Over the past months, we have conducted a series of live streams with researchers, educators, geologists, geophysicists, and experts from related fields.
Each conversation is an honest inside look at the profession: fieldwork, scientific challenges, careers, and the human side of science.
The collection includes five key live streams:
- How to Enter Conflict and Win — a conversation with Evgeny Lepekhin about why avoiding disputes is harmful, what mistakes specialists make, and how to constructively resolve tense situations in science and industry.
- Everyone’s a Blogger — And That’s a Good Thing — a live stream with Olga Zelivyanskaya about why specialists should become popularizers, how to overcome the fear of publicity, and develop a culture of science communication in the geosciences.
- Why Deposits “Shrink” or Grow — a conversation with Artem Vasilchenko about reserve estimation, myths about “discoveries,” and how to properly read news about mineral resources.
- Will Permafrost Melt? — a scientific explanation from Ekaterina Zyryanova about risks, myths, and engineering consequences for the North and the Arctic.
- How Mineralogists Live on the Kola Peninsula — a conversation with Taras Panikorovsky about the life of a researcher in the North, university work, and discovering new minerals.
This collection is an opportunity to hear real stories from people who advance the geosciences, develop the industry, and help young professionals understand the profession more deeply.
We have saved all the most important content for you — enjoy watching!
How to Enter Conflict and Win: A Conversation with Evgeny Lepekhin
In a live stream with Evgeny Lepekhin — head of a design studio and author of a conflict resolution course — we discussed why avoiding disputes is harmful, what mistakes people most often make in conflict situations, and how to apply practical tools for “bloodless” resolution. At the end of the stream, Evgeny analyzed real cases from listeners.
Why This Stream Matters for the Scientific and Engineering Community
Work in geology, geophysics, and research institutes is not only about technology, data, and field experience. It also involves constant interaction with people: expedition teams, laboratory colleagues, academic supervisors, contractors, and clients. Often, professional growth and project quality are determined not by the complexity of tasks, but by how well a specialist can negotiate, defend their position, and resolve tense situations without conflict.
In the stream, we covered:
- how specialists in scientific and engineering professions can build communication within working groups;
- how to resolve disputes in field conditions, where communication errors can cost time and safety;
- how to interact constructively within the rigid hierarchies of research institutes and companies;
- why the ability to enter conflict is a professional competency, not a “bad character.”
The stream became the foundation for a detailed article: Don’t Stay Silent: How to Enter Conflict and Benefit From It
Everyone’s a Blogger — And That’s a Good Thing! A Conversation with Olga Zelivyanskaya
In a live stream, we spoke with Olga Zelivyanskaya — author of the channel “Entertaining Geophysics” and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Oil and Gas Engineering at NCFU. We discussed how quality popular science content emerges, why specialists should share their experience publicly, and why blogging has already become part of professional communication in the geosciences.
We explored where content topics come from, how to overcome the fear of publicity, what to do about criticism, and why resilience to criticism is an important competency for modern engineers and researchers.
Why This Matters for Science Popularization
Popularization is impossible without people who are willing to talk about their work — honestly, clearly, and passionately. Such initiatives bridge the gaping divide between real geology, geophysics, oil and gas, and how society perceives these professions.
In this stream, we discussed:
- how a specialist can decide to start a blog about their science or profession;
- why it is important for educators and scientists to be present in the public sphere;
- how blogging tools help students understand disciplines more deeply;
- how the culture of science communication is developing within the geological community.
The stream is an honest conversation about how anyone can become a popularizer, and the more of us there are, the stronger and more visible the industry becomes.
How to Tell if a Deposit Isn’t a “Dud”? A Conversation with Artem Vasilchenko About Reserve Estimation
Everything about reserves was explained very thoroughly. It all fell into place in my mind.
