Pictured from left, Nikita Babailov, Daria Popugaeva (Saint-Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation), Konstantin Kreyman, Nicole Wight, Daria Garmashova (Saint-Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation) and Ogo Velikonja.

Opportunity to attend conference in Russia “will stay with me forever”

Western Engineering News | May 16, 2012
Three Western Engineering students participated in an International Student Forum recently at St. Petersburg State Mining Institute-Technical University.

Second-year Electrical Engineering student Nikita Babailov and first-year students Nicole Wight and Ogo Velikonja, travelled to Russia to participate in the “Topical Issues of Rational Use of Natural Resources" forum, which was held on April 25-27. Western Engineering visiting professor Konstantin Kreyman joined the students at the conference.

The forum attracted more than 400 students (undergraduate, graduate and PhD) from 22 countries. All of the Western Engineering students were awarded with the diploma of participants. Velikonja received a third place Diploma in the Nanotechnologies and Information Technologies section for a presentation and paper on “Global Benefit of a Multilingual Input device for Computing Systems.”

“This distinction came as an utter surprise for me because most other participants were graduate students, many of them from world-renowned universities,” said Velikonja. “I was told to be the first Canadian student who received that award and it is with a great deal of pleasure and pride that I am bringing it home to London and to Western.”

“As a first-year student, I can only say that my participation at the conference; the overall experience at this prestigious academic institution; the friendships made with students from around the world; and the unforgettable impressions from the "Venice of the North" will stay with me forever,” said Velikonja.

Participants in the international forum had the opportunity to get acquainted with teaching and research at the university, attend educational and scientific centers and specialized laboratories, Mining Museum and the church of St. Macarius of Egypt. They were also given a tour of “Evening Petersburg.”

Babailov is extending his visit to study at St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation May 14-Aug. 14 as part of the WE Go Global program. Read more about his experience on the "What WE have to say" blog.

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