‘A Laboratory at 3,000 Metres’: HSE University–St Petersburg to Start Call for First Summer School in Himalayas
HSE University–St Petersburg has announced the call for the Summer School in the Himalayas, which will take place from June 30 to July 13, 2025.
The Summer School is the follow-up to two expeditions in the Himalayas organised by the St Petersburg School of Social Sciences in 2024. The programme allows bachelor's, master's, and PhD students to immerse themselves in research on climate change and sustainability in local communities in the unique natural laboratory of the Himalayan region.
'A major part of the school will be devoted to fieldwork and communication with local citizens, representatives of NPOs, universities, and governmental bodies. The key goal is to create an international and interdisciplinary dialogue on sustainable change in the youth and local citizens,' says Alexander Sorokin, Dean of the St Petersburg School of Social Sciences and head of the Summer School.
The programme includes research in the cities of Leh and Kargil (Ladakh state), lectures and seminars by experts from the universities of Delhi, Ladakh, and HSE University–St Petersburg, project work, an introduction to the activities of NPOs in the sphere of sustainable development, interviews with local citizens and government representatives, and visits to research laboratories and centres.
Polina Mironova, second-year student of the Master's programme 'Modern Social Analysis,' participated in the second expedition to the Himalayas in autumn 2024. 'I was drawn by the prospects of academic risk, professional growth, and improving my interviewing skills,' she shared.
Polina Mironova
2nd-year student of the Master's programme 'Modern Social Analysis'
The most memorable thing about the trip was the teamwork. On this expedition, I saw what real field research looks like, when you have to look for informants on the spot, play by ear, adapt, and make quick decisions. An especially interesting part was the interviews—you never know who you will talk to: a farmer, a teacher or a hotel owner. I definitely recommend such projects to any student interested in science and international experience and who wants to improve their foreign language proficiency and research skills—it will look great on your resume. If you are keen on real science, the Summer School is an excellent start!
Anna Merkulova, third-year student of the Bachelor's programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics,' decided to go on the Himalayan expedition to test herself under extreme conditions and master new work methods—for instance, conducting interviews with the help of interpreters or communicating with people whose lifestyles are radically different from her own.
She was struck by the contrast between a megalopolis and traditional life in Himalayan villages, where people don't seek success or material consumption in the 'conventional' sense. While carrying out the research, she also saw that climate change was not an abstract problem but a reality that the locals had to face every day.
Anna Merkulova
Student of the Bachelor's programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics'
Perhaps the main lesson of the expedition is not to be afraid. We had to face a lot of unknown and extraordinary things there, from the nuances of daily life to completely different behavioural patterns. The expedition taught me to do my job under any circumstances—whether it be an interview in the cold in a potato field or trying to understand the problems of local farmers, even though they are extremely far from my daily experience.
According to Anna, the trip significantly influenced her academic interests: after coming back, she engaged in deeper studies of climate change problems and chose the topic for her term paper. Anna is planning to continue these studies while writing her thesis.
Alexander Sorokin underscored the interdisciplinary nature of the school: 'Students majoring in social sciences, humanities, or economics will be able to get a better understanding of the environmental, geographical, and technological contexts of changes in the Himalayas. Students majoring in science will dive into socio-cultural factors and their role. The aim of the school is not to prepare a research paper in two weeks, for example, but theory, concepts, methods, and real contexts can be useful both in the academic sphere and other professional trajectories.'
The main requirements of candidates are English language proficiency (at least B1 level), good physical training, no chronic illnesses, and teamwork skills. To participate in the competition, candidates must submit a resume, a motivation letter (up to 1,000 words), and documents confirming eligibility for the selection criteria.
'Ideally, participants will be in good physical shape and have experience in field or tourist trips in nature, as most of the school will take place at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level. We are organising this school with partners who helped us with our previous expeditions to the Himalayas. Our colleagues from the universities of Delhi and Ladakh are providing accommodation on their campuses,' says Alexander Sorokin.
The group will consist of a maximum of 20 people. Those interested can apply to participate until April 6 via the link. The results will be announced on April 12.
'If you are interested in Indian culture, like to travel under extraordinary conditions, and are ready to test yourself and experience something completely new, you should embrace this opportunity for practical immersion in field research at the global level,' sums up Anna Merkulova.
'The most valuable elements of this project are cooperation between our universities, strengthening partnerships in practice, and creating a dialogue between students and researchers from universities, representatives of NPOs, local citizens, government, and business,' summarises Alexander Sorokin, head of the Summer School.