‘The Goal of Modern Geography Is To Digitise Expert Knowledge and Integrate It with Big Data’
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The importance of geographical science is increasing, as is the demand for education in this field. Since 2020, application numbers for Bachelor’s programmes at HSE University’s Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology have climbed by 30%, while interest in Master’s programmes has also expanded, with applications up 10–15%. Nikolay Kurichev, Dean of the Faculty, spoke about this at a press conference hosted by MIA Rossiya Segodnya.
On August 15, 2025, a press conference on ‘The Geography of the New Generation: Strategic Prospects’ was held at the MIA Rossiya Segodnya press centre. The event was timed to coincide with Geographers’ Day, a professional holiday celebrated in Russia on August 18.
The event was attended by Nikolay Kasimov, First Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society, President of the Geography Faculty at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Olga Solomina, Director of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Joint Department at the Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology of HSE University and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Nikolay Kurichev, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology at HSE University. The participants discussed how modern geography is being transformed, and what challenges and opportunities the industry is facing in the context of digitalisation, the development of artificial intelligence, and climate change.
Nikolay Kasimov welcomed the audience and congratulated his colleagues on Geographers’ Day. He emphasised the significance of this holiday for the global community and discussed the environmental challenges of geography, particularly urban pollution.
President of the Geography Faculty at Lomonosov Moscow State University
‘The most important thing to solve environmental problems is measurement, more measurement, and even more measurement. We need to delve deeper into the microcosm to accurately identify pollutants and their range.’
He also referred to statistics from studies on road dust in Moscow, which is one of the major sources of pollution, especially in spring.
Olga Solomina discussed modern research tools such as remote sensing, mathematical modelling, and big data analysis.
Academic Supervisor of the Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology
‘Today, cartography has evolved beyond simply being a map on paper. Now it includes the use of streaming data, three-dimensional images, as well as highly detailed and accurate measurements of objects in motion and space. These new technologies distinguish modern geography from the past. Nowadays, we have access to new tools like space imagery, drones, thermal imagers, and multispectral imaging to aid in studying our natural and social environments.’
Olga Solomina noted that climate change is one of the main challenges for modern geographers. She paid special attention to the study of glaciers, which are rapidly shrinking, as well as the effects of melting permafrost on the landscape transformation.
Nikolay Kurichev, in his speech, emphasised the practical significance of geographical science and its role in addressing pressing issues. Dean of HSE University’s Faculty of Geography discussed topics such as assessing natural and climate risks, selecting effective adaptation measures, developing digital solutions for environmental and climate projects, and managing territories using big data. All of these areas of research are conducted at HSE University’s Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology.
Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology
‘There has been a revolution in the field of remote sensing worldwide. Using remote sensing technologies, we can create tools for automatic data analysis and geoanalytics, allowing us to make informed decisions. However, such decisions cannot be based solely on technical grounds—profound expertise is essential. The goal of modern geography is to translate this expert knowledge into a digital format and integrate it with big data through AI-powered geographic tools. Such solutions are essential for businesses, governments, and society as a whole.’
Nikolay Kurichev shared the success of HSE University’s Faculty of Geography in its 2025 admission campaign. Interest in the discipline grew significantly, with applications to the Bachelor’s programme rising by 30% and the passing score jumping by 20 points compared to previous years. As for the Master’s programme, the number of applications for the ‘Low Carbon Development’ and ‘Spatial Data and Applied Geoanalytics’ programmes also experienced growth, with application numbers up by 10–15%.
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