Alexey Likhachev: “We create new things and witness the world changing around us”
On November 3, students and faculty of Lobachevsky University had a meeting with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev. At the lecture hall of the Faculty of Radiophysics, he gave a lecture entitled “Energy and Technologies of the Future” and answered questions from the students. Alexey Likhachev himself graduated from the Radiophysics Faculty of Gorky State University (now Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod) in 1985.
When discussing the history of the nuclear industry's formation, the Director General of Rosatom State Corporation noted: "We were formed from two parts: on one side, there's science, scientists, and civilian industrialists — people of great knowledge, high humanism, and profound humanitarian values; on the other side, there are defence agencies. In this thermonuclear mix, the modern code of nuclear professionals was born, encompassing everything: debates, scientific research, large-scale humanitarian projects, including international ones, and the strict discipline of state defence contracts. And it is within this complex code that we continue to operate, quite effectively, in my view. We create new things and witness the world changing around us."
Alexey Likhachev highlighted the significant role of Nizhny Novgorod State University in the USSR’s nuclear project, mentioning the leading scientific schools and the establishment of the country’s first radiophysics faculty and the first faculty of computational mathematics and cybernetics at this university. He outlined the strategic development directions for the State Corporation and the key areas for joint projects with universities.
Rosatom stands as the principal strategic partner of Lobachevsky University. UNN is a participant in the National Quantum Laboratory, which was established under the auspices of Rosatom to implement the roadmap on quantum computing. Ongoing joint research and training cover fields such as supercomputer technologies, artificial intelligence, nuclear and radiation physics, laser technologies, and mathematical models and methods. Since 2011, the university has been a member of Rosatom’s consortium of flagship universities.
The lecture brought together approximately 400 attendees, including students and faculty from Lobachevsky University, including members of the Rosatom student community at UNN.
“This lecture means a great deal to me. Before speaking, I recalled how I stood in this very place 41 years ago, as a fifth-year student at Gorky University, and how we, graduates of the radiophysics faculty, were being sent off into adult life. Overall, my student years were the best years of my life. My time at the radiophysics faculty gave me so much - only my parents gave me more,” said Alexey Likhachev.
“Alexey Likhachev’s lecture offers a unique chance for a live dialogue with a leader in the nuclear sector. His interactions with students are marked by an inspiring approach and a focus on fostering the thinking of future engineers, researchers, and, importantly, patriots. We are actively enhancing our collaboration with Rosatom State Corporation, implementing numerous projects in cutting-edge fields. We take pride in this and will certainly do everything to ensure our partnership continues to grow,” emphasised Oleg Trofimov, Rector of Lobachevsky University.
