Attention!
The deadline for submitting applications has been extended to April 13, 2025
Explore the world of science, where the climate is constantly changing!
The Summer School in the Himalayas offers a unique opportunity to delve into research on climate change and community resilience. You will explore how climate affects local communities and learn how to collect data in the field. You will work with world-class experts and gain practical experience through lectures, seminars, and interviews with residents. This will provide you with a theoretical and practical understanding of climate change, opening up new opportunities for your future career. The unique natural environment of the Himalayas provides a challenging and rewarding experience that will make this summer a starting point for great discoveries.
The summer school is an opportunity to:
- try your hand at research
- learn how to process and analyse data
- improve your foreign language proficiency
- explore the sustainability of local communities
- get acquainted with the fields of business and economics, culture and history, society and legislation
- immerse yourself in the traditional culture of the Himalayan people at the junction with modern technologies
- enjoy incredible views of the Indian Himalayas
- have fun in a scientific environment
The challenges of sustainable development in the Himalayan region are a complex interplay of real-world climatic, socio-political, environmental, and economic factors that local communities face. The rapidity and magnitude of these changes make research efforts in this area particularly crucial and relevant.
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The school will take place from June 30 to July 13, 2025
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June 30 – July 1
Flight from St Petersburg/Moscow to Delhi. We’ll begin our journey by exploring Delhi, immersing ourselves in Indian culture, and getting to know other scientists.
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July 2
Seminar at the University of Delhi: an introduction to the university’s leading scientific centres and departments.
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July 3
Flight to Leh, in the Ladakh region, for a unique opportunity to study sustainable development. On the first day, we will focus on adaptation, acclimatising to the new environment, and preparing for active work.
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July 4 – 6
Immersion in the scientific atmosphere of Ladakh University's campuses:
- Visits to laboratories and educational institutions
- Lectures and seminars delivered by leading experts from Delhi, Ladakh, and HSE University–St Petersburg
- Hands-on project work with real data
- Interviews with local residents to understand their perception of climate change
- Interaction with NGOs active in the field of sustainable development
- Communication with local government officials who influence environmental decisions
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July 7
Transfer to Kargil—the trip is a key part of our field research and collaboration with local experts.
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July 8 – 11
We are going to Kargil to:
- continue project work in the field by conducting interviews and collecting data
- learn about the work of NGOs and authorities in regions affected by climate risks
- participate in expert discussions about the results of our project research
- get valuable feedback on our projects from colleagues and experts
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July 12
Transfer from Kargil to Leh and onward flight to Delhi.
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July 13
Return to St Petersburg.
Summer School Partners:
University of Delhi
University of Ladakh
The main organiser of the Summer School is the St Petersburg School of Social Sciences.
- The Summer School in India offers an intensive programme that includes lectures given by leading experts, master classes, and practical work in the Himalayan region.
- At the end of the programme, each participant will receive an HSE certificate.
- The planned tuition fee for the programme is 220,000 rubles.
- The price includes flights to and from Delhi and Ladakh, transportation within Ladakh, accommodation at the University of Delhi and Ladakha University campuses in Leh and Kargil, meals (including breakfast), field trips, and summer school tuition.
You will be taught by international experts
Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук: декан
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Delhi
Professor at the Center for Political and Social Studies
Associate Professor at the Delhi University Law Center. Since 2023, he has been the coordinator of the National Service Program and an expert in environmental law.
Associate Professor at the University of Ladakh and Director of the Institute of Tribal Studies, he specializes in the study of social institutions, structures, and understanding of social dynamics, inequality, and social transformations in Ladakh.
Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Geography Department at Ladakh University. Specializes in gender geography, disaster management, and public health.
Professor at the Laboratory of Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Delhi. Expert in the field of bioresource utilization and bacterial ecology.
Researcher and lecturer with expertise in various fields of environmental science, including energy crises, the search for sustainable solutions to major global challenges, and improving living standards.
Assistant Professor Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. An expert in the field of sustainable development and applied economics, he specializes in finding problems that lie at the intersection of agri-food systems, society and climate change. A specialist in field research conducted using a mixed methodology and various data collection tools.
Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Research. PhD in Biotechnology at the International Center for Genetic Engineering, as well as a specialist in the field of environment and sustainable development. He researches climate change, waste management, biodiversity conservation, and genetic engineering.
Co-founder of the rZamba Charitable Foundation, which aims to provide quality and equitable education for children in Ladakh. She has made significant contributions to educational reform efforts, working in collaboration with the Kaivalya Foundation, in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Terms of Participation
Who can participate:
Students of any bachelor's, master's, or postgraduate degree programmes
Main selection criteria
- An international passport valid for at least 9 months
- English proficiency (at least B1 level)
- Physical endurance and a high level of physical fitness
- No chronic diseases
- Experience of hiking/camping
- Teamwork skills
- Field work experience is welcomed
Required documents for the competitive selection process
- Motivation letter (no more than 1,000 words)
- The motivation letter should reflect
- the reasons for your interest in the trip
- your experience of participating in expeditions/research
- your expectations of the summer school
- how the experience would be useful in your future professional and research activities - Other documents confirming compliance with the selection criteria
Online interviews may be held with shortlisted participants.
Important Dates
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Application deadline: April 13, 2025
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Consideration of applications and notification of participants about the selection results: April 17, 2025
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The payment deadline for the summer school is April 20, 2025
Payments can be made in instalments:
- The first instalment is due by April 20, 2025
- The second instalment is due by June 1, 2025
Cost of the Summer School in India
The estimated cost of the trip is 220,000 roubles
The price includes:
- Flights to Delhi and return flights from Delhi to Ladakh
- Accommodation at the University of Delhi and Ladakh University campuses in Leh and Kargil
- Partial meals, including breakfast
- Field trips
- Summer School tuition fees
Contacts
Manager, Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences
Manager, Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences