Young scientists at ZabGU are studying the properties of plastic using small crustaceans and computer vision, as part of the Far Eastern track of the "Priority-2030" program

The research is being conducted as part of the "Scientific Start" and "Priority-2030" programs, which fall under the "Youth and Children" national project. A dedicated track of the "Priority-2030" program, designed for universities in the Far Eastern Federal District, is being implemented by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, with support from the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEDC). Looking ahead, the research team plans to establish an experimental set of digital behavioral indicators, develop a framework for an integrated toxicity index, and devise a methodology applicable to the screening assessment of aquatic environments—including water from open-pit and underground mines, as well as drainage from waste rock dumps and tailings storage facilities. The practical significance of this work lies in the ability to rank plastic products based on their potential environmental hazard and to provide a rationale for prioritizing their recycling. Kirill Klimenko, Director of the Human Resources Development Department at the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, emphasized that the development by researchers from Transbaikal State University (ZabGU) is a direct response to the actual needs of the macro-region.