On 3 October the first open research and methodological seminar Terra Translatologica took place at the Herzen University. The seminar is a joint project of SCIT and the Institute of Foreign Languages, Herzen University. It is conceived as a venue for regular meetings and discussion of all issues related to interpreting and translation. The first meeting was dedicated to the issues of specialization in T&I. the key-note speaker was Michael Demidov, SCIT graduate and now a successful interpreter in the sphere of medicine and veterinary. The participants were invited to discuss the following issues:

  1. Is specialization necessary in T&I?
  2. What is primary: profession or education in T&I?
  3. How many languages does a T&I specialist need today?
  4. Where and how does one study T&I?
  5. Is there a need for theory in T&I practice?
  6. Does a T&I specialist have to acquire Proficiency (C2) level?

The participants of the seminar were SCIT and IFL students and other guests. The seminar was also attended by Rector Sergey Bogdanov, Chair of the Committee for Science and Higher Education of the St. Petersburg Government Andrey Maximov, director of the Centre for Strategic Development Marina Lipetskaya, Vice-rector for International Affairs Yulia Komarova. No one was left indifferent by Michael’s emotional presentation, and the guests enthusiastically shared their opinion on the usefulness and necessity for a T&I specialist to have a sphere of specialization.