HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Alexei (also Aleksei, Alexey, Aleksey) L. Semenov (also Semyonov, Semёnov) (Russian: Алексей Львович Семенов; born 1950) is a Russian mathematician, educationalist,
Academician An academician is a full member of an artistic, literary, engineering, or scientific academy. In many countries, it is an honorific title used to denote a full member of an academy that has a strong influence on national scientific life. Accor ...
of the
Russian Academy of Sciences The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS; ''Rossíyskaya akadémiya naúk'') consists of the national academy of Russia; a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation; and additional scientific and social units such ...
, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education, Head of the Department of Mathematical Logic and Theory of Algorithms, Lomonosov State University,
Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...
, and Dr. Sc.


Early life and education

Alexei Semenov was born in 1950 in Moscow to a family of electronic and computer engineers. He graduated from Moscow school No. 7 and the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1972. He completed a Candidate of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics degree (
Moscow State University Moscow State University (MSU), officially M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University,. is a public university, public research university in Moscow, Russia. The university includes 15 research institutes, 43 faculties, more than 300 departments, a ...
in 1975 under scientific advisor Albert Muchnik. His dissertation was titled ''«On definability in some decidable theories».'' He also received a
Doctor of Sciences A Doctor of Sciences, abbreviated д-р наук or д. н.; ; ; ; is a higher doctoral degree in the Russian Empire, Soviet Union and many Commonwealth of Independent States countries. One of the prerequisites of receiving a Doctor of Sciences ...
in Physics and Mathematics from
Steklov Institute of Mathematics Steklov Institute of Mathematics or Steklov Mathematical Institute () is a premier research institute based in Moscow, specialized in mathematics, and a part of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The institute is named after Vladimir Andreevich Stek ...
in 1984, with his dissertation titled ''«Logical Theories of One-place Functions on Integers»''.


Career and Research

Semenov conducted his research in the field of
mathematical logic Mathematical logic is the study of Logic#Formal logic, formal logic within mathematics. Major subareas include model theory, proof theory, set theory, and recursion theory (also known as computability theory). Research in mathematical logic com ...
,
cybernetic Cybernetics is the transdisciplinary study of circular causal processes such as feedback and recursion, where the effects of a system's actions (its outputs) return as inputs to that system, influencing subsequent action. It is concerned with ...
s,
theoretical computer science Theoretical computer science is a subfield of computer science and mathematics that focuses on the Abstraction, abstract and mathematical foundations of computation. It is difficult to circumscribe the theoretical areas precisely. The Associati ...
,
artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...
, and education.


Mathematics

His major field in mathematical logic is definability theory. He is well known for his decidability results, Cobham–Semenov Theorem, symbolic dynamics applications, and lattices of definability descriptions. His student Andrey Muchnik solved
Michael O. Rabin Michael Oser Rabin (; born September 1, 1931) is an Israeli mathematician, computer scientist, and recipient of the Turing Award. Biography Early life and education Rabin was born in 1931 in Breslau, Germany (today Wrocław, in Poland), th ...
's problem, posed at the
International Congress of Mathematicians The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) is the largest conference for the topic of mathematics. It meets once every four years, hosted by the International Mathematical Union (IMU). The Fields Medals, the IMU Abacus Medal (known before ...
in Nice. Muchnik and Semenov solved a problem of
Andrey Kolmogorov Andrey Nikolaevich Kolmogorov ( rus, Андре́й Никола́евич Колмого́ров, p=ɐnˈdrʲej nʲɪkɐˈlajɪvʲɪtɕ kəlmɐˈɡorəf, a=Ru-Andrey Nikolaevich Kolmogorov.ogg, 25 April 1903 – 20 October 1987) was a Soviet ...
from his work originated descriptive complexity theory. He also contributed to the foundations of the theory of algorithms and theory of randomness. Among other his students ar
Alexei LisitsaYuri PritykinTatyana Starikovskaya
and Vladimir Vovk.


Computing and AI

Semenov started work in practical computing at age 14 in cooperation with his mother, specifically in speech recognition in the group of Dmitry Pospelov. He participated in the last Soviet attempt to construct a supercomputer in 1986. In the last years he developed a concept of individual extended by digital instruments and media. The concept furthers the vision of
Lev Vygotsky Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky (, ; ; – June 11, 1934) was a Russian and Soviet psychologist, best known for his work on psychological development in children and creating the framework known as cultural-historical activity theory. After his ear ...
, Josef M. Feigenberg,
Sherry Turkle Sherry Turkle (born June 18, 1948) is an American sociologist. She is the Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She obtained a BA in social studies and lat ...
,
Andy Clark Andy Clark, (born 1957) is a British philosopher who is Professor of Cognitive Philosophy at the University of Sussex. Prior to this, he was a professor of philosophy and Chair in Logic and Metaphysics at the University of Edinburgh in Scotla ...
and Michel Serres to the educational context of mass school.


