TSU for the first time celebrate birthday online because of COVID-19

TOMSK, May 29 – RIA Tomsk. Tomsk State University (TSU) on Friday, May 29, will celebrate its 142nd birthday online due to restrictions associated with the spread of COVID-19; anyone can connect to the virtual festive venue, a representative of the university's press service told RIA Tomsk.

Earlier it was reported that in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Tomsk region, mass events were prohibited until June 1, and the self-isolation regime was extended until the summer. In addition, from May 18, a mask regime was introduced. To date, 622 cases of a new coronavirus infection have been recorded in the region.

"TSU will celebrate its 142nd birthday online for the first time. A pandemic – is no reason to cancel traditions: like every year, the holiday will begin with a solemn academic council where the rector of TSU will tell about the life of the university during the pandemic. This format will allow to attend the celebration not only to employees, but also to students and graduates", – the agency’s interlocutor said.

According to the representative of the press service, the online celebration will begin at 2.20 p.m. and will be opened by video clip dedicated to the last year of the university’s life, after which the broadcast of the solemn meeting of the Academic Council will take place. Then virtual guests will be shown video greetings from university students.

In addition, at 4.10 p.m. there will be an online presentation dedicated to the anniversary of Joseph Brodsky, at which translator Andrei Olear, professor of the Philological Faculty of Tomsk State University Vyacheslav Sukhanov and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Evgeny Kazakov will tell about Tomsk projects dedicated to the poet.

At 5.30 p.m., viewers will be able to "attend" the popular science lectures of young scientists of TSU about dinosaurs, physical and digital culture, as well as learn how the university retains the memory of students, graduate students and university employees who died during the Great Patriotic War. The festive program will be completed with a video from the museums of TSU, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Victory.

The National Research Tomsk State University was founded in 1878 as the Imperial Siberian University, becoming the first higher educational institution of Russia in Siberia and the Far East. Traditionally, its birthday was celebrated by a large-scale procession of students on Lenin Avenue and events in the University Grove.