The modern Russian Academy of Sciences is the heiress of the St. Petersburg Academy, founded under Peter l. Of course, the current academy has a more complex structure and other technical equipment, but its role for Russian society is as great as the role of the Petrine Academy. The Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg is represented by a Scientific Center specializing in basic research in the field of physics and other exact sciences.
A brief history of the development of science in St. Petersburg
The Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg was founded in 1724 and became the first professional institution for scientists and researchers. Over the first few decades, a significant role in the development of Russian science and the Academy in particular was played by its foreign members, many of whom were personally invited by Peter l.
At the Academy were created:
- library;
- Museum
- University
- physical and chemical laboratories;
- anatomical theater;
- art workshops;
- typography.
The historic building of the St. Petersburg Academy is located on the University Embankment of Vasilyevsky Island, and its architect was the great Giacomo Quarenghi. The Kunstkamera is located in close proximity to it. In a form close to the original, the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg lasted until 1925, when it was transformed into the USSR Academy of Sciences. Later, the central office of the Academy was transferred to Moscow and a new stage in the development of this institution began.
The foundation of the St. Petersburg Scientific Center
The St. Petersburg Ran Scientific Center was founded in 1984. Its first leader was academician Glebov, who was replaced in 1989 by Zhores Alferov, who still remains in his post.
The most important task that has been posed to the Center since its inception is the comprehensive promotion of the development of fundamental science, including social science. According to the founders, fundamental humanitarian research can significantly change the living conditions in the region with the rational use of intellectual resources.
The most important governing body of the Scientific Center is the interdisciplinary scientific council, which coordinates the activities of various institutes and laboratories that are part of the St. Petersburg branch of the Academy of Sciences. Such advice is necessary, since five institutes are engaged in physical research in St. Petersburg alone, and there are also chemistry, mathematics, earth sciences, nanotechnology, biology, medicine, mechanics, philology and some others.
Historical Monuments of the Academy
In addition to the historical building on the University Embankment in St. Petersburg, where the Academy of Sciences is located, the institution has at its disposal several more important architectural monuments.
On Palace Embankment, house number 18, in the immediate vicinity of the Winter Palace, the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences is located. This most important scientific institution was created in 1818. It all started with the organization of the Asian Museum, on the basis of which scientific and ethnographic studies of the region began, which was of great interest to the empire at that time.
Building history
The building in which the Institute is located today once served as the official residence of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich - the son of Emperor Nicholas l. The magnificent palace was built in an eclectic style in 1857 according to the project of the then fashionable architect Shtakenschneider.
Thanks to its magnificent appearance and beauty, the photos of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg are very popular. The facades of many scientific institutions are a real decoration of urban architecture.
Pushkin House
One more address of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg is Makarov Embankment, house No. 5. The Institute of Russian Literature, also known as the Pushkin House, is located in this historic building of the port customs.
This academic institute began its history in 1905, when the first exhibition dedicated to the history of Alexander Pushkin took place. Later, the charter of the organization was adopted, a collection dedicated to the life of the great Russian poet began to form, and on the basis of this material and the archive of documents, scientific activity began to be carried out.
Thus, the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg is represented not only by institutes working with the natural sciences, but also by humanitarian research centers.