Nikolay Vasilyevich Belov (; December 14, 1891 – March 6, 1982) was a Soviet and Russian

crystallographer A crystallographer is a type of scientist who practices crystallography, in other words, who studies crystals. Career paths The work of crystallographers spans several academic disciplines, including the life sciences, chemistry, physics, and m ...

geochemist Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing the e ...

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 ...

(1953), and

Hero of Socialist Labour The Hero of Socialist Labour () was an Title of honor, honorific title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries from 1938 to 1991. It represented the highest degree of distinction in the USSR and was awarded for exceptional achievem ...

(1969). Belov worked primarily in the fields of

mineralogy Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical mineralogy, optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifact (archaeology), artifacts. Specific s ...

(particularly

silicates A silicate is any member of a family of polyatomic anions consisting of silicon and oxygen, usually with the general formula , where . The family includes orthosilicate (), metasilicate (), and pyrosilicate (, ). The name is also used for an ...

), determination of

crystal structures In crystallography, crystal structure is a description of ordered arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in a crystalline material. Ordered structures occur from intrinsic nature of constituent particles to form symmetric patterns that repeat a ...

using

X-ray crystallography X-ray crystallography is the experimental science of determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the crystalline structure causes a beam of incident X-rays to Diffraction, diffract in specific directions. By measuring th ...

, and the theory of

symmetry Symmetry () in everyday life refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. In mathematics, the term has a more precise definition and is usually used to refer to an object that is Invariant (mathematics), invariant und ...

, specifically dichromatic, and polychromatic symmetry, a field which Belov founded.

Career

Belov’s career has been summarised in a number of jubilees and obituaries.The editors (1981). ''Nikolai Vasil'evich Belov: ninetieth birthday'', Sov. Phys. Cryst., 26(6), 647-650 * 1921: graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of St. Petersburg with a degree in electrochemistry * 1924: worked as a chemist/analyst at industrial laboratories in St. Petersburg * 1928: directed the chemical laboratory of the Institute of Northern Studies in St. Petersburg * 1933: researcher at the Lomonosov Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences under

Alexander Fersman Alexander Evgenyevich Fersman (; 8 November 1883 – 20 May 1945) was a prominent Soviet Union, Soviet Russian geochemist and mineralogist, and a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (1919–1945). Early life and education Fersman was bor ...

* 1936: researcher at the Institute of Crystallography of the

USSR Academy of Sciences The Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union was the highest scientific institution of the Soviet Union from 1925 to 1991. It united the country's leading scientists and was subordinated directly to the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (u ...

under

Alexei Vasilievich Shubnikov Alexei Vasilievich Shubnikov (; 29March 1887 – 27April 1970) was a Soviet crystallographer and mathematician. Shubnikov was the founding director of the Institute of Crystallography (named after him following his death) of the Academy of Scien ...

* 1936: translated Odd Hassel’s book ''Crystal chemistry'' from German into Russian * 1938: became head of the structural department of the Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography RAS * 1944: received doctorate for his thesis on the structure of ionic crystals and metallic phases * 1946: appointed professor of crystallography and x-ray analysis at Gorky University * 1953: appointed professor of crystallography and crystal chemistry 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 ...

* 1961: appointed head of the department of crystallography of Moscow State University * 1966: elected President of the

International Union of Crystallography The International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) is an organisation devoted to the international promotion and coordination of the science of crystallography. The IUCr is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU). Objectives T ...

Works

Belov was the author or co-author over 1400 academic works.The editors (1981). ''Nikolai Vasil'evich Belov: ninetieth birthday'', Sov. Phys. Cryst., 26(6), 647-650 Books: * ''The structure of ionic crystals and metallic phases'' (1947) * ''Structural crystallography'' (1951) * '' Colored Symmetry'' (1964) * ''Essays on structural mineralogy'' (1976) * ''Real crystal formation processes'' (1977) * ''Aleksey Vasil'yevich Shubnikov'' (1984) Belov’s scientific work on symmetry has been placed into historical context by V.A. Koptsik.Koptsik, V.A. (1968). ''A general sketch of the development of the theory of symmetry and its applications in physical crystallography over the last 50 years'', Sov. Phys. Cryst., 12(5), 667-683

Honours and awards

Medal "For the Defence of Moscow" The Medal "For the Defence of Moscow" () was a World War II campaign medal of the Soviet Union awarded to military and civilians who had participated in the Battle of Moscow. History The Medal "For the Defence of Moscow" was established on May ...

