Academy of Sciences of the USSR

The Academy of Sciences of the USSR is one of the oldest institutions in the country. It was established by Peter the Great in St. Petersburg almost 250 years ago and became the centre of scientific thought in Russia. As far back as the 18th Century the Academy had prominent scientists such as Mikhail Lomonosov and Ste­ pan Krasheninnikov. In subsequent years, M. Ostrogradsky, P. Lebedev, I. Sechenov, I. Mechnikov, P. Chebyshev, A. Kovalevsky, A. Butlerov and many others worked there. After the Revolution, the Academy became the centre of scientific train­ ing for the Soviet Union. In his article “Draft Plan of Scientific and Tech­ nical Work” V. I. Lenin substantiated a large-scale programme of activities for the Academy of Sciences and all research institutions of Soviet Russia for many years to come. The gradual reorganization of the Academy and its strengthening as the highest scientific centre of the country took place dur­ ing the period from 1917 to 1936. In 1925 it was given the status of the Highest Scientific Institution of the country and the name “The Academy of Sciences of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”. The most signi­ ficant changes in the organization of the Academy were carried out in the 1930s when it transferred from Lenin­ grad to Moscow and new scientific branches and bases were set up in the provinces.