The article reveals the topic of the place and role of the Vkontakte social network in the organization of the educational process, the relevance of which was confirmed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The object of the research is digital education at Russian universities. The subject of the research is the VKontakte social network as a means of organizing the educational process. The authors share the experience of using social networks, accumulated in the process of teaching social disciplines at the Timiryazev Academy. The data proving the popularity of this network among students in Russia are presented. The main scientific result: not only the high efficiency of using the VKontakte social network for organizing the educational process has been proven, but also a proposal is formulated to consider digital literacy and knowledge of modern digital technologies as one of the qualification requirements for higher school teachers.

Formation and development of the Talysh ethnic consciousness under the conditions of the Talysh 'geoethnic reserve' have been analyzed. Certain ethnoforming elements of the Talysh culture, i.e. factors promoting preservation of the basic constants of the Talysh ethnic consciousness, have been revealed. On the one hand, it is a cult of rocks, stones, groves and trees, and on the other hand it is worship of air, water, land and fire, which with the appearance of Zoroastrianism at first, and later of Shia Muslim, were not absorbed and peripheralized, but filled with new religious and ethical contents presenting moral and esthetic ideals of the Talysh people. The role of a myth and religion as an obligatory early stage of formation of the Talysh ethnic culture has been determined; regularities of formation of the Talysh ethnic consciousness have been shown; steps of ethnogenesis and a world view of the Talysh ethnos have been enlightened. Introduction of strange cultural tradition components could not eliminate the existing valuable attitude of 'the geoethnic reserve', but right opposite, they created syncretic environment stimulating evolution of the Talysh ethnic consciousness towards world judgment in the system of moral and ethical images considerably enriching the Talysh ethnos outlook. Having been formed this syncretic environment effected significantly the Talysh ethnos social attitude, as well as, predetermined a prevalent character of religious values in Talyshes spiritual and socio-political life.

The article raises the question of the prospects of electric bicycles as one of the types of ecological transport. The aim of the study is to determine the attitude of Russian rural residents to electric bicycles as an environmentally friendly mode of transport and outline its prospects in rural areas. Using some scientific methods ( sociological survey of agricultural university students who have a rural area as their preferred place of residence; experiment to determine the possibilities of using an electric bicycle in rural areas; content analysis of marketplaces that sell electric bicycles), the authors come to the conclusion that in order for the electric bicycle to take its rightful place in the rural transport system and thereby contribute to improving the environmental situation, it is necessary to solve the social problems of Russian agriculture – and above all, to improve the standard of living of peasants. In addition, manufacturers should offer models specially designed for rural areas to the market, since many brands sold in Russia are insufficiently adapted for use in rural areas. The authors also believe that there is a need for social advertising of electric transport as well as educational activities that refute myths and stereotypes concerning electric bicycles.

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