The Eleventh Convention on the Fundamental Problems of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics started at KFU on August 20th.
The Convention is organized by Kazan Federal University, Russian National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics and Machine Manufacturing of the Kazan Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan National Research Technical University, and the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan.
The first convention was held in Moscow in 1960, after that Kyiv, Almaty, Tashkent, Perm, Nizhny Novgorod were the hosting cities as well. Head of the organizing committee, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Goryacheva said that this is an anniversary of sorts because 55 years have passed since the first convention. She added that mechanics is the basis of technical progress, and Kazan was chosen to host because of its recent rapid development and successful research schools.
Among those who addressed the delegates were Aide to the President of Russia Andrei Fursenko, Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin, Rector of KFU Ilshat Gafurov, and others. Mr. Fursenko read out President Vladimir Putin's greeting, 'Our country is rightfully proud of a number of prominent scientists who made vital contributions to theoretical and applied mechanics. All the fundamental works and breakthrough inventions have formed the basis of many newest technologies and have moved the Russian economy, our aviation-space and defense industries forward'. Mr. Fursenko also said that Russian mechanics is among the best in the world. A vast number of industries rely on mechanics to solve their problems. Mechanics is the basis for modelling which can be applicable everywhere from sociology to economics to logistics.
Mr. Mukhametshin read out Interim President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov's address, 'Researchers' efficiency always determined social progress. Economic development and the creation of new technologies are impossible without your hard work. Research in mechanics addresses many pertinent and vital issues of contemporary society. They are crucial for the development of machine manufacturing, petrochemistry, construction, transportation, aerospace, and defense industries. Kazan is one of centers of such research in Russia'.
Chairman of the State Council also noted that Kazan has become a venue for many major international events – 2013 Universiade, 2015 FINA World Championships, and many others; that Kazan is also one of the centers of oil and gas research and nanotech.
The addresses by President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Fortov and Head of the Federal Agency of Science Organizations Mikhail Kotyukov were also read out for the public.
In his speech Rector of KFU Ilshat Gafurov said, 'History of mechanics at Kazan University starts with Nikolai Lobachevsky, Alexander Popov and Ivan Kotelnikov. Big explorations and important results were yielded by I. Gromeka, E. Bolotov, N. Parfentiev. The great Nikolai Chetaev also worked here for a long time'.
Speaking about present day, Dr. Gafurov mentioned that the University has many small innovative enterprises and joint ventures with industrial giants like NKNK. The University participates in the Competitiveness Program and Pharma-2020 Federal Program.
Damir Gubaydullin, Director of the Institute of Mechanics and Machine Manufacturing of the Kazan Center of RAS, also addressed the attendees. Academician V. Babeshko received the Academician Ishlinsky Medal, Academician R. Nigmatullin – gold medal 'For the Achievements in Scientific Research'.
The 11th Convention will close on August 24th. The discussions will be held in four panels – General and Applied Mechanics, Mechanics of Liquid and Gas, Mechanics of Deformable Solids, and Interdisciplinary Subpanel. More than 1 250 papers will be presented.
The Convention also includes the 3rd Russian School of Young Researchers in Mechanics and a session of the Russian National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.