Education: Theory and Implementation

Alexei Semenov’s theoretical and practical work in education originated in his involvement as a student, and later, as a teacher in the Nikolay Konstantinov’s math schools. His educational philosophy is rooted in the “learning-by-doing” method of Robert Lee Moore,
Paul Halmos Paul Richard Halmos (; 3 March 1916 – 2 October 2006) was a Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian-born United States, American mathematician and probabilist who made fundamental advances in the areas of mathematical logic, probability theory, operat ...
, and Russian mathematical circles constructionist approach of
Seymour Papert Seymour Aubrey Papert (; 29 February 1928 – 31 July 2016) was a South African-born American mathematician, computer scientist, and educator, who spent most of his career teaching and researching at MIT. He was one of the pioneers of artif ...
. Prof. Semenov's approach to learning and teaching math and computer science in primary school is based on
Inquiry-based learning Inquiry-based learning (also spelled as enquiry-based learning in British English) is a form of active learning that starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios. It contrasts with traditional education, which generally relies on the teach ...
, mathematical experimenting by learners, language development, emphasizing visual (on screen and paper) and palpable (manipulatives, moving objects) environments of strings, bags, tables, games, and robots as the basis for all math. This includes, but is not limited by, numerical (arithmetic), priority of solving problems-not-known-how-to-solve over drill-and-practice, and using computer for all routine tasks. In 1985, he was the organizer and co-author of the first computer science textbook for all Soviet schools (editor and co-author – academician A. P. Ershov). Later he was the leader of the authors' teams for textbooks in mathematics and computer science for primary and secondary schools. In 1987, following his work in the Academy of Sciences, he originated a not-for-profit Institute of New Technologies (INT) that introduced the constructionist philosophy into Russian schools and started cooperation of INT and other Russian educators with Papert's group at
MIT Media Lab The MIT Media Lab is a research laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, growing out of MIT's Architecture Machine Group in the MIT School of Architecture and Planning, School of Architecture. Its research does not restrict to fi ...
,
Blagovest Sendov Blagovest Hristov Sendov (; 8 February 1932 – 19 January 2020) was a Bulgarian mathematician, diplomat and politician. Early life and education Sendov was born in Asenovgrad, Bulgaria. Career Academic Sendov was the rector of Sofia Univer ...
's Problem Group on Education at
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (abbreviated BAS; , ''Bŭlgarska akademiya na naukite'', abbreviated БАН) is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy, with headquarters in Sofia, is autonomous and consists of a S ...
, Robert Tinker's group a
TERCLCSIKey Curriculum Press
''. So INT produced Russian adaptations, learning and teaching materials for Logo, educational LEGO, Geometer’s Sketchpad, etc. Semenov initiated and led in cooperation with Sergey Soprunov the project of Logo-style learning environment for pre-literacy pre-numeracy children, recognized by S. Papert in his book "The Connected Family". In 2017–2019, he led design and implementation for a system of resultative education (personalized competence-based learning) for Russian schools. In 2019, Alexei Semenov organized a 3-year Program «Fundamental Scientific Support for the Digitalization of General Education» in Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research. As a result of the expert selection, 62 teams from 12 regions of Russia received financial support. "Charter for the Digital Way of School" (2021) is one of the outcomes created as part of the work on the program as a result of a dialogue between the participants of the Program and other prominent figures of Russian education. In 2021, he started a master's Program at
Moscow State University Moscow State University (MSU), officially M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University,. is a public university, public research university in Moscow, Russia. The university includes 15 research institutes, 43 faculties, more than 300 departments, a ...
on AI and Digital Technologies. In 2022, he reorganized the basic undergraduate course on Mathematical logic and theory of algorithms as a complete problem-solving course in the style of
Paul Halmos Paul Richard Halmos (; 3 March 1916 – 2 October 2006) was a Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian-born United States, American mathematician and probabilist who made fundamental advances in the areas of mathematical logic, probability theory, operat ...
. In 2022, Alexei Semenov became the leader of compiling the New Russian Mathematical Encyclopedia as a source for digital
Great Russian Encyclopedia The ''Great Russian Encyclopedia'' (''GRE''; , БРЭ, transliterated as ''Bolshaya rossiyskaya entsiklopediya'' or academically as ''Bol'šaja rossijskaja ènciklopedija'') is a universal Russian encyclopedia, completed in 36 volumes, publishe ...
, where he became a vice-chairman. In 2022–2023, he initiated a project of primary school meta-subject "Future World". In all school subjects' students are introduced to the future by doing its pieces now in such modules like "Introduction" (children to each other, to the teacher, the tablet, and network), "Organization" (keeping myself in time), "Communication" (video-audio-text, as recording the first memory of the eldest in the family), etc.


