In 1935, Professor K.M. Deryugin petitioned the Government, addressing the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union V.M. Molotov, for the organization of a biological station. On March 10, 1935, the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union issued Decree No. 501-50 to establish a station of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union in the Zelenetskaya Bay.
On March 11, a ceremonial meeting of the Academic Council (a scientific session) was held, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the MBS–MMBI. Following the opening address, the Director of MMBI, Mikhail Vladimirovich Makarov, took the anniversary guests through the Institute's extensive history: from the first Arctic research on the Solovetsky Islands, to the creation of the Murmansk Biological Station, its reorganization into the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, and its relocation to the city of Murmansk. Next, Mikhail Vladimirovich read out congratulations from the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Denis Sekirinsky, and the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Gennady Krasnikov.
The First Deputy Governor of the Murmansk Region Oksana Demchenko thanked, first and foremost, the veterans of science and wished them many discoveries and success. She also solemnly presented the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", II Class to Denis Moiseev. The Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Gennady Matishov delivered a report on "Research of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Polar Region: History and Prospects." Furthermore, as an honorary guest, he presented the "300 Years of the Russian Academy of Sciences" medals to outstanding MMBI research scientists of – Grigory Voskoboinikov, Natalya Lebedeva, Pavel Makarevich, and Mikhail Makarov. The ceremonial presentation of awards from the city and regional administration to distinguished Institute staff was conducted by the Chairman of the Murmansk Regional Duma Sergei Dubovoy, the Deputy Chairman of the Murmansk Regional Duma Gennady Stepakhno, and the First Deputy Head of the Murmansk City Ivan Lebedev. They thanked the scientists for their work and wished them further development in their challenging work for the benefit of our country. As honorary guests, we were also visited by the Minister of Education and Science of the Murmansk Region Diana Kuznetsova, and the Deputy Head of the Border Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the Western Arctic District Dmitry Karpov.
A whole page would not be enough to list all the kind words, incredibly pleasant congratulations, and wishes addressed to us on that day from our respected and dear friends and colleagues in the field: Director of the Southern Scientific Centre Sergey Berdnikov, First Deputy General Director of the Federal Research Centre "Kola Science Centre of the RAS" Vladimir Dyadik, Head of PINRO Vyacheslav Mukhin, Vice-Rector for Educational Activities of the "Murmansk Arctic University" Viktoria Yatsenko, Director of the Polar Geophysical Institute Igor Mingalev. To Igor Viktorovich and the team of PGI, we express a particular immense gratitude for providing the venue and assisting in organizing the event!
Expeditionary research forms a significant part of the Institute's life, so the scientific part of the event was opened by reports dedicated to work on the research vessel "Dalnie Zelenetsy" by Pavel Makarevich and Denis Moiseev. Long-term research of Russia's southern seas also holds an important place in MMBI's history. The creation of the Institute's Azov Branch, which later grew into the Southern Scientific Centre, was described by its Director Sergey Berdnikov. Next, heads and leading researchers from scientific departments presented reports on the activities of their laboratories and their main scientific achievements. The extensive program of the Academic Council continued on March 12; you can view it via the link.
Media coverage: GTRK Murman, TV-21, Severpost, Arktic-TV, Komsomolskaya Pravda.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all guests of the Ceremonial Meeting in honor of the 90th anniversary of MMBI – our colleagues and friends, journalists, and representatives of the Murmansk regional and city administration. We hope to celebrate our 95th anniversary just as warmly!
