Tour audio “Kondratyev‘s Universe”. To the 100th birthday anniversary of the rector of Leningrad State University - Kirill Ya. Kondratyev (1920–2006)

Kirill Yakovlevich Kondratyev – a prominent scientist in the field of atmospheric and environmental sciences. Throughout his whole career he was involved in research on atmospheric radiation problems relevant to the physical basis of the Earth’s climate. He contributed greatly to the development of remote-sensing techniques for environmental studies as well as to global change research. Kondratyev was a successful research organizer and pioneered research in a number of fields: satellite meteorology, atmospheric physics, climatology, and global change. He was the author and co-author of over one thousand scientific papers and a hundred monographs. Many of his books were translated into foreign languages.

For over 30 years of scientific and pedagogical work at St Petersburg University, Kondratyev passed all the steps of the university career ladder and occupied successively the posts of lecturer, associate professor, professor, head of the Department of Atmospheric Physics, University Vice Rector for science and research, and finally Rector (1964-1970).

The period of his rectorship was of special significance in his life and work. In these particular years, Kondratyev displayed his organizational talent in the development of science and education brightly and with special emphasis. In virtue of his attention and efforts, new educational and scientific structures were created – faculties, institutes, and departments.  In 1965, the Research Institute of Complex Social Studies was established at the University remaining the only research institute in humanities for a long time. The Faculty of Psychology was established in 1966, the Institute of Advanced Training for teachers of Social Sciences – in 1967, the first, and the only one then, Department of Quantum Chemistry – in 1967, the Department of Lithology and Marine Geology – in 1967. New laboratories were created at the Research Institute of Biology of the University: ontogenesis and electron microscopy (1967); physiological genetics and behavioral neuroscience (1968); microbial genetics and cytogenetics, phytoacarology, plant genetics and cytogenetics (1969). In 1968, a patent service and the department of nuclear geophysics were established at the University.

During Kondratyev’s rectorship, organizational principles of development and frameworks of not only exact sciences, but also social sciences changed qualitatively.

In 1969, Kondratyev was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour for achievements in research and training specialists.

The rector paid great attention to the international cooperation of the University. A partnership agreement between St Petersburg University and Carleton University (Canada) was signed in 1968. The same year, a university-wide department of foreign languages was established for the University professors sent on assignments abroad. Annually, around 500 foreign scientists visited Leningrad State University to conduct joint research, exchange work experience and expertise, do internships, etc. Annually, over one thousand people – professors, lecturers, research scientists, students and postgraduate students – went on assignments abroad. In the late 1960-s, awarding Doctor Honoris Causa was resumed at the University. The American astronaut Alan Shepard, the second person to orbit the Earth (after Yuri Gagarin), who participated in the Lunar expedition, received Honorary Doctorate at the University.

The American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo crew, sent Kondratyev a movie about their Lunar expedition. At that time, Kondratyev was Vice-President of the International Astronautical Association.

After leaving the University, Kondratyev focused on the work at the Main Geophysical Observatory is St. Petersburg – from 1958 to 1981 he was Head of the Department of Radiation Studies there. From 1982 to 1992 he was Head of the Remote Sensing Laboratory at the Institute for Lake Research. A full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, he was a Counsellor of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the Research Centre for Ecological Safety from 1992, and he was among the founders of the the Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NIERSC) in St. Petersburg.

In his scientific papers, Kondratyev identified the main trends in modern environmental development and tried to determine the direction of development of terrestrial civilization in the new millennium. He formulated a philosophy of this development for the society. The main postulate which determines the meaning of life of each person – life preservation and continuation on the Earth.

The exposition “Kondratyev‘s Universe” presents materials from the family archive of the Kondratyevs, handed over by his widow Svetlana I. Kondratyeva to the Museum of History of St Petersburg University.