The phrase “Think globally, act locally!” has been a moto of the GAIDPARK Winter Discussion School of the Yegor Gaidar Foundation, in which Nikita Volkov, a 2nd-year Master’s student of the Department of Social Studies of the Institute of Media, Social Sciences and Humanities, took part. At the discussion school in Saint Petersburg Nikita represented not only South Ural State University, but also the city of Chelyabinsk.
Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? How does non-participation in global issues affect our society? How are multiple mobilities and entrepreneurship connected in the modern cultural space? These questions have been answered during master classes and lectures by leading sociologists and political scientists of Russia and other countries. Over seven days, the participants of the school have studied the art of how to make decisions in the big trends era, to debate, to work with brief and develop their own social projects.
Upon returning to Chelyabinsk, Nikita Volkov has shared the received experience and knowledge with the freshmen of the Department of Sociology. During the meeting, Nikita spoke about the Gaidpark discussion school, how to become its attendee, and how participation in forums and schools of this scale can be of great benefit to sociologists. Above all, the participants receive certain skills helping them to consider social matters in a comprehensive manner, understand the social world and elaborate on-the-spot decisions and recommendations for a rapidly changing society. Besides, the networking of young sociologists from all over the country broadens one’s research geography.