Sustainable Development and Global Challenges: HSE Graduate School of Business Department of Operations Management and Logistics PhD Student at BRICS Youth Summit in Brazil

Ekaterina Gavenko, a PhD student in the Department of Operations Management and Logistics at the HSE Graduate School of Business, participated in the VII BRICS Youth Energy Summit, where key challenges in sustainable development and the energy transition were discussed. At the summit, Ekaterina shared Russian hydropower sector insights, engaged in international discussions with experts from India, the UAE, and Brazil, and presented the results of her own research conducted with the support of her academic supervisors at the Graduate School of Business. In an interview, she spoke about her journey from her Master's to her PhD, the importance of an expert community, the support from her professors, and shared advice for students aspiring to participate in international events.

About the Summit and First Impressions

The VII BRICS Youth Energy Summit is an annual event uniting young professionals under 35 to discuss topics of energy transition, decarbonization, and sustainable development. The summit stood out for its scale and high level: it was attended by leaders of the global energy industry and representatives of government agencies, highlighting the significance of the agenda and the drive for tangible change. An important part of the summit was professional networking: after plenary sessions, participants had the opportunity to engage in targeted discussions. Thanks to this, I was able to connect with representatives of Rosatom, hydropower experts from India, specialists in alternative energy from the UAE, and many others. We exchanged contacts, and they subsequently helped me narrow down my dissertation research through expert consultations. This allowed me to refine the direction and broaden the practical context of my project.

I was most impressed by the technical visits to facilities. We visited Brazil's National Electric System Operations Center and an Agricultural Biofuel Technology Research Center. The opportunity to ask questions directly to developers and engineers allowed me to see energy processes not only from a theoretical but also from a practical perspective - specifically, I learned how Brazil addresses the issue of electricity losses during transmission through grids.

Research Focus and Participation in Discussions

My participation in the summit was linked to the discussions held during the event. The topics directly resonated with my academic interests: during my Master's, I studied Russia's hydropower sector, and for my PhD dissertation, I am researching the use of alternative energy sources by businesses to reduce emissions in supply chains. We discussed the development of hydropower, features of alternative energy sources, the centralization of energy grids, and regulatory mechanisms in BRICS countries.

One of the important questions is the actual "greenness" of hydropower. Currently, in Russia and other countries, there is a reassessment of how really environment-friendly large hydropower plants are: research shows that the construction of reservoirs and the use of concrete can lead to additional emissions. Field studies, including in Russia, are underway to accurately assess these processes.

The relevance of decarbonization is also growing in Russia, where new laws for production companies are being developed at the state level. This encourages businesses to seek ways to reduce emissions, including by switching to alternative energy sources that meet international carbon footprint standards. These topics were actively discussed at the summit and sparked interest among international participants.

During the discussions, I was asked about the types of hydropower plants in Russia, their social role for nearby territories, and the level of monopolization in the industry. We concluded that in BRICS countries, a significant portion of energy projects requires state involvement, which complicates companies' transition to "green" energy.

The Role of the Graduate School of Business in Developing Scientific Interests

My academic journey in this field began in the Master's program "Master in International Management" at the Graduate School of Business. The program's international focus, a study abroad semester in Paris, and the intercultural environment were an important foundation. The scientific guidance of Mikhail Akim played a special role -  he helped me establish my first connections with representatives of RusHydro and the Russian Academy of Sciences and began shaping my interest in sustainable development in energy. Currently, I am working on my PhD dissertation under the supervision of Sergey Kushch. Thanks to the support of both academic supervisors, I receive both academic and applied expertise, as well as recommendations for participation in significant international events like the BRICS summit.

Even during a gap year after my Master's, my work with Mikhail Akim continued: we participated in international conferences, discussed approaches to assessing the impact of hydropower, and exchanged ideas for future research. He who introduced me to Sergey Kushch as a potential PhD student. Mikhail Akim recommended me as a participant for the summit, and Sergey Kushch supported this initiative, seeing its significance for my research.

 Advice for Students and PhD Candidates

For those who want to present their research at international conferences, I would advise deepening your expertise. This will allow you to participate in serious discussions rather than stopping at basic questions. It is also important to be open to new things: don't be afraid to apply for programs, participate in projects, and use new research methods. Even if the chances of participation seem low—apply. The main thing is to choose a topic you truly believe in. Everything else will follow if you havecuriosity and a love for research.