Roald Sagdeev honored to the highest award of Republic of Tatarstan

Roald Sagdeev, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and Academy of Science of the Republic of Tatarstan (AS RT), Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland (USA) who celebrated his 80th anniversary on December, 26 is awarded the Order "For Services for the Republic of Tatarstan" by President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. The solemn event was attended by AS RT President Ahmed Mazgarov, director of the RAS Oceanology Institute Robert Nigmatulin, brother of the jubilee - Russian chemist, academician of the RAS, Doctor of Chemical Sciences Renad Sagdeev and others.

By greeting the jubilee the President of Tatarstan said that Roald Sagdeev's life began in Tatarstan. "You have always been with us. Even though we were far away from each other we feel the full support of your family, we are working with your brother very closely", - said R. Minnikhanov. "Your achievements in physics, space exploration projects, projects on training of your students, etc. are an example for the younger generation, for all of us. We are really proud of you", - quotes Information Agency "Tatar-Inform".

Roald Sagdeev said that it is the most valuable prize in his life. When somebody tells him he is Russian he always emphasizes that he is Tatar. The jubilee told that in the mid-90s when the administration of U.S. President Bill Clinton began to expand NATO to the east a movement against the expansion was created. Its Exe­cutive Secretary was R. Sagdeev's wife Susan Eisenhower. In one of the discussions which was shown on TV one of the NATO expansion supporters said: "Susan, your position is clear, your husband is Russian". She replied:" No, he is Tatar".

As Ahmet Mazgarov mentioned, despite being busy Roald Sagdeev pays great attention to the AS RT. He wished Roald Sagdeev many years of collaborative work for the benefit and prosperity of the world science and science in Tatarstan. In his turn, Robert Nigmatulin stressed that Roald Sagdeev opened the gate to the Academy for Tatars. He has become a legend of modern physics and has always been an example for scientists.

For information: Roald Sagdeev was born in Moscow in a Tatar family. At 4, he moved to Kazan with his parents. He graduated from Moscow State University.

He worked at the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, he was a director of the Space Research Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1973-1988). Corresponding Member of the USSR AS in the department of Physics and Astronomy (since 1964), academician of the USSR AS (since 1968). He has been working at the University of Maryland, College Park (USA) since 1989.

Roald Sagdeev is considered to be one of the founders of modern plasma physics and the founder of the neoclassical theory of transport processes in toroidal plasma. He is an author of proceedings in plasma physics (shock waves, transport processes, instability), the problem of controlled thermonuclear fusion, space physics.

He supervised a number of unique research programs on "Kosmos", "Prognoz", "Intercosmos", "Meteor", "Astron", "Mars", "Venera" spacecrafts, orbital complexes "Soyuz", "Salute". Scientific director of the "Vega" project, which was first implemented in the wide scientific cooperation, etc.

A member of the Max Planck Society (Germany), a foreign member of the US National Academy. One of the leaders of the international movement of scientists for peace. He headed the Committee of Soviet Scientists against nuclear threat. He wrote the book "The View from the black hole," in which, using the "mathematical tool and physical intuition ',  he described the modern social processes.

In 1984 he was awarded (in collaboration) the Lenin Prize for the creation of the neoclassical theory of transport processes in toroidal plasma. He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution and the Red Banner of Labor.

*** The ceremony of Roald Sagdeev's honoring continued at the Academy of Sciences. The anniversary celebration was attended by the rector of Kazan Federal University Ilshat Gafurov, Chairman of the State Council of RT Farid Mukhametshin, First Deputy Prime Minister of RT Ravil Muratov, president of AS RT Ahmet Mazgarov, heads of ministries, representatives of Tatarstan academic community.