Research & Expertise

On November 8, HSE University hosted the Republic of Scientists Festival for the seventh time. The event aims to remind students that science is multifaceted and universal, to showcase areas of knowledge beyond their educational curriculum, and to connect early-career scientists with one another. Guests of the festival enjoyed interactive activities, popular science lectures by university faculty and alumni, and the grand finale of Season VII of Science Battles.

What is essential for managing ESG risks effectively — specific talents, a variety of experiences, or academic knowledge? In the light of the ESG transition, which aspects of corporate governance should analysts and investors focus on? A recent study by researchers from the School of Finance addresses these questions.

The population of African countries is growing so fast that the continent is likely to play a significant role in global development. However, the socio-economic situation in African States remains dramatic. Access to high-quality education, the development of science and high technologies are crucial in addressing these challenges. Professor Alexander Sokolov, Head of the UNESCO Chair on Future Studies at HSE University, spoke at the International Forum of UNESCO Chairs and Partners ‘Transforming Knowledge for Africa’s Future.’ The event took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Federico Gallo is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Cognition and Decision Making of the HSE Institute for Cognitive Research. In 2023, he won the Award for Special Achievements in Career and Public Life Among Foreign Alumni of HSE University. In this interview, Federico discusses how he entered science and why he chose to stay, and shares a secret to effective protection against cognitive decline in old age.

Researchers at the HSE AI Research Centre and Sber AI Lab have developed a special system that, using large language models, will make artificial intelligence (AI) more emotional when communicating with a person. Multi-agent models, which are gaining popularity, will be engaged in the synthesis of AI emotions. The article on this conducted research was published as part of the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) 2024.

Researchers at HSE University have developed a set of mathematical models to predict the impact of nuclear power on the Sustainable Development Index. If the share of nuclear power in the global energy mix increases to between 20% and 25%, the global Sustainable Development Index (SDI) is projected to grow by one-third by 2050. In scenarios where the share of nuclear power grows more slowly, the increase in the SDI is found to be lower. The study has been published in Nuclear Energy and Technology.

This autumn, 55 early-career researchers will start working at HSE University's campuses in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Perm. All of them have undergone a rigorous selection process and aim to make significant progress in both science and personal development during their participation in the Russian Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. This year, in addition to PhDs who are Russian citizens, HSE University welcomes their colleagues from Poland, Kazakhstan, and India who have earned their academic degrees from Russian universities. On September 17-18, orientation events were held for them at HSE University.

A group of scientists at HSE University have discovered how anxiety and depression can be diagnosed by analysing heart rate. It turns out that under mental stress, the heart rate of individuals with a predisposition to mental health disorders differs from that of healthy individuals, especially when performing more complex tasks. These changes in cardiovascular parameters can even be detected using a pulse oximeter or a smartwatch. The study findings have been published in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

HSE University International BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre and the Competition Policy and Assessment Centre founded by the State Administration for Market Regulation of China signed a cooperation agreement. The parties agreed to come up with proposals for the development of exchange trade in goods and raw materials between Russia, China, and the BRICS countries.

Addressing the Eastern Economic Forum, HSE University's experts discussed the role of universities in the integrated development of territories, Russia-China cooperation on carbon neutrality, and the role of businesses and non-profit organisations in society's pursuit of a better future.