Welcome to the 2002-2003 school year and our first issue the new SRAS newsletter design. We hope to bring to you information and opportunities that you will find interesting. Feel free to send us your comments and suggestions.

A new and improved SRAS web site was launched on September 1. Thanks to a talented Moscow-based team of designers and programmers, we will now be able to present considerably more information in a user-friendly format. Look for new university information to be added on a regular basis as well as notices of short-term events such as seminars. You can also now apply online!

It is our hope that this website will become a useful tool and resource for students and their advisors and we invite you to visit it often.

The "Russia in the 21st Century" seminar series was held in Moscow last year with great success. Along with a fascinating lecture series addressing the history and current issues of politics, business, journalism, and culture in Russia, students enjoyed a busy schedule of field trips and excursions. Students in particular enjoyed the opportunity to visit NTV for a look at the production process and a close-up look at media issues in Russia.

This seminar series will continue in summer 2003 with these and possibly additional topics. Look for updates on content and dates in within the next month.

The city of Irkutsk, located approximately an hour from the western shore of Lake Baikal, has become one of our most popular study destinations. With a population of 600,000 people and a growing middle class, Irkutsk is a very educated and cultured city and the perfect place for immersion in Russian language.

Irkutsk as a city is well-endowed with many attractive features. The Irkutsk region itself is rich in natural resources. Just outside Irkutsk there is a hydro-electric dam which provides inexpensive energy for the processing of aluminum, another major industry. Several other key industries help to ensure a better than average economy in the Irkutsk region.

SRAS students can join a wide range of programs in Irkutsk, from language study to field study on Lake Baikal. We recommend this destination for students who enjoy nature and have an interest in biology and ecology, as the lake attracts researchers and environmental activists from around Russia and the world.

Moscow State University (MGU) has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence. At this oldest and most famous of Russian universities, scientific and educational schools of international reputation have been formed. Among its graduates and professors are Nobel Prize winners and world famous scientists. MGU has been educating the people of Russia in the latest advances in sciences, humanities, and medicine for more than 240 years.

Popular for language courses year round, Moscow State University is also popular with Visiting Scholars and is beginning to attract more and more western students for degree studies. For students majoring in Russian area studies and planning to pursue further education or a career in that field, it almost goes without saying that some time should be spent at this university.