Over 320,000 applications for the Ecology is Everyone's Business award have been received over five seasons

The V anniversary season of the International Children's and Youth Prize "Ecology is Everyone's Business" has received more than 110,000 applications, which is 19 times more than in the first year of the project, said Svetlana Radionova, head of Rosprirodnadzor, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. According to her, in just five seasons, participants from 95 countries submitted more than 320,000 applications.

Svetlana Radionova, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources Management, noted that the jury had expanded in the V season of the award. According to her, the judging panel included the scientific director of the Moscow State University Faculty of Chemistry, Academician Stepan Kalmykov, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Russian singers Maria Yankovskaya and Betsy Girl (Svetlana Chertischeva).

According to the country's chief environmentalist, the geographical coverage award has reached record levels. Among 95 countries, applications for the award were received for the first time from participants from 17 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe – Angola, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Iran, Kuwait, Niger, Pakistan, Rwanda, Romania, Somalia, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Ethiopia and Jamaica.. The most active participants were from Egypt, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Belarus, and Moldova.

Academician Stepan Kalmykov, Scientific Director of the Moscow State University Faculty of Chemistry and Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, believes that participation in the Ecology is Everyone's Business award develops initiative, awakens interest in science and opens the doors to a world full of rich professional opportunities. Stepan Kalmykov's scientific life is inextricably linked with Moscow University. The scientist's area of interest is radiochemistry. He is the author of more than 300 scientific papers, 9 monographs and 13 patents, has trained two doctors and 13 candidates of sciences. Stepan Kalmykov is also Chairman of the RAS Scientific Council on Global Environmental Issues.

According to Svetlana Radionova, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources Management, the involvement of young people in design and scientific activities is one of the priorities of the Rosprirodnadzor Ecology is Everyone's Business Award. Thanks to participation in the award, many children have connected their lives with science, chosen the profession of ecologist, chemist, biologist and receive the best education in the country. More than 150 Russian universities support the award and provide its winners with admission preferences, including study grants. In addition, winners and participants have the opportunity to receive highly expert support for their eco-projects and effective mentoring from professionals in various fields.