The general information about the Institute

The Institute of Limnology of the Russian Academy of Science was founded on the basis of Limnology Laboratory organized in 1944 y. by the initiative of notable scientist - limnologist G.J.Vereshchagina in the structure of the Branch of Geological and Geographical Sciences of AS USSR. In 1971 y. the Laboratory was transformed to the Institute of Limnology (LI AS USSR). Now, the Institute of Limnology as a legal entity acts under the direct scientific leadership of the Branch of Oceanology, Atmospheric Physics, and Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

The Laboratory, and later, the Institute of Limnology were headed by such prominent Academicians - N.M.Strahov, D.V.Nalivkin, S.V.Kalesnik and A.F.Treshnikov and Corresponding Member of AS of USSR O.A.Alekin.

The Institute of Limnology is proud of its famous history. Known scientists worked here: five of them were Academicians of the Russian Academy of Science and 3 were Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Science. Many scientists received high government awards for there important contribution in the development of national and global science: three of them had title “the Hero of Socialist Work”, five received the State premiums on a science and engineering, twenty-five scientists were awarded governmental awards and medals, and five scientists had a title of “ the Honored scientist of the Russian Federation ”. Many employees of the Institute are a laureates of various special premiums of the Academy of sciences, Russian and International scientific organizations.

Two Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Science, twenty Professors and Doctors of sciences and forty three Candidates of sciences work in the Institute at present. All of them are highly qualified experts in the various branches of scientific knowledge: geography, hydrology, hydrochemistry, geochemistry, hydrobiology, ichthyology, ecology, ecotoxicology, mathematics, and economics.

The scientific - organizational structure of the Institute comprises 4 scientific laboratories and 6 auxiliary subdivisions. Research-and-production organization “Technobios Group” and educational establishment - the St.-Petersburg Institute of raising the level of one's skill and retraining of experts on wildlife management, ecological safety and preservation of the environment exist attached to the Institute.

The Institute of Limnology is the leading scientific institute of Russia in limnology branch of science. Limnology is an integrated science. Its purpose is thorough investigation of aquatic basins in complex interaction of the physical, chemical, geological, geographical, biological processes and taking into account man's impact. The basic objects of limnological researches are water bodies characterized by slow water exchange (lakes, storage reservoirs, estuaries). These objects of nature have always been of a great importance for the life of man. However, the deterioration of ecological conditions results in catastrophic loss of their important natural characteristics or to theirs complete disappearance.

The activity of Institute of Limnology is connected with:

• development of theoretical and applied foundation in limnology;
• methods of the in-depth complex study of structural and functional features of lake ecosystems;
• restoration of lakes and water reservoirs;
• their use for the purposes of drinking water supply, fish culture and recreation;
• the decision of problems of lakes monitoring and basin management;
• rational use of their natural resources.

The institute surveyed lakes and reservoirs practically in all regions of the former Soviet Union: Kamchatka, Sakhalin, the Far East, Kazakhstan, Pamir, Tien Shan, Ural, Kola peninsula, Taymyr, the European territory of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine. Together with foreign experts were carried out scientific researches in Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Mongolia, Canada, the USA, etc.

For experimental and expedition researches the Institute has:

• scientifical methodical department on Lake Krasnoe (Karelian Isthmus, Leningrad region);
• expeditionary base on Lake Ladoga (settlement Impilahti, Karelia) and Lake Onego (settlement Sujsar, Karelia);
• research vessel "Talan".

The Institute is involved in the postgraduate training of qualified specialists. There are 5 specialities with the framework of geographical and biological sciences. The Specialized Dissertational Council on protection of a doctor's and candidate's dissertation works in the Institute.

The source of the Institute financing is the state budgeting, target financing under the state scientific programs, competitive projects of the Russian Fund of Fundamental Research, some international projects (e.g., INTAS, TACIS), and contracts with companies interested in specific research.