The Russian North-West Section of IEEE has been working in St Petersburg for three years now, a Student Chapter existing within this public scientific organization.

At this stage of its activity the Russian Section numbers 199 members, 41 being students.

It is to be noted that when The Russian North-West Section of IEEE was founded there were registered 136 members. Thus one can see that the number of IEEE members in St Petersburg has greatly increased recently. Most of them are students of the St Petersburg Electrotechnical University (LETI) – the only university of St Petersburg, scientific interest of which lie in the same directions as those of IEEE.

In the époque of globalization collaboration in science becomes more and more significant as only due to joint efforts it is possible to realize global international projects and to make considerable progress in certain fields of research. Therefore as it was mentioned by professor A.G.Mikerov at the organizational meeting of North-West Section of the IEEE "the most efficient way to integration may be realized through IEEE."

Unfortunately, financial problems that Russian science suffers at present as well as the language barrier prevent IEEE activities from more rapid and intensive development in Russia. To some extent, these problems are solved in the following way. Membership fees for students are paid by the University LETI, while membership fees for post-graduate students are paid by either the firm or by the organization they work for.

As to improving the level of English the university has organized some courses for students in different subjects delivered in English.

It is to be emphasized that of special importance for St Petersburg Branch of IEEE is to keep up contacts with the members of IEEE. For instance it has close links with foreign enterprises having their branches in St Petersburg such as Motorola, LG, Corning Glass. Among the personnel of these firms there are a lot of former graduates of LETI, members of IEEE who try to keep in touch with their alma-mater by arranging excursions for students at their firms and being their potential employers.

It is worth mentioning the most remarkable events of the student Chapter activities for the recent years.

Olga Romanov's participation in the congress of Student Branches in Passau (Germany) in Autumn 2004 is a good example of cooperation and establishing friendly links with other students Branches. At the congress it was suggested to form an Affinity group "Women in Engineering " to recognize distinguished contribution made by women-scientists to different fields of investigation.

As a result the Student Branch of St Petersburg got the opportunity to get familiar with the way special events for students are organized in foreign branches of IEEE and to extend their communication with other Student Branches.

In June 2004 another IEEE student member Anna Konstantinova could take part in the conference held by the IEEE History Center in Great Britain in Bletchley Park.

She presented the paper 'A.Popov 's Contribution to the Development of Wireless communication' concerned with the Milestones program. The conference was devoted to both historical and modern problems of science and engineering development and further application.

The Student paper contest revealed high level of student training in different fields of research and contributed to further interest in the problems touched upon at the conference.

In May 2005 the conference "Radio – Connection of Time ", devoted to the 110th anniversary of radio communication invention took place in St Petersburg under the auspices of Russian North-West Section of the IEEE, "LETI ", University of Telecommunications and the Central Museum of Communication named after A.Popov.

The conference held in the building of LETI was attended by the leading theoretical and experimental specialists in the filed of electrical engineering and telecommunications. There were arranged informative discussions on various problems of the history of electrical engineering and developed general principles of cooperation of Russian and foreign scientists.

For the first time in Russia in keeping with the Milestones program the memorial plaque dedicated to A.Popov 's contribution to the development of wireless communication was unveiled in LETI.

It is to be expected that other great achievements of national science and engineering will be recognized in the nearest time within the framework of Milestones program.

Further development of IEEE in Russia and collaboration on both national and international level was discussed by the executive committee members during their staying in St Petersburg.

The activity of Student 's Branch in St Petersburg is distinguished by its diversity and efficiency.

IEEE opens new horizons for students who are given the possibility of acquiring research experience enabling them to cope better with their post-graduate studies. Due to scientific journals and IEEE transactions they have access to the latest achievements in modern fields of knowledge.

Students-members of IEEE can develop different skills working as a press-attaché, interpreters, guides, team-leaders, organizers of special events which allows them to realize their creative potential and their personality in professional fields much better.

According to the public opinion poll, most students join IEEE because it helps them to extend their scope of knowledge, to have a good language practice, to develop skills in creating sites and in business correspondence and to get acquainted with colleagues of other foreign countries.

As it was said by one of the IEEE members, "this organization is one big family " where arising problems are solved altogether, where everybody realizes that science is a world without frontiers with its priorities and remarkable milestones.

The following facts speak in favor of IEEE fruitful and efficient work. The students and post-graduate students- IEEE members have less problems in applying for a job, they get grants for their internship, they exchange experience with foreign colleges and have a better command of English and better leadership and organizational skills. It is due to all these qualities and proper experience that they are believed to work for the benefit of international science and mankind.

• IEEE Student member Olga Mishina, a post-graduate student of Baltic Technical University, was awarded a prize – a Skype starter kit for answering a Photo Quiz in Region 8 News.