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On February 11, 2024, we lost an outstanding economic geographer, mentor, and leader, a person whose name is synonymous with the establishment of the scientific school of socio-economic geography in the Kaliningrad region, recognized by the entire academic community. A graduate of the Faculty of Geography of Leningrad State University, G. M. Fedorov began his career at Kaliningrad State University in 1972, ultimately dedicating nearly 52 years to the institution (now the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University). Gennady Fedorov mentored a generation of young researchers who continue his work. Dozens of PhDs, researchers and doctors of sciences consider him their teacher.

Gennady Fedorov conducted extensive scientific research and organizational work. He was the chairman of the Dissertation Board for Geographical Sciences (I. Kant BFU) and a member of the Herzen RSPU (St. Petersburg). He was part of the Council for Political Sciences (IKBFU), the inspirational force and deputy editor-in-chief of the journal “Baltic Region” (Scopus, WoS, core of RSCI, HAC), deputy chairman of the editorial board of the journal “Regional Studies” (RSCI, HAC), chief editor of the journal “Bulletin of I. Kant BFU. Series: Natural and Medical Sciences,” and a member of the Academic Council of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS). Gennady Fedorov was one of Russia’s most renowned economic geographers, authoring over 550 scientific works, including 70 monographs and textbooks, and developing the scientific concept of the geodemographic situation. He led research projects in the fields of social geography, regional economics, and geopolitics. These included grants from the Russian scientific foundations RFBR and RSF, the Russian Geographical Society, and international projects.

In this article, we, his students and followers, have taken on the difficult task of summarizing the main results of Professor G. M. Fedorov’s scientific activity. This task is challenging primarily because his work was so diverse and multifaceted that it cannot be fully captured in a single article. A different format of publication is required for such an endeavor. Here, we will outline the main issues and scientific directions he worked on and present a list of G. M. Fedorov’s most well-known works.

In the context of modern globalization processes, the volume of population involved in international educational migration is growing increasingly intensive, and its results are having a more noticeable impact on socio-political and socio-economic processes. This article examines international educational migration as a source of potential labor resources for the country’s economy and as an indicator for assessing geopolitical and geoeconomic processes. Current trends in international educational migration show that North American and European countries are the main recipients of foreign students, while the donor countries are predominantly from Asia, Africa, and partially Latin America. The demand for and popularity of Russian education in the international educational services market is growing. Under the influence of geopolitical factors and sanctions, the flows of educational immigration to Russia are transforming and reorienting by country. Central Asian countries, China, and India occupy leading positions. Using the example of the Kaliningrad region, a comparative analysis of the transformation of volumes and directions of international educational migration is conducted, and the reasons for these changes are examined. The region is characterized by the expansion and diversification of flows, as well as a decrease in foreign students from geographically close countries and a reorientation to all-Russian trends.

The center-periphery theory is one of the oldest and most frequently applied theories in spatial development. The aim of this article is to conduct a critical analysis of the center-periphery theory at the present stage, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. To achieve this objective, an analysis was conducted of Russian and foreign works by specialists from various fields who have studied the center-periphery theory. The essential features of the theory and its transformation over time in terms of theory and methodology were noted. This theory is often regarded as “having stood the test of time.” However, it is important to understand that, like any theory, it has specific applications and limitations. These can logically be identified by outlining both the strengths and weaknesses of the theory. The strengths include simplicity and logic, universality, a long history of development, an evolutionary nature, and integration with other spatial theories. The weaknesses include rigid demarcation, lack of expression in real space, the necessity for complication, polydependence in modern space, and limited predictive capability. As a result of the study, it was noted that the center-periphery theory, despite its widespread recognition and frequent application, has a limited explanatory and predictive nature. This makes it of limited utility in studying spatial development and requires a critical approach and application.

The center-periphery theory is one of the oldest and most frequently applied theories in spatial development. The aim of this article is to conduct a critical analysis of the center-periphery theory at the present stage, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. To achieve this objective, an analysis was conducted of Russian and foreign works by specialists from various fields who have studied the center-periphery theory. The essential features of the theory and its transformation over time in terms of theory and methodology were noted. This theory is often regarded as “having stood the test of time.” However, it is important to understand that, like any theory, it has specific applications and limitations. These can logically be identified by outlining both the strengths and weaknesses of the theory. The strengths include simplicity and logic, universality, a long history of development, an evolutionary nature, and integration with other spatial theories. The weaknesses include rigid demarcation, lack of expression in real space, the necessity for complication, polydependence in modern space, and limited predictive capability. As a result of the study, it was noted that the center-periphery theory, despite its widespread recognition and frequent application, has a limited explanatory and predictive nature. This makes it of limited utility in studying spatial development and requires a critical approach and application.

