Today, on 15 January, in Yakutsk, a joint exhibition of the Pushkin National Library of Yakutia and secondary school No. 5 dedicated to Vitus Bering and the 300th anniversary of the First Kamchatka Expedition (1725-1730) was opened.

History teacher, enthusiast and regional studies expert Anna Borisova has been working on the historical project for 5 years and has involved many students and researchers, including those from Denmark, the birthplace of Vitus Bering. A large-scale work has been done, the results are impressive and the project continues.

In his welcome address, Vladimir Vasiliev, Executive Director of the Northern Forum, emphasised the importance of the project for the younger generation, future researchers of the polar regions.

This year Denmark will take over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council, so the anniversary of the Kamchatka expedition this year and the 345th anniversary of Vitus Bering next year can play a positive role and serve as a ‘soft power’ to lower the confrontation in the Arctic.

The Northern Forum Secretariat will provide information on these events to the Arctic Council Secretariat, as it has observer status in the Arctic Council. It will also be proposed to support school projects under the auspices of the Northern Forum.

School No. 5 is one of the founders of the Northern Forum Schools Association and we hope that such projects will attract international attention.