Jingtao Xu (called Andy in English) earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics at HSE University–Moscow and is now studying on the Master’s in Math of Machine Learning. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Andy talks about his plans to develop his robotics research into a commercial product, how online shopping in Moscow has improved since he first arrived, and why now is a good time to capitalise on Russian–Chinese cooperation.

HSE University is not only about studies—it gives students much more. Enowmanyi Samuel Ayuk, a second-year student of the Master’s programme ‘International Business in the Asia-Pacific Region,’ came to Russia from Cameroon. With a background as an award-winning debater and a passion for leadership, he enthusiastically contributes to the life of HSE University–St Petersburg: he has become an international ambassador of the university and a member of the HSE University Student Council. In this interview, he shares his story and impressions of his studies.

Researchers from HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod have shown that a neural network can reconstruct the dynamics of a brain neuron model using just a single set of measurements, such as recordings of its electrical activity. The developed neural network was trained to reconstruct the system's full dynamics and predict its behaviour under changing conditions. This method enables the investigation of complex biological processes, even when not all necessary measurements are available. The study has been published in Chaos, Solitons & Fractals.

Moving to a big city does not necessarily lead to dramatic changes in daily habits. A study conducted at HSE University found that leisure preferences in adulthood are largely shaped during childhood and are influenced by where individuals spent their school years. This conclusion was drawn by Sergey Korotaev, Research Fellow at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, from analysing the leisure habits of more than 5,000 Russians.

The HSE building on Kantemirovskaya Street hosted a fair that brought together representatives of various nationalities of Russia. Dagestanis, Komi-Permyaks, ethnic Russians, Yakuts, Nenets, and Pomors presented their native land, showcased national dishes, organised workshops, and performed a concert programme.

On March 26, the 14th Research Seminar on Economic Studies, titled ‘Bank Lending: Trends, Risks, and New Opportunities,’ was held at HSE ICEF. The seminar gathered participants from Russian banks and professors from leading universities in Russia, the US, China, and the Netherlands. Key topics included the development of the banking sector, environmental factors in lending, the impact of managerial competencies on loan quality, prudential regulation and financial stability, and credit risks and strategies.

The future is now more difficult for researchers to forecast, and events that are hard to predict are playing an increasingly significant role. But there is good news too: scientists are confident that humanity will adapt to any changes. This was the focus of discussion at the International Symposium ‘Foresight in a Rapidly Changing World,’ which took place as part of the 25th Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.

Every day, modern technologies change the world by automating business processes in various industries. Specialists from HSE University have presented the extensive experience of the iFora team in implementing AI projects for the benefit of large companies and governments.

Sergey Dubinin, former head of the Bank of Russia and Professor of Finance and Credit at the Faculty of Economics at Moscow State University, has delivered an honorary address at the XXV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference. He spoke about the transformation of the global monetary and financial system, as well as the Russian economy.