The open-air exhibition “Glaciers from the Arctic to Moscow” aims to present the interdisciplinary issues of complex cosmoglobal aspects and mechanisms of interaction between the geospheres, which are the product of climate change spanning the entire history of the planet and continuously affecting ecosystems. The exhibition is organized at the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University in collaboration with the Earth Science Museum of Moscow State University as a cluster of the Youth Museum. A synthetic version of the distribution of glacial covers in the territory of the East European Plain and a version of the most commonly accepted scale of glaciations and interglaciations of the Quaternary period with the main astrochronological reference points have been specially developed and designed to be easily understood by a wide range of visitors to the exhibition. Special attention is paid to Milanković’s cycles, and original information stands have been created to reflect their work. The natural basis of the exhibition is formed by a group of different-sized erratic boulders, arranged according to the reconstructed location of the rocks that form them in their parent locations, modeling the “glacier route” on the East European Plain. By analyzing the “travel notes” in the form of systems of characteristic grooves and “tan crusts,” as well as the composition of the rocks, together with each visitor, it is possible to reconstruct the path of a particular boulder, and, with the help of information boards, to try to understand the scenario of the glacier’s development, the history of the region, and the planet as a whole. The created exhibition can be positioned as a universal conceptual and design solution for the space of a university science museum.

The article, based on materials from the Moscow State University Archives, examines the activities of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University during the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945). Using a systematic approach, the article traces changes in the main parameters of the Botanical Garden’s structural and functional organization under the influence of adverse external factors. It is shown how, in the context of the crisis caused by the war, which led to a shortage of resources for scientific activities, the areas of research and educational work were transformed, and the composition and structure of the Botanical Garden’s plant collections, as well as the number and organizational structure of its scientific and auxiliary staff, changed. Special attention is paid to the personality of K.I. Meyer, who headed the Botanical Garden in 1940–1948.

The article traces milestones of the formation and development of sciadography in the Botanical Garden of Moscow University in the 19–20th centuries in the aspect of the history of science. In accordance with the logic of the development of scientific know­ledge, taxonomic ideas about the Umbelliferae were transformed as research methods improved. Studying of the Umbelliferae became a specialty of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University. The evolution of approaches to the construction of the system of this family of angiosperms is considered: from G.F. Hoffmann’s artificial system (early 19th century), based on comparative morphological data, to B.M. Kozo-Polyansky’s natural system (early 20th century), based on the principles of evolutionary morphology, and further, to phylogenetic systematics based on modern research methods and quantitative methods of data processing. This approach was developed by V.N. Tikhomirov and M.G. Pimenov, their colleagues and students (since the 1970s). January 2025 marks the 265th anniversary of the birth of G.F. Hoffmann (1760–1826) and the 135th anniversary of the birth of B.M. Kozo-Polyansky (1890–1957).

The results of our phenological observations of flowering rhythms of 37 herbaceous and 21 woody plants from the collections of the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University in 2019 are presented for three phases, namely, the beginning, peak and the end of flowering. The average timing of the “peak flowering” phase onset for the period of 2009–2019 was calculated, and it has turned out that the vast majority of the studied plants bloomed in 2019 earlier than usually. To assess the effect of summary active temperatures (SAT) on plant development, their sums were calculated by months (according to the data of MSU Meteorological Observatory) with thresholds of 0°С, 5°С, and 10°С in comparison with their average values. Our comparison of the data obtained has shown a direct effect of SAT on the timing of the onset of flowering phenophases, and also confirmed the importance of not only the sum of positive temperatures, but also the sum of temperatures exceeding the threshold of 10°C for flowering of the primary flowers. For a significant advance in the average timing of flowering, such plants need to receive an excess of heat about a month before flowering. An increased amount of active temperatures even immediately before and during flowering has a beneficial effect on the timing of flowering. At the same time, SAT values above 10°C are important.

2024 marks the 140th anniversary of the beginning of the expeditions of the laboratory of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University under the supervision of Professor Ivan Nikolaevich Gorozhankin to study the Central Russian flora. The historical and scientific context of the studies of this traditional object for the Botanical Garden of Moscow University during the 18th – early 21st centuries is traced. It is shown how the long-term targeted field research by the staff of the laboratory of the Botanical Garden has contributed to a methodologically unified approach to the organization of the program for studying the flora of the Oka River basin allowed not only to expand the territorial coverage, going beyond the purely Moscow region, but also to significant contribute to the development of an important scientific problem, namely, the cognition of the phenomenon of the Oka River flora. Gorozhankin’s principle of systemic research of regional flora was successfully implemented at the end of the 20th century by scientists of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University in the study of the flora of Central Russia.

