Research & Expertise news at HSE University

Moving to a big city does not necessarily lead to dramatic changes in daily habits. A study conducted at HSE University found that leisure preferences in adulthood are largely shaped during childhood and are influenced by where individuals spent their school years. This conclusion was drawn by Sergey Korotaev, Research Fellow at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, from analysing the leisure habits of more than 5,000 Russians.

Researchers from HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod have shown that a neural network can reconstruct the dynamics of a brain neuron model using just a single set of measurements, such as recordings of its electrical activity. The developed neural network was trained to reconstruct the system's full dynamics and predict its behaviour under changing conditions. This method enables the investigation of complex biological processes, even when not all necessary measurements are available. The study has been published in Chaos, Solitons & Fractals.

The Russian and Chinese postgraduate education systems originally borrowed their institutional frameworks from the Soviet Union. However, in the 21st century, they have evolved along different paths. While key performance indicators for postgraduate programmes in Russia are declining, China is seeing a rapid increase in the number of postgraduate students. These contrasting trajectories and the reforms undertaken in each country in recent decades were the focus of a roundtable discussion held as part of the 25th Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.

Since March 2025, the HSE Faculty of Mathematics has welcomed a leading Russian mathematician, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh, National Professor of China, and recipient of the Lyapunov Prize—Sergey Kuksin. In an interview with the HSE News Service, he spoke about the role of the individual in mathematics, KAM theory, and why analysis is so relevant today.

In dynamic games, a Markov equilibrium involves strategies that guide players' behaviour based on the current state of the game, rather than its entire history. This approach is effective when players have access to complete information. But when uncertainty arises in the game—for instance, when players are unsure of who they are dealing with—this approach can become problematic. Eric Maskin, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Professor at Harvard University, addressed this issue in a paper presented at the XXV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development held at HSE University from April 15 to 18, 2025.

On March 26, the 14th Research Seminar on Economic Studies, titled ‘Bank Lending: Trends, Risks, and New Opportunities,’ was held at HSE ICEF. The seminar gathered participants from Russian banks and professors from leading universities in Russia, the US, China, and the Netherlands. Key topics included the development of the banking sector, environmental factors in lending, the impact of managerial competencies on loan quality, prudential regulation and financial stability, and credit risks and strategies.

The future is now more difficult for researchers to forecast, and events that are hard to predict are playing an increasingly significant role. But there is good news too: scientists are confident that humanity will adapt to any changes. This was the focus of discussion at the International Symposium ‘Foresight in a Rapidly Changing World,’ which took place as part of the 25th Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.

Every day, modern technologies change the world by automating business processes in various industries. Specialists from HSE University have presented the extensive experience of the iFora team in implementing AI projects for the benefit of large companies and governments.