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Why we make irrational decisions, how the brain responds to fakes, and whether neural networks are capable of thinking—these were the topics discussed by early-career scientists of HSE University during the NAUKA 0+ science festival. The event brought together students and experts from various fields, united by a common goal—to deepen their understanding of the human brain and cognitive technologies.

An international team, including scientists from HSE University, has proposed a new mathematical method to analyse the structure of graphene. The scientists demonstrated that the characteristics of a graphene lattice can be represented using a three-step random walk model of a particle. This approach allows the lattice to be described more quickly and without cumbersome calculations. The study has been published in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical.

In September 2025, the HSE Faculty of Urban and Regional Development (FURD) hosted a delegation of leading scholars and urban development experts from China. Two seminars were held at the Shukhov Lab with the participation of Chinese colleagues: the first focused on green infrastructure, while the second explored the theme of dynamic urbanism. In addition, a meeting between the Chinese delegation and representatives of FURD took place at the university’s main building on Pokrovsky Bulvar. The participants discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation between universities and research centres.

A delegation from HSE University, led by Rector Nikita Anisimov, visited Hanoi and held a series of meetings with representatives of leading universities and government agencies in Vietnam. During the visit, the parties discussed the establishment of a joint institute between HSE University and Vietnam National University (VNU), cooperation in artificial intelligence, information technology and engineering education, as well as prospects for academic exchanges.

Why do statistical methods sometimes yield unexpected results? How does the creative approach help to process data in complex linguistic research? Is there 'a magic button' to analyse the results? The answers to these and other questions were the topic of the three-day autumn school 'Statistics in Psycho- and Neurolinguistics.'

Experts from HSE University participated in the II International Symposium 'Inventing the Future.' During the panel discussion 'Horizons of the Future: Trends, Challenges, and Scenarios,' organised by the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK), researchers explored the role of foresight and big data analysis in shaping visions of the future and identifying global megatrends that will drive the world’s development in the coming decades.

On October 16, 2025, Forbes Education published its list of the top 20 Russian universities with the best employer reputation in 2025. The ranking was based on a survey of leading Russian employers, who named the higher education institutions whose graduates they consider the most well-prepared and are most inclined to hire. HSE University took first place in the ranking.

Researchers from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have developed a tool for accurately assessing reading skills in adults with reading impairments. It can be used, for instance, before and after sessions with a language therapist. The tool includes two texts that differ in content but are equal in complexity: participants were observed to read them at the same speed, make a similar number of errors, and understand the content to the same degree. Such parallel texts will enable more accurate diagnosis of dyslexia and better monitoring of the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing it. The paper has been published in Educational Studies.

On September 12, 2025, a new Sber classroom was unveiled at HSE’s Pokrovsky Bulvar campus. The venue will host lectures and project seminars, and in their free time, students will be able to use it as a co-working area or as a platform for their own events—from film screenings to intellectual debates.

On October 10–11, 2025, the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre at HSE University (the BRICS Centre) hosted a two-day international seminar, ‘Platform Economy: Competition Law and the Market Power of Digital Platforms,’ in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event brought together competition authorities from BRICS+ nations and leading antitrust experts from around the world.