Vavilov S.I., (1891-1951), physicist

Categories / Science. Education/Personalia
VAVILOV Sergey Ivanovich (1891-1951), physicist, founder of the Soviet Scientific School of Optical Physics, Member (1932) and President (1945-51) of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Brother of N I. Vavilov. Graduated from Moscow University (1914). Lived in Leningrad from 1932. Worked at the Physical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, becoming its director in 1932, and research supervisor of the State Optics Institute (today named after Vavilov). Author of fundamental works on optical physics, mainly on luminescence and its practical application. The radiation from Cherenkov was discovered under Vavilov's guidance. Popularised science, wrote about the philosophy of natural science and the history of science. Served as the Znanie All-Union Society first chairman (1947). Editor-in-chief of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (from 1949). Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 1946. Vavilov was awarded the Stalin Prize (1943, 1946, 1951, 1952 posthumously). Between 1932 and 1951, Vavilov lived and worked at 12 Birzhevaya Line (memorial plaque installed). In 1967, the new passage between Nauki Avenue and Doroga na Ozerki Street, was named after Vavilov and his brother.

References: Левшин Л. В. Сергей Иванович Вавилов. М., 1977; Келер В. Р. Сергей Вавилов. М., 1984; Сергей Иванович Вавилов: Очерки и воспоминания. 3-е изд., доп. М., 1991.

O. N. Ansberg. Abaza Alexander Aggeevich
Cherenkov Pavel Alexeevich
Stalin (real name Dzhugashvili) Iosif Vissarionovich
Vavilov Nikolay Ivanovich
Vavilov Sergey Ivanovich
Birzhevaya Line/Saint Petersburg, city, house 12
Vavilovykh St./Saint Petersburg, city
Сергей Иванович Вавилов: Очерки и воспоминания. 3-е изд., доп. М., 1991
Келер В. Р. Сергей Вавилов. М., 1984
Левшин Л. В. Сергей Иванович Вавилов. М., 1977 Russian Academy of Sciences
Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Vavilov State Optical Institute