Young visitors at St. Petersburg Naval Institute
The first World Hydrography Day is behind us. As already reported, in Russia it passed very modestly. Meanwhile, activities directed at popularising hydrography are proceeding. So in February to March 2007 the Hydrographic Society Russia and Hydrographic faculty of the St. Petersburg Naval Institute jointly conducted some meetings with pupils from senior classes of St. Petersburg schools. The purpose was to attract the attention of young people to the unique profession of hydrography. Faculty teachers acquainted schoolboys and schoolgirls with a history of hydrography in Russia, related its place and role in the life of modern society, showed cabinets and laboratories full of working technical equipment and answered questions. The greatest attention of visitors was drawn to the educational hydrometeorological centre equipped with a satellite system, ‘Syuzhet’, for reception and display of information, and a prototype complex hydrographic simulator, ‘Kedr’. It is interesting to note this opportunity to visit the oldest Russian naval educational institute was taken up more enthusiastically, as may be seen in Photograph 1, by girls than by boys. Such meetings with young people will be continued.

Newly qualified hydrographers
On 9th March 2007 a certificate presentation ceremony took place at the Arctic faculty of the Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy (AMSMA). The qualification of engineer - hydrographer was given to 26 graduates, fourteen of whom received certification in the speciality of ‘Operation of hydrographic vessels in unlimited navigation’ and twelve in ‘Pilotage: Hydrometeorological securing of navigation’. Graduate Denis Salomatin received an honorary degree. The degree work of another graduate, Denis Golobokov, on the theme of ‘Navigational-geodetic maintenance of statement of sea stationary bore platforms’ was marked as the best degree work of 2007.
Both graduates were recommended by the Academy Directorate for the award of HSR diplomas of honour. HSR Council after consideration awarded the ‘Professor A. P. Belobrov Diploma’ (speciality Hydrography) to Denis Golobokov, and the ‘Professor V. A. Snezhinsky Diploma’ (speciality Hydrography, specialisation Hydrometeorology) to Denis Salomatin. HSR president Nikolay Neronov awarded the diplomas during an official ceremony.
All graduates have already found places to work according their speciality.