations about the latest trends and developments in geography, and also outlined prospects for joint projects.

“Geography is a truly international science because we study processes and phenomena regardless of borders. As such, geography is the future,” said Nikolay Kasimov, first vice president of the Russian Geographical Society, president of the Faculty of Geography at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and an academician at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“BRICS countries, which are located in all climatic zones, are of great scientific interest to geographers,” Russian Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Konstantin Mogilevsky said. “Given the expansion of BRICS, our capabilities are expanding. BRICS Geographer’s Day is not only a tribute to geography; it is a mechanism that can combine efforts for the practical implementation of joint projects.”

The decision to formally establish BRICS Geographer’s Day is expected to be included in the declaration of the 12th meeting of BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology, and Innovation, which will take place in September 2024.

Rolfontein Nature Reserve manager Themba Mathebula, who represents the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development, and Land Reform in South Africa, spoke about protected areas based on the example of the Northern Cape province.

Ahmed Almurshidi, an assistant professor at the Geography and Urban Sustainability Department at the United Arab Emirates University, gave a presentation about the place and role of geographical sciences in the UAE.

Geographer and Co-Founder of KHARTES Geoconsulting Diego Moreira Carvalho from the University of Brasilia spoke about the introduction of a forest fire warning system in Brazil.

Yaoming Li, director of the Research Centre for the Green Development of the Silk Road from the Xinjiang Institute of Geography and Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, spoke about the current state of geographical sciences in China and trends for their future development.

Yericho Meshesha, the forestry programme coordinator at the Regional Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Bureau of Southwest Ethiopia, provided an overview of geographical sciences in Ethiopia and an analysis of their practical application in environmental protection activities.

Saeid Soufizadeh, an associate professor at the Environmental Sciences Research Institute at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran, spoke about the importance of preserving biodiversity and its sustainable use.

Urban development researcher and tourism expert Mansour Abdoli from Iran talked about the role of ecotourism in achieving sustainable development based on the example of the InIranProject ecotourism agency, which he founded.

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Since 2019, Russia has officially celebrated Geographer’s Day on 18 August based on an initiative of the Russian Geographical Society, which received support from Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2023, the Society proposed celebrating BRICS Geographer’s Day on 18 August as a unified holiday among BRICS countries. The idea was voiced at a meeting of BRICS education ministers in summer 2023, and the decision was made to start celebrating BRICS Geographer’s Day in 2024.

Source: Russian Geographical Society press service

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.