XVI interuniversity conference “Liquid crystals and “smart” nanomaterials”

This year the IvSU Festival of Science and the Conference concurred with the 45-th anniversary of IvSU Liquid Crystal Problem Laboratory which was reorganized to Nanomaterials Research Institute in 2008.

The Laboratory was created in 1976 by the decision of the USSR State Committee for Science and Techniques on the base of the scientific and research laboratory at the Common Physics Department of Ivanovo Pedagogics University founded in 1964 by associate professor I.G.Chistyakov. This was a sign of recognition of its success at studies of liquid crystals resumed after the World War II.

The Conference opening was held under the sign of this remarkable date.

In his welcome speech IvSU rector Aleksey Malygin noted that for the past years laboratory scientists guided by I.G. Chistyakov and N.V. Usoltseva have made a great contribution to the development of liquid crystal science not only in Russia but in world thanks to their scientific research, organizational work, participation in international conferences, inventions and supervision of students and post-graduate students.

The vice-rector for scientific and project work Inna Smirnova underlined that laboratory staff is constantly improving scientific as well as organizational activity. The perfect example of that is the creation of scientific and educational center “Liquid crystals” in 2000 and the successful development of “Liquid crystals and their practical application” journal (founded in 2001) registered in Scopus and WoS. The first All-Russian conference on liquid crystals with international participation which took place in Ivanovo in 2012 is as well an achievement of NRI scientists.

Plenary, oral and poster reports on different sections of liquid crystal and nanomaterial science were presented at the conference.

In her plenary report Prof. Dr. Nadezhda Usoltseva covered the main stages of NRI development. For many years its projects have been supported by grants of Ministry for Education and Science, president of the Russian Federation, Russian Fund of Fundamental Research, European Union, DAAD, German Research Society and other funds and programs. More than 80 inventor certificates, patents and other documents on intellectual property rights have been received by NRI scientists in the sphere of research and practical application of liquid crystals. NRI researches have been honoured medals and diplomas in Innovative Salons in Brussels, Moscow and Ivanovo. For her outstanding works in liquid crystal science a NRI director Nadezhda Usoltseva has been awarded with a Freedericksz Medal by the Liquid Crystal Society (Moscow), elected to the Presidium of International Liquid Crystal Society (USA) as a representative of Russia, included to the editorial board of Liquid Crystals journal (UK).

NRI have grown a whole range of highly qualified specialists working in Ivanovo State University, Ivanovo Medical Academy, Institute of Solution Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Science (Ivanovo), as well as in other regions of Russia and abroad. NRI has a program for post-graduate studies. The majority of NIR post-graduates and scientists have completed abroad internships.

A great deal of attention is spent on working with the youth. In the frames of scientific educational center “Liquid crystals” 15 interuniversity conferences of young scientists have been held.

Section and poster reports were presented by scientist from Moscow, Vladimir and Ivanovo. Two of ten oral reports were made online. Section and poster sessions show large interest of young scientists in interdisciplinary research. Each speaker got a participant Diploma. The best reports have been awarded with special diplomas.