The article analyzes approaches to the development and conduct of excursions for students of the early twentieth century and provides recommendations already expressed a hundred years ago for guides and teachers. It was then that two main approaches were distinguished, namely: orientation to listeners (excursionists) and the guide’s detailed knowledge of the museum’s objects. Currently, the preparation of excursions to both the Natural science museum and the botanical garden is almost the same and includes the same stages: from choosing a topic to developing a detailed plan. But botanical garden excursions differ from museum ones, as they have a seasonal nature and depends on the flowering period of the plants. However, all excursions (in a museum or in a botanical garden) perform the same functions, namely: informational, cultural, educational and leisure, although in terms of the degree of impact on human feelings, undoubtedly, botanical garden excursions differ significantly from museum excursions.

The article examines the collaboration between the Earth Science Museum and professors from the Faculty of Biology and the Faculty of Soil Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University (Faculty of Biology and Soil Science until 1973) from the museum’s founding to the present day. In the early 1950s, university professors collaborated with the museum staff to create biology-themed exhibits at the Museum. In particular, they helped preparing the exhibits on the 26th floor (Marine Hall) and the 25th floor (Natural Zonation). A brief overview of the current course offerings in biological disciplines at the Earth Science Museum is presented, including courses for students from the Faculty of Biology, the Faculty of Geology, and the Faculty of Philology at Moscow State University. The disciplines covered include “Ecology”, “Marine Communities and Ecosystems”, “Ecology with Fundamentals of Biogeography”, and “Modern Natural Sciences”. The museum’s exhibition serves as a unique educational environment for such classes, particularly when incorporating modern pedagogical approaches such as the flipped classroom model. The article presents the collaborative work of the Museum’s staff and students from the Faculty of Biology within the framework of the MSU’s Development Program “Development of the Foundations for the Establishing, Operating, and Advancing a Comprehensive University-based Scientific and Educational Youth Museum Using the Example of Lomonosov Moscow State University.” It also highlights the creation of a unique interdisciplinary open-air exhibition at the MSU Botanical Garden on Leninskie gory named “From the Arctic to Moscow: The Path of Glaciers”.

The article reviews the activities of the famous botanist Mikhail I. Golenkin (1864–1941) as an organizer of Russian science. Honored Professor of Moscow University (1916), Honored Scientist of the RSFSR (1929), M.I. Golenkin headed the Department of Plant Morphology and Systematics for many years (1904–1918; in 1918–1929 – Department of Plant Morphology and Systematics of higher plants) of Moscow University and its Botanical Garden (1902–1930), at the same time (1922–1931) he was director of the Research Institute of Botany of the Association of Research Institutes at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Moscow University. Professor Golenkin was an honorary member of the Russian Botanical Society and the Moscow Society of Naturalists (since 1921), Vice–president of the MSN (1930–1932). 2024 marks the 160th anniversary of Prof. M. I. Golenkin’s birth.

Based on the bio-bibliographic essays by Konstantin I. Meyer (1881–1965), head of the Chair of Morphology and Systematics of Higher Plants (1929–1931 and 1938–1963) and director of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University (1940–1948), the article traces the formation evolution of the Moscow School of Plant Morphologists, founded by Ivan N. Gorozhankin, who headed the Chair of Plant Morphology and Systematics (1875–1904) and the Botanical Garden of Moscow University (1874–1902). The diversification of scientific issues in line with the comparative morphological research direction developed by this scientific school in Russian botany is shown on the basis of the works of Gorozhankin’s most famous students. 2024 marks the 120th anniversary of the death of I.N. Gorozhankin (1848–1904) and the 160th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail I. Golenkin (1864–1941), his successor at the chair and in the Botanical Garden.

Maria P. Nagibina (née Tsybulskaya) (1878–1943) was a Russian botanist, teacher, local historian, public figure, science organizer and popularizer. She was one of the first women in Russia who received higher education. She was the organizer of the first in our country scientific biological station of MSNS (Moscow Society of Natural Scientists) (1919–1925, v. Staroe Pershino). Being an employee of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University (1904–1917 and 1926–1943), she was engaged in plant growing, selection of domestic varieties of ornamental plants; she organized their collections and exhibitions.

The article discusses various forms of local history activities to be implemented in the interaction of natural science museums and secondary schools. The practical experience of employees of the Earth Science Museum of Lomonosov Moscow State University in the field of local history is described, namely: conducting a professional development program (Summer School), thematic classes with students, and consultations on the creation of educational expositions in school museums. A thematic plan of the section “Nature of the Native land” in a school museum is given. The prerequisites for successful cooperation between natural science museums and secondary schools in the joint implementation of local history activities are substantiated.