Eugeny Fortov
RussiaEarly Life and Education
Born on January 23, 1946, in Noginsk, Moscow Oblast, the physicist was of Russian descent. In 1968, he graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with a degree in "Thermodynamics and Aerodynamics." He continued his studies at the institute's graduate school, completing it in 1971.
Academic Career
The physicist earned his doctorate in Physical and Mathematical Sciences in 1976. His dissertation focused on "Investigation of Non-Ideal Plasma Using Dynamic Methods." From 1971 to 1986, he worked at the Institute of Chemical Physics of the Academy of Sciences.
In 1986, the physicist became the Head of the Department at the Institute of High Temperatures (IVTAN) of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. In 1987, he was elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in the Division of Physical and Technical Problems of Energy, becoming the country's youngest academician at the time (as of 1996).
Leadership Roles
From 1992 to 1993, the physicist served as Director of the Research Center for Thermophysics of Impulse Effects at IVTAN. In 1993, he became the Chairman of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), a position he held until April 1997.
In 1995, the physicist was appointed Deputy Academic Secretary of the Division of Physical and Technical Problems of Energy of RAS and Chairman of the RAS Scientific Council on Low-Temperature Plasma Physics.
Government and Administrative Positions
From August 17, 1996, to March 17, 1997, the physicist served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation on Science and Technology (GKNT). In the fall of 1996, he became Vice President of RAS. On March 17, 1997, he was appointed Minister of Science and Technology of the Russian Federation, a position he held until 2000.
