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- The Energy of Creativity: What Trace Evgeny Velikhov Left in World Science
The Energy of Creativity: What Trace Evgeny Velikhov Left in World Science
Together with Academician Evgeny Velikhov, a whole epoch in the history of national science is passing away, the scientist's colleagues noted. His role as a researcher, the highest professionalism and organizational talent was emphasized by Vladimir Putin in a telegram of condolences to his family and friends. The Kurchatov Institute, which was headed by the scientist for many years, became the most powerful scientific organization in the country thanks to his active work in the difficult 90s, said President of the National Research Center Mikhail Kovalchuk. On the legacy of an outstanding scientist - in the material "Izvestia".
Boulder man
Thedeparture of Academician Evgeny Velikhov symbolizes the end of a whole era in the history of the country and the Kurchatov Institute, said during the briefing, President of the SRC "Kurchatov Institute" Mikhail Kovalchuk. According to him, this multifaceted man left a huge trace. As a physicist, he studied the propagation of turbulent plasma and its interactions with electromagnetic radiation. This resulted in the creation of an equation known to every theorist today.
- This was his contribution to basic science at the first stage. At the age of 29, he defended his thesis and received his PhD. At the age of 33 he was elected a corresponding member, and at the age of 40 he became a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and received the Lenin Prize when he was 50. He is a Hero of Socialist Labor of the USSR and a Hero of Labor of Russia. There are only a few such people in our country," said Mikhail Kovalchuk.
Press conference on control over the termination of nuclear tests. Speaker Vice-President of the USSR Academy of Sciences Evgeny Velikhov
Velikhov became the head of the Kurchatov Institute at the very end of the 80s, during a difficult period for the country. Thanks to his active work, it was possible to preserve the fundamental research potential of the organization and then turn it into the main scientific center of Russia. Under his leadership , the institute launched the first domestic Internet connection, the first supercomputer, the first network for complex computing, which helped to decipher the first human genome in the Russian Federation, and much more. He was also at the origin of fusion technology and initiated the international ITER project for its development, Mikhail Kovalchuk emphasized.
Evgeny Pavlovich Velikhov is an outstanding physicist, academician, honorary president of SIC "Kurchatov Institute". He was one of the world's leading experts in the field of plasma physics and controlled thermonuclear fusion. Since 1973, he has been the scientific director of controlled thermonuclear fusion research in the USSR. In 1977 he became the initiator of the ITER international project for the development of thermonuclear energy. Later he worked for many years in the management of this project.
Evgeny Pavlovich worked at the Kurchatov Institute for more than 60 years. Since 1989 he was Director, then President and Honorary President of the Institute. In addition to thermonuclear research, he was successfully engaged in many other scientific areas, in particular laser technologies, microelectronics, nanotechnology, network communications, etc.
Personality of colossal scale
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to the family and friends of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Evgeny Velikhov. As stated in the telegram of the head of state, published on the Kremlin website, he "was an outstanding scientist, innovator, a man of inexhaustible creative and creative energy. His supreme professionalism, organizational talent, and vast experience were invariably in demand in responsible areas of work. And the tasks he solved fully corresponded to the colossal scale of his personality.
Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy. I.V. Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy
Evgeny Velikhov was a student of Academicians Igor Kurchatov and Anatoly Alexandrov, he was a man who is widely known in the world because of his pioneering contribution to the development of fundamental and applied research in nuclear physics and, in particular, the creation and development of a new scientific direction related to the peaceful use of thermonuclear energy in the interests of all mankind, told "Izvestia" scientific director of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Academician-Secretary of the Department of Physical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences Victor Matveev.
- This is a giant, irretrievable loss for the world's domestic science, well, of course, for the Kurchatov Institute, work in which he devoted many years. This is an undeniable loss for the entire Russian Academy of Sciences, for our country. And on behalf of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, we express our deepest condolences to the Russian Academy of Sciences, his students and closest colleagues, and, of course, to the entire world scientific community," he said.
Sun on Earth, underwater cities and Arctic exploration
Evgeny Velikhov has traveled a long life and scientific path. In the early 1970s, he headed research on controlled thermonuclear fusion in the USSR. The goal of this work was to light a small Sun in an earthly laboratory setup.
- Later on, the academician became the initiator and leader of the international ITER project, aimed at mastering thermonuclear energy on an industrial scale," MEPhI Rector Vladimir Shevchenko told Izvestia Vladimir Shevchenko.
He explained that hopes for a controlled thermonuclear reaction on Earth, similar to the one on our star, are linked to this project.
Inauguration ceremony of the Center for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Design at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
At the same time, the leader added, Velikhov's activities were not limited to thermonuclear. His dream of underwater Arctic cities of the future inspired scientists and engineers to create floating oil production platforms. In addition, Velikhov played a significant role in the development of the Internet in Russia during the early period of this technology's history.
- Evgeny Velikhov is a legendary person. Such people energize the development of science for many decades to come. The main legacy that Academician Velikhov left is his life example. He made a huge contribution to the creation of our entire nuclear industry and many nuclear technologies," Sergey Chernyshev, Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Scientific Director of TsAGI, shared with Izvestia.
In particular, the scientist said, Velikhov was one of the main specialists in the field of controlled thermonuclear reaction. Thanks largely to him, today scientists are almost close to the retention of stable plasma. He created a powerful scientific school, whose students became followers of his work.
Accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant
- He was also a man of encyclopedic education, the broadest competence and versatile interests. Probably, that is why he was among the leaders of the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Only such a level of personality could cover the entire scope of problems and consequences that arose as a result of the disaster, - said Sergei Chernyshev.
At the same time, he added, Velikhov was well aware of the potential of the Arctic as a huge promising area for the development of our economy. Realizing this, he held conferences and brought together representatives of various industries and discussed with them the problems of the region's development. It is largely thanks to this that today the Arctic has remained in the zone of Russian economic interests.
- Evgeny Pavlovich had a huge scientific authority, but at the same time he was a democratic person and equally skillfully disposed to himself both students and heads of state. Ultimately, it was these qualities that helped him convince the heads of the world's leading powers to support his initiative and invest in the construction of ITER - an international thermonuclear experimental reactor, which is designed to demonstrate the possibility of producing thermonuclear energy on an industrial scale," Anatoly Krasilnikov, director of the ITER Project Center (a private institution of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation), the Russian ITER agency, told Izvestia.
ITER fusion reactor area
He noted that as a sign of mourning, the ITER flag, which flies over the central office of this organization in France, will be lowered for seven days.
In turn, ITER Director General Pietro Barabaschi noted that Velikhov was an exceptional and incredibly far-sighted man, with a brilliant mind, impeccable integrity and a wonderful sense of humor, always ready to joke, even in the most unexpected situations. At the same time, he remained a committed ITER supporter until the last moment.
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