During its official visit to Vladivostok, the Council of Young Scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) visited the Primorsky Aquarium to meet with young scientists from the A. V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS). In the course of the meeting, biologists reported on their current work and offered suggestions about collaboration to the researchers from related fields.

Sergei Turanov, a young geneticist from the NSCMB FEB RAS, spoke about the importance of bioinformatical techniques and about state-of-the-art strategies for collecting genetic material as well as about difficulties arising during the transfer of samples and information sharing aimed at enhancing global scientific research. Sergei also stated that physiology and medicine were areas where researchers from various fields of science could carry out joint projects.

Polina Mischenko, a staff scientist at the Primorsky Aquarium Shared Equipment Facility, told the delegation about her research focused on marine mammals. Her investigations include hormonal states of animals, their cognitive abilities and comparison of blood biochemistry of marine mammals kept in indoor pools and in sea-pen enclosures.

Stanislau Yuretski, Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists of the NASB, noted that the whole delegation was impressed by the present level of scientific activity at the institutions within the FEB RAS and a high potential for its further development.

"We visited institutions representing a range of scientific disciplines, and I managed to find some areas of common interest and new ideas for research almost in each of them," said Viktoriya Golovenchik, a staff scientist at the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Bioresources. "During this trip, we exchanged contacts and discussed opportunities for cooperation with a lot of young scientists."

On the completion of the science-related portion of the visit, the guests were given a tour of the Primorsky Aquarium. The Belarusian delegation appreciated the excellent educational environment of the facility and the beauty of its exhibits.