(1944) *

Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" The Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" () was a World War II civilian labour award of the Soviet Union established on June 6, 1945 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to recognise the valian ...

(1946) *

Medal "In Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Moscow" The Medal "In Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Moscow" () was a state commemorative medal of the Soviet Union established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on September 20, 1947 and bestowed to prominent Sovie ...

(1948) * First award of Fedorov Prize (USSR, 1948) * Stalin Prize, first class for scientific work on the atomic structure of minerals (1952) *

Order of the Red Banner of Labour The Order of the Red Banner of Labour () was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to the Soviet state and society in the fields of production, science, culture, literature, the arts, education, sports ...

(1953) * Four

Orders of Lenin The Order of Lenin (, ) was an award named after Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution. It was established by the Central Executive Committee on 6 April 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet ...

(1961, 1969, 1971, 1981) * Gold Medal Exhibition of Economic Achievements of the USSR (1962) *

Lomonosov Gold Medal The Lomonosov Gold Medal ( ''Bol'shaya zolotaya medal' imeni M. V. Lomonosova''), named after Russian scientist and polymath Mikhail Lomonosov, is awarded each year since 1959 for outstanding achievements in the natural sciences and the humaniti ...

(highest award of the USSR Academy of Sciences) (1965) *

Medal "For Labour Valour" The Medal "For Labour Valour" () was a civilian labour award of the Soviet Union bestowed to especially deserving workers to recognise and honour dedicated and valorous labour or significant contributions in the fields of science, culture or t ...

(1967) *

(1969) *

Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" The Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" () was a state commemorative medal of the Soviet Union established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on November 5, 1969 to commemo ...

(1970) * K. Ohridski Medal, (

Sofia University Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" () is a public university, public research university in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is the oldest institution of higher education in Bulgaria. Founded on 1 October 1888, the edifice of the university was constr ...

, Bulgaria, (1971) *

Lenin Prize The Lenin Prize (, ) was one of the most prestigious awards of the Soviet Union for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was originally created on June 23, 1925, and awarded until 1934. During ...

for ''Essays on structural mineralogy'' (1974) *

Order of the October Revolution The Order of the October Revolution (, ''Orden Oktyabr'skoy Revolyutsii'') was instituted on 31 October 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was conferred upon individuals or groups for services furthering communis ...

(1975)

Organizational memberships

* First chairman of the National Committee of Soviet crystallographers (1955-1982) * Corresponding member (1946) and then

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 (1953) * Editor of the Russian journal '' Kristallografija'' (translated into English as ''Soviet Physics - Crystallography'') (1962) * Honorary member of the All-Union Mineralogical Society (1964) * Member of the Board (1954), Vice-President (1957-1963), and President (1966-1969) of the

* Honorary member of the

Mineralogical Society of America The Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) is a scientific membership organization. MSA was founded in 1919 for the advancement of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, and petrology, and promotion of their uses in other sciences, industry, ...

(1960),

Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (now known as the Mineralogical Society of the United Kingdom and Ireland) was founded in 1876. Its main purpose is to disseminate scientific knowledge of the Mineral Sciences (mineralogy) as ...

, Société Française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1969), Geological Society of the GDR (1975),

American Crystallographic Association The American Crystallographic Association, Inc. (ACA) is a non-profit, scientific organization for scientists who study the structure of matter via crystallographic methodologies. Since its founding in 1949 it has amassed over 2000 members worldwi ...

(1969) * Honorary Doctor of

University of Wrocław The University of Wrocław (, UWr; ) is a public research university in Wrocław, Poland. It is the largest institution of higher learning in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, with over 100,000 graduates since 1945, including some 1,900 researcher ...

B. Bierut (Poland, 1975) * Foreign member of the

Polish Academy of Sciences The Polish Academy of Sciences (, PAN) is a Polish state-sponsored institution of higher learning. Headquartered in Warsaw, it is responsible for spearheading the development of science across the country by a society of distinguished scholars a ...

(1978)

References

External links

Biography of N.V. Belov (in Russian)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Belov, Nikolay Vasilyevich 1891 births 1982 deaths Academic staff of the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia Full Members of the USSR Academy of Sciences Heroes of Socialist Labour Recipients of the Stalin Prize Recipients of the Lenin Prize Recipients of the Lomonosov Gold Medal Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Russian geochemists Soviet geochemists Burials at Kuntsevo Cemetery Presidents of the International Union of Crystallography Crystallographers