Research
In late June, researchers from ITMO and the St. Petersburg-based dental company ZERTAN announced their latest development: a specialized software suite capable of quickly designing customized dental frameworks based on CT scan data. In dentistry, these tailor-made frameworks are used to regrow tissue before the installation of dental implants. Reducing the design time from hours to mere minutes is said to be a massive breakthrough for the field.
A joint research group from ITMO, ANU, and Jilin University has presented experimental proof of the assertion that topological states of light can be produced by changing the shape of meta-atoms and their mutual orientation. Topological states of light are crucial to the development of a new generation of fast, efficient, and compact photonic devices.
Credit: photogenica.ru
Lastly, an international team that includes specialists from the Center for Educational Neuroscience has completed a study of human spatial abilities. As a result, they’ve found that these abilities are closely tied to the ability to orient cardinal directions – in other words, navigation by compass. These findings may help scholars identify ways to improve spatial skills teaching.
In other news, we recently had the chance to chat with University of Havana’s Dr. Carlos Cabal, a highly influential expert on the subject of MRI with almost 50 years of experience in his field. Dr. Cabal spoke to ITMO.NEWS about his work, research plans, and the upcoming launch of the MRI school at ITMO.
University
Photo by ITMO.NEWS
As part of a new nationwide program, 30 Russian universities will establish affiliated advanced engineering schools by 2030. One of these universities will be ITMO, whose proposal was approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education at a recent defense session in Moscow. According to Alexander Vinogradov, director of ITMO’s ChemBio Cluster and head of the future school, the institution will train high-quality specialists capable of quickly transforming research findings into new businesses and practices.
Starting this year, ITMO graduates will receive a special diploma in addition to their main one. This ITMO-issued certificate will be dedicated to the student’s extracurricular successes and skills, offering an important advantage when seeking employment post-graduation.
As part of the ITMO Fellowship & Professorship program, the university is launching PI + Team: an open competition for the creation of new laboratories. Research teams that choose to apply will receive grants of up to 30 million rubles. The grants will be valid for three years and can be spent on equipment, materials, salaries, and associated expenses.
Education
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While the application campaign at ITMO continues, the university has announced yet another new Master’s degree program. Dubbed AI Security, the program will train specialists in information security and the protection of AI systems against cyberattacks. The program’s research project-based curriculum will be implemented in collaboration with notable industrial partners.
Popular science
Ever wonder if we’ll ever be able to travel through hyperspace like they do in Star Wars? Or go wormhole-skipping like in Interstellar? ITMO.NEWS spoke to Stanislav Baturin, a scientist from ITMO’s School of Physics and Engineering, to get a scientific rundown of the things movies do – and don’t – get right about space travel.