In a stream with Artem Vasilchenko — an expert at the Federal State Budgetary Institution “State Commission on Mineral Reserves” and the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Rosgeolexpertiza” — we thoroughly examined why the forecast resource potential of deposits often does not match actual proven reserves. We discussed high-profile news about “super-deposit discoveries” that later lose up to 90% of resources after further study, and analyzed real cases where, conversely, exploration significantly increased forecast values.
We talked about how different stages and methods of reserve estimation work, why figures can differ so significantly at different stages of geological exploration, and what influences the final assessment of a deposit.
Why This Matters for Specialists and Investors
Reserve estimation is a key tool for decision-making: from investment to production design. Errors in understanding the stage of exploration, data source, or type of reporting lead to incorrect expectations, risks, and losses.
In the stream, we discussed:
— how to properly “read” news about deposit discoveries;
— what questions to ask to understand the real degree of reserve reliability;
— how forecast resources differ from proven reserves;
— why reserve reduction after exploration is not an exception, but a common pattern;
— when reserves can, conversely, grow during detailed exploration.
This stream became the foundation for a detailed article: Investing in Deposits: How to Understand Mineral Resources and Not Bury Your Money
Will “Permafrost” Melt? A Conversation with Ekaterina Zyryanova
In a live stream with Ekaterina Zyryanova — a leading specialist in the Department of Monitoring Hazardous Exogenous Processes and Geocryology at “Hydrospetsgeologiya” — we examined the most common myths and real risks associated with permafrost. We discussed what permafrost soils are, in what states water can exist in their structure, where permafrost is found, and what types exist.
We raised a question critical for any northern extraction: what happens at production sites if permafrost characteristics are ignored during design and construction. And, of course, we answered the main popular question — can “permafrost” actually melt completely, and what consequences would this lead to.
Why This Matters for Engineering and Scientific Audiences
Permafrost is one of the key natural foundations supporting the extractive industry in the North, Chukotka, Yakutia, and the Arctic. Errors in understanding its properties lead to man-made accidents, structural instability, and billion-dollar losses.
The stream helps:
- students understand fundamental geocryology through real-world examples;
- engineers and geologists — refresh their knowledge of typical risks in permafrost territories;
- a broad audience — understand what in the topic of “permafrost melting” is scientific fact and what is media exaggeration.
How Do Research Mineralogists Live and Work? A Conversation with Taras Panikorovsky
In a stream with Taras Panikorovsky — Associate Professor, Head of Laboratory at Murmansk Arctic University, and author of the channel Kola Nature and Minerals — we talked about what it means to be a scientist on the Kola Peninsula. We explored why a researcher decides to move “to the North,” what working at an Arctic university offers, and how mineralogical field trips for students are organized.
We touched on the topic of searching for and describing new minerals: is it possible to discover mineral species today, how does this happen in practice, and why such discoveries are still important for science.
Why This Stream Matters for Geologists, Students, and Anyone Interested in Mineralogy
The Kola Peninsula is one of the most unique mineralogical provinces in the world: rare minerals, ancient rocks, a rich history of geological discoveries. The life and work of a scientist here is a combination of research romance, harsh field conditions, and constant interaction with nature, which itself suggests scientific ideas.
The stream helps understand:
- what motivates young scientists to pursue mineralogy;
- how university life and the real work of a mineralogist are organized;
- how new minerals emerge and what role Russia plays in this field;
- why the Arctic remains a center of attraction for researchers.
The stream became the foundation for a detailed article: How Research Mineralogists Live and Work on the Kola Peninsula
Share Your Story
Each of these streams turned out to be special in its own way. In some, we examined complex engineering and geological topics; in others, we talked about human stories, career choices, fears, mistakes, and courage. But all the guests share one thing — a sincere desire to share knowledge and make our industry more understandable and vibrant.
If any episode resonated with you most strongly — tell us about it in the comments. What surprised you? What would you like to discuss? What topics should be covered in future streams? Your feedback is important to us — it helps develop the community and make GeoConversation a place where people talk about the geosciences honestly, interestingly, and authentically.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology.
