Sergei Kurdyumov
Sergey Pavlovich Kurdyumov was a specialist in mathematical physics, mathematical modeling, plasma physics, complexity studies and synergetics from Moscow, Russia.
Kurdyumov graduated from the Moscow State University in 1957. Since 1953 he worked in the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics. He was also the Head of the Applied Mathematics Department in the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Since 1984 he was a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
He was the author and co-author of more than 300 scientific works published in Russia and abroad, including about ten monographs. In 1969, he was the co-author of the scientific discovery of a new physical effect, "Effect of T-layer".
Theoretical works in the field of nuclear power engineering, laser thermonuclear fusion, laser thermochemistry were carried out by him in person and under his direction. Methods of exploration of laser thermonuclear targets by means of computational experiments were elaborated by Kurdyumov which has obtained worldwide recognition. A series of pioneer works connected with analysis of diffusive chaos and with complex order in systems reaction–diffusion was accomplished; the works exert a great influence upon the development of studies in non-linear dynamics in Russia. The monograph "Non-stationary Structures and Diffusion Chaos", Moscow: Nauka Publishers, 1992, written in co-authorship with A.A. Samarskii, T.S. Achromeeva, G.G. Malinetskii is focused on these research results. Special attention is drawn to the application of the ideas of synergetics in such fields as strategic planning, analysis of the historical processes, the modelling of educational systems, the philosophical problems of natural sciences. Books devoted to these problems, especially, “Laws of Evolution and Self-organization of Complex Systems”, Moscow: Nauka Publishers, 1994,, “Synergetics and Forecast of the Future”, Moscow: Nauka Publishers, 1997,, “Foundations of Synergetics: Blow-up Regimes, Self-organization, Tempo-worlds”, Saint-Petersburg: Aletheia, 2002,, "Synergetics: Non-linearity of Time and Landscapes of Co-evolution", Moscow: KomKniga/URSS, 2007, the collection of works of S.P. Kurdyumov and his disciples “The Blow-up Regimes. Evolution of the Idea. Laws of Co-evolution of Complex Systems”, Moscow: Nauka Publishers, 1999, are of great interest for the scientific community.
Kurdyumov was a great organizer of science in Russia. From 1989 to 1999, he was Director of the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics of the RAS. Kurdyumov was Member of the Bureau of the Department of Computer Science, Computer Techniques and Automation. For many years, he was President of the International Computer Club, Vice-president of the National Committee on Mathematical Modelling. He was a Full Member of the European Academy of Sciences. Kurdyumov was a member of the editorial boards of five Russian and international scientific journals.
He created a whole scientific school in nonlinear dynamics and synergetics in Russia. Ten theses for a Doctor's degree and nineteen Ph.D. theses were upheld under his supervision. Kurdyumov was honoured for his prominent achievements with governmental awards. Among his awards were the Medal "For Labour Valour", the Medal "For Distinguished Labour", the Order of the Badge of Honour and "Order of Honour".