Vladimir A. Kiryukhin: Path in life and creativeness (to mark the 95th anniversary of the birth of the scientist)

The article offers a detailed essay on academic biography and creative work of one of the coryphaei in hydrology, Vladimir A. Kiryukhin, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Professor, Honored Worker of Sciences in the RSFSR. The essay looks back on his life and takes stock of his achievements as a scientist and a teacher, an investigator of the underground hydrosphere, its evolution and development, mechanisms of formation and flow of groundwater, groundwater dynamics, composition, properties and efficient use. The scope of the essay covers the whole academic path of the scientist—from his years as a student to the mature research and development and headship at the Hydrogeology Department of the Leningrad Mining Institute (nowadays Empress Catherine II Saint-Petersburg Mining University). The details of V. A. Kiryukhin’s contribution to the development of the hydrogeological science are systematized, and evolution of his research interests and role in organization of a scientific school is illustrated. The essay rests upon the review and analysis of archival materials, publications, reports and epistolary heritage of the scientist, and on the synthesis of data on his academic and pedagogical profile. The article reviews successively: the childhood and studentship (1930–1953), the first scientific efforts during postgraduate studies and field research (1953–1961), associate professorship at the Hydrogeology Department at the Leningrad Mining Institute (1961–1975), mature scientific creativity (1975–2000) and the main achievements in the early 2000s. Particular attention is paid to the field research work in Northern Kazakhstan, Russian Far East, Central Asia and in Yakutia, as well as to the development of methods for hydrochemical exploration of ore deposits. It is shown how the scientific focus of V. A. Kiryukhin expanded from applied hydrogeology to fundamental generalizations on regional hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. The contribution of the scientist to manpower training and consolidation of research activities is described, and his key publications, including monographs and textbooks, are listed.