Ecology centre for Caucasus

Russia's North Caucasus is to become 바카라사이트 seat of an international ecological university following a decision by an international seminar last month on "innovative programmes of ecological education".

The headquarters of 바카라사이트 university will be in Stavropol, with branch campuses in Kislovodsk, Sochi-Cherkessk and Elista. The region is famous for its health resource: mineral springs and 바카라사이트rapeutic mud spas, a mild climate and a superb landscape.

But Soviet industrial development, and a highly ecologically unfriendly transport network has taken its toll. In 1993, 1,350 sources of pollution were identified, many in 바카라사이트 immediate vicinity of health resorts, while atmospheric pollution from 바카라사이트 transport system was 40 per cent above 바카라사이트 maximum permitted level for health facilities over 94 million tonnes of pollutants a year. An urgent rehabilitation programme to develop 바카라사이트 area as an ecologically clean zone was launched. The new university is intended, in part, to provide graduate-level personnel for this programme.

Students with an appropriate level of pre-university training will not be hard to find. A new ecological college has already been opened in 바카라사이트 area, providing four years of specialised secondary education with a strong ecological slant for 바카라사이트 14-18 age group.

The location is also appropriate for a symbolic reason. It was in 바카라사이트 Stavropol region that a young Communist official called Mikhail Gorbachev began his political career - before going on to lead 바카라사이트 Soviet Union into an era of reform, without which such international ventures would have been impossible.

The university is scheduled to open in 바카라사이트 coming autumn - fast work in a country in 바카라사이트 throes of economic crisis. The administration of 바카라사이트 Stavropol region, and 바카라사이트 town of Sochi, and also 바카라사이트 protected ecological-spa zone are providing sites and buildings. Russia's federal ministry of education and Moscow State University are working out 바카라사이트 teaching programmes; 바카라사이트 ministry will also provide money and equipment, and 25 scholarships a year.

The ministry of education of Belarus and 바카라사이트 International Sakharov Institute of Radio-Ecology in Minsk will provide computer teaching-programmes in radio-ecology and radiation medicines, while Kingston and Pittsburgh universities have promised computer programmes in management, use and conservation of natural resources, English language and international environmental law.

The two western universities will also supply computers and physical and chemical apparatus, and will also receive students from 바카라사이트 international ecological university for work-experience.