On November 16, 2020, the First Russian-Iranian Sociological Forum was launched. Russian-Iranian cooperation within the framework of the Forum is designed to bring together Russian and Iranian scientists to discuss issues related to the social, socio-economic and demographic aspects of the development of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the context of global development and global challenges (including the COVID-19 pandemic). The Forum was initiated by the Institute for Demographic Research FCTAS RAS and the Institute for Socio-Political Research FCTAS RAS. The event is supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The Forum is attended by scientists, representatives of government authorities, mass media, civil society organizations, postgraduates, students from Russia, Iran and other countries.
The grand opening of the Forum took place on Monday, November 16 at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Due to the complex epidemiological situation in the world, the event is held in a mixed mode: Russian and foreign participants were given the opportunity to perform both offline and online. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Federal Research Sociological Center (FCTAS) RAS M.K. Gorshkov addressed the Forum participants with an introductory speech.
Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation N.A. Bocharova announced a welcome address from the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation V.N. Falkov. Also at the opening of the Forum were presented greetings sent to the participants of the event from the Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation A.A. Fursenko; Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.M. Sergeev; Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rector of MGIMO University A.V. Torkunov.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation Jalali Kazem; Head of the Center for Training and Research of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Sajjadpur Kazem; Senior Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Director of the Institute for the Study of Iran and Eurasia, former Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation Sanai Mehdi; Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Smirnov; Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, First Deputy Director of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, First Federal Vice-President of the Russian Society of Sociologists M. F. Chernysh; Dr. Nafesi Nahal, Head of the International Cooperation Committee of the Iranian Sociological Association, and others.
During the Plenary Session of the Forum, reports were presented by leading Russian and Iranian scientists, including academicians, corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, leading Russian and Iranian scientists-sociologists and demographers.
The Forum will continue on November 17 and 18, 2020. On the second day of the Forum, the International Academy of Young Sociologists will hold a project session, which will include presentations by leading and young scientists on research projects supported by Russian foundations and international organizations. On the third day of the Forum, an international sociological workshop will be held, during which leading sociologists will hold master classes for young researchers, as well as special scientific sessions for young scientists of social and humanitarian sciences.