Moscow Academy of Mines

one of the first Soviet educational and research institutions for mining and allied sciences. It was established in 1918 by a decree of the Council of People’s Commissars; at first it consisted of education, study, and science sectors for training operators, technicians, and engineers and for studying scientific problems. The science sector consisted of divisions for geological prospecting, ore mining, and metallurgy. Specialization during educational studies was a basic principle of the training of technical personnel. In 1921 the structure of the academy was changed; departments of geological prospecting, mining, and metallurgy became functional as parts of the academy.

Among the noted scientists who worked at the Moscow Academy of Mines were A. P. Pavlov, P. P. Lazarev, V. A. Obruchev, N. M. Fedorovskii, G. F. Mirchink, I. M. Gubkin (first rector of the academy), B. I. Bokii, A. M. Terpigorev, A. A. Skochinskii, M. A. Pavlov, N. S. Vereshchagin, I. I. Boborykov, N. A. Minkevich, K. P. Grigorovich, and B. V. Stark. Many of the academy’s alumni became Soviet statesmen and organizers and administrators of sectors of Soviet industry; among them were A. P. Zaveniagin, I. T. Tevosian, P. Ia. Antropov, L. G. Mel’nikov, E. P. Slavskii, V. P. Eliutin, D. G. Onika, and Iu. A. Pankratov. Others, including A. M. Samarin, N. S. Shatskii, G. V. Bogomolov, M. I. Varentsov, V. S. Emel’-ianov, A. S. Il’ichev, V. V. Rzhevskii, and D. M. Chizhikov, became noted scientists. In 1930, institutes of mining, geological prospecting, petroleum, peat, steel, and nonferrous metals and gold were established from the academy.