While studying the characteristics of the formation and existence of foci of transmissible tick-borne infections, it is essential to consider both natural and anthropogenic factors. The impact of human activity on this process undoubtedly requires constant attention. Retrospective studies conducted in our country and the post-Soviet space within this framework are systematized in this review according to the following periodization: the observation and knowledge accumulation stage; the fundamental research enhancement stage; and the contemporary stage. The review provides a characterization and trend analysis of studies on the anthropogenic impact on populations of ticks from the Ixodidae family, highlighting the most significant scientific works and results obtained on the subject. The concluding section emphasizes the importance of accumulating and structuring research to ensure the epidemiological well-being of the population.

The article considers the issues of balanced functioning of urbanized territories (including urban environments) as objects of social ecology. The aim of this work is to analyze the current state of the urban environment in terms of noise pollution and the creation of thematic environmental maps of urban noise pollution. Using statistical methods, the authors justified the need for such maps and identified the main problems arising in their development. It was empirically confirmed that noise pollution has significantly increased across Russia against the backdrop of a steady growth in urban population. The experience of Russian developers of noise pollution maps was analyzed, showing how these maps can help in creating a comfortable living environment. The medical-ecological approach and statistical data analysis revealed a correlation between noise pollution in urbanized areas and negative social consequences for the population living in these areas. These consequences include not only an increase in diseases, such as cardiovascular and nervous system disorders, but also a general reduction in active life years. A unique aspect of the study is the approach to the problem from the perspective of creating spaces with positive soundscapes in urban environments and reflecting these on noise pollution maps. The necessity of such research is driven by the specifics of human adaptive mechanisms, which are unable to quickly adjust to changes in the environment. The conclusion is made that to mitigate the impact of noise pollution on the physical and psychological state of individuals, it is necessary to change the pattern of urban development towards an expanded understanding of functional zoning in urban areas.

This article is dedicated to the study of lichen biota as part of the research and conservation of biodiversity in the Kaliningrad region. Biological studies of little-known territories are a crucial component of the ecologically oriented development of the Kaliningrad region, especially for areas with heavily transformed landscapes. Expanding the understanding of the diversity and distribution of lichens plays an important role in nature conservation and supporting the biodiversity of the Kaliningrad region. The aim of the study was to examine the lichen biota of the northwestern part of the Krasnoznamensk municipal district (part of the Sheshupe ancient alluvial plain). This is the first such study for the Krasnoznamensk district. Field research was conducted in the vicinity of the western part of the Neman forest and the Velikoe bog in 2022 and 2023. Laboratory processing of the collected materials with species identification was carried out using standard methods. The collected field materials significantly enriched the lichen collection of the KLGU herbarium with new specimens. As a result of the study, one hundred and five species of lichens and lichenicolous fungi were identified for the northwestern part of the Krasnoznamensk district, eighty-two of which are reported for the first time for the district. Among the discovered species are rare lichens of the Kaliningrad region, as well as indicator species of minimally disturbed and old-growth forest communities. These data make a significant contribution to the understanding of lichens in the Kaliningrad region, filling long-standing gaps in lichen biota research in the area. Consequently, the number of known taxa in the lichen biota of the Krasnoznamensk district increased to one hundred and thirty-one species. Based on our results, further study of the lichen biota of the Krasnoznamensk district appears promising.

The use of synthetic growth stimulants is a promising approach to enhancing the productivity of the fermentation process. The advantages of such compounds include minimal consumption, stability during storage, and lower cost compared to natural growth stimulants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of protatrans on cell development and intracellular protein biosynthesis in the yeast Candida ethanolica. It was established that the effects of protatrans depend on the concentrations of these compounds as well as the method of their application (separate or combined). Positive effects of synthetic stimulants on cell development and intracellular protein accumulation were observed when they were jointly present in the nutrient medium. Thus, the studied protatrans can be used to improve the efficiency of the fermentation stage of Candida ethanolica yeast. Additionally, characteristic features of the stimulants’ effects, such as abrupt changes, the presence of multiple peaks of maxima and minima, and negative impacts, were identified. The reasons for the diverse effects of protatrans on biosynthesis processes in yeast cells require further research.