Teaching and Research Positions

He taught at the Moscow school No. 7
Andrey Kolmogorov boarding school
at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and at th
Department of Mathematical Logic
Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics at
Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow State University (MSU), officially M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University,. is a public research university in Moscow, Russia. The university includes 15 research institutes, 43 faculties, more than 300 departments, and six branches. Al ...
. He was the President and CEO (Rector) of the Moscow Institute of Open Education (1993–2013), which was responsible for the professional development, in-service training, guidance and consulting of all 100,000 Moscow teachers. In 2002 he recreated School No. 179 and returned the mathematician and teacher Nikolay Konstantinov to work there. He was the President and CEO (Rector) of the Moscow State Pedagogical University (2013–2016) – the leading teacher-training institution in the country. He is the Director of Axel Berg Institute of Cybernetics and Educational Computing FRC CSC Russian Academy of Sciences (2015 – now). He is the Head of the Department of Mathematical Logic and Theory of Algorithms MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics (2018 – now). He is the Senior expert at th
Institute of Education of Higher School of Economics
(Moscow) (2017 – now). He was the Editor-in-Chief of the ''« Kvant magazine»'' (2012–2018). He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Doklady Mathematics (from 2021). He served as invited editor to volumes of
Theoretical Computer Science Theoretical computer science is a subfield of computer science and mathematics that focuses on the Abstraction, abstract and mathematical foundations of computation. It is difficult to circumscribe the theoretical areas precisely. The Associati ...
and MDPI – Mathematics (2022, 2023) (see List of MDPI academic journals.) He is the author of over 200 scientific papers in mathematics, computer science and education.


International Activities

Alexei Semenov participated in numerous international activities of mathematical and ICT educators. Alexei Semenov's vision was supported and disseminated by
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
with the help of recommendations for primary education as well as for general education. Later, he participated in the teams led by Ivan Kalaš that created recommendations for preschool education and primary education. He participated in the creation of UNESCO recommendations on ICT for teacher education. Professor Alexei Semenov's activities and influence were later recognized by UNESCO Prize on ICT in Education. Alexei Semenov was the national coordinator o
Second Information Technology in Education Study: SITES 2006
member o
International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030
etc. In 1989, he initiated and played a critical role in the return of international organization on technologies in education ORT (originated in
St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city had a population of 5,601, ...
in 1880) into USSR and Central Europe, where he served as a member of Board of Trustees and co-chair of Academic Advisory Council of the organization. In 2007–2009, he served as a member of the Executive Committee of th
International Commission on Mathematical Instruction


Awards and honours

* Academician of the
Russian Academy of Sciences The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS; ''Rossíyskaya akadémiya naúk'') consists of the national academy of Russia; a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation; and additional scientific and social units such ...
in the Division of Mathematical Sciences (since 2011). * Academician of the Russian Academy of Education (since 2010). * UNESCO – King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize in 2009 – for the application of information and communication technologies in education. * Kolmogorov Prize in 2006 – for outstanding achievements in the field of mathematics for the series of works «On the refinement of A.N. Kolmogorov, related to the theory of chance». He won this award alongside mathematician Andrey Muchnik. * The President of the Russian Federation Award in the field of education in 1998 – headed the team for the development and implementation of a comprehensive program for informatization of education in the Moscow region. * Russian Federation Government Prize in the field of education in 2009 – for the development of the project «Informatization of the education system of the Russian Federation». The prize was awarded by the order of the Government of the Russian Federation of 28.08.2009 No. 1246-r.


Personal life

His wife is E. I. Bulin–Sokolova, a graduate of the
Moscow State University Moscow State University (MSU), officially M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University,. is a public university, public research university in Moscow, Russia. The university includes 15 research institutes, 43 faculties, more than 300 departments, a ...
, an educator, and a doctor of pedagogical Sciences. Children: with Galina Sheina: Maria Possitselskaya (1974) – teacher, author of math textbooks for elementary school, Daria Semenova (1979) – singer, teacher, author of music textbooks, with Tatiana Rudchenko: Mikhail Semenov (1992) – startup entrepreneur, with E. I. Bulin-Sokolova: Marfa Bulin-Sokolova (1994) – architectural designer, Fedor Bulin-Sokolov (1995) – financial analyst, Anna Semenova (1999) – psychologist, Nikolay Semenov (2001) – photographer, Andrey Semenov (2004) – fashion model and software developer, Ivan Semenov – high school student. Grandchildren: Alexandra Semenova – linguist, Ekaterina Possitselsky – molecular biologist, Dmitry, Anastasiya, Grigory, Timothey, Kirill – students, Olga – preschool. A big role in the life of A. L. Semenov was played by a meeting in 1979 with Jana Ryšlinková and subsequent relations with her.


References


External links

* * * Source: * * *
Alexei Semenov — personal page on ISTINA MSU

Alexei Semenov — personal page on Math-Net.ru

Alexei Semenov — personal page on GoogleScholar
{{DEFAULTSORT:Semyonov, Alexey Russian mathematicians Russian computer scientists Living people Moscow State University alumni Academic staff of Moscow State University Soviet mathematicians Soviet computer scientists 1950 births