Primorsky Aquarium takes part in the XIII International Conference “Aquarium as a Way to Explore the World”
The XIII International Conference entitled “Aquarium as a Way to Explore the World” took place in Kogalym in the Aquatika Oceanarium on April 21-23, 2023. Members of the Shared Equipment Facility and the Clinical Laboratory of the Primorsky Aquarium, as well as two laboratories of the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS) (Laboratory of Marine Mammals and Laboratory of Cytotechnology) participated in the Conference.
Seven presentations were given by Primorsky Krai specialists, five of them by Primorsky Aquarium employees. Andrey Telegin, Aquarium Curator of the Primorsky Aqurium, Chairman of the EARAZA/ RUZA Working Group on Public Aquarium Expositions and Dolphinariums and one of the Conference’s organizers, recounted about the goals of the Conference and why it mattered.
The main idea of the Conference was to gather aquarium and terrarium experts. Establishing a dedicated network of specialists in different areas and fostering an exchange and transfer of technical and scientific expertise and experience were its most important goals.
Ten public aquariums were represented at the Conference, in person or online. According to Andrey Telegin, the remote format allowed maximum participation. A total of 43 presentations were made, including 24 face-to-face and 19 virtual ones. Apart from Russian aquarists, specialists from Hungary, Latvia and the Great Britain took part in the conference.
“We have always tried to attract people who regard a public aquarium as a tool for scientific research. However, it is a highly specific tool, and researchers must be very well aware of it in order to carry out their studies in the right direction. It was a task of major importance for us: to collect the available data and experience so that it could be published,” said the Aquarium Curator.
It should be noted that Andrey Telegin also participated in the conference as a speaker and presented his “Review of the 11th International Aquarium Congress organized by the Nausicaa Aquarium in Boulogne-sur-Mer (France) from 30 October to 4 November 2022 “. This congress is held every few years and is the most significant event in the public aquarium industry.
In addition to the conference program, specialists from Primorsky Krai took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Kogalym’s Aquatika Oceanarium. They explored its technical zones, discussed pressing issues with colleagues, shared experiences and best practices and established contacts.
As part of their business trip, they also undertook an exploratory and experience-sharing visit to the Center of oceanography and marine biology "Dolphinia" in Novosibirsk.