Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Academic Council meeting took place in a particularly solemn atmosphere. This was primarily because it was held not in the usual meeting hall, but in the renovated Auditorium No. 159 in the Main Building, which now bears the name of the outstanding physicist, world-class specialist in materials science and metallurgy, Professor Elena Fedorovna Silnikova, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, and a graduate of the Polytechnic University.
Dmitry Karpov, Scientific Secretary of SPbPU, spoke about Elena Fedorovna's scientific career in his welcoming speech during the auditorium's opening ceremony.
In 1961, Elena Fedorovna graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the M. I. Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. In 1967, she entered graduate school in the Department of Plastic Processing of Metals. Under the supervision of Professor Vasily Sergeevich Smirnov, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Elena Fedorovna pioneered a new direction in materials science, applying the physical theory of plastic deformation to metal forming problems. A candidate of sciences, she studied the structure, properties, and texture formation in the production of various metals and alloys. The results of her work on metal physics and materials science, completed under her supervision and implemented in production, formed the basis for Elena Fedorovna's doctoral dissertation and the scientific works of her students.
Elena Fedorovna worked at the Polytechnic University for 27 years, then transferred to the Scientific and Production Association of Special Materials. Professor Silnikova's main scientific work was the monograph "Crystallographic Texture and Texture Formation."
"The contributions of Elena Fedorovna Silnikova to Russian science are hard to overstate. Her research findings formed the basis for many scientific advances in solid-state physics and increased the efficiency of technological processes," said Andrey Rudskoy, Rector of SPbPU and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The opening ceremony for the auditorium was not accompanied by a ribbon-cutting this time. It was marked by other memorable moments.
Dmitry Karpov emphasized that the auditorium renovation was made possible thanks to the assistance of Mikhail Silnikov, General Director and Chief Designer of the Scientific and Production Association of Special Materials and also a Polytechnic alumnus. On November 10, 2025, members of the SPbPU Academic Council unanimously voted to award Mikhail Vladimirovich Silnikov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, and Professor, the title of "Honorary Alumnus" "for outstanding achievements in professional and public activities that contribute to the university's growing prestige at the Russian and international levels." The presentation of the diploma and badge of Honorary Alumnus of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University took place in this historic auditorium, named after Mikhail Vladimirovich's mother, Elena Fedorovna Silnikova.
Mikhail Vladimirovich is a member of the Silnikov dynasty, which spans four generations. Mikhail Vladimirovich's grandmother's older brother, mother, father, Vladimir Nikolaevich (a graduate of the Mechanical Engineering Institute, a mechanical engineer specializing in machines and metal forming), and his father's older brother all studied at the Polytechnic Institute.
Mikhail Vladimirovich Silnikov himself graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mechanics in 1985. His son, Nikita Mikhailovich, a 2012 graduate of the Faculty of Physics and Mechanics and a Doctor of Engineering Sciences, currently teaches at the Higher School of Technosphere Safety at the Polytechnic University. For his significant contribution to the development of SPbPU, Nikita Silnikov was awarded the "For Merit" badge.
Thank you, esteemed Mikhail Vladimirovich, for your service to the Fatherland, for continuing the family line, and for such a wonderful gift to our alma mater as the new life of this now-named auditorium, and for establishing the Elena Fedorovna Silnikova Scholarship, which will support the research of young Polytechnic scientists, said Rector Andrei Rudskoy.
In his response, Mikhail Silnikov expressed gratitude to the Polytechnic University leadership for their trust and for the opportunity to contribute to the development of his alma mater: "We received comprehensive instructions on how to tidy up the auditorium: it must be worthy of the great Polytechnic University."
Mikhail Vladimirovich noted the coordinated work of the university's departments, construction workers, and the furniture manufacturer. Incidentally, at Andrei Rudskoy's suggestion, the classroom tables were modeled after the desks preserved from the pre-revolutionary Polytechnic University—the very same one with a sliding top and footrest.
One of the auditorium's walls is decorated with a bas-relief on the theme of science and technology, featuring a portrait of Elena Feodorovna Silnikova. Two niches also hold busts of the renowned small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov and Marshal of Artillery and Commander of the Missile Forces and Artillery of the USSR Ground Forces Vladimir Mikhalkin. The artists behind these works, artist-sculptor Nikolai Ivanov and sculptor Vadim Sazonov, were also present at the auditorium's opening ceremony. Andrei Rudskoy presented them with Certificates of Acknowledgment from the Polytechnic University. In turn, the artists donated their new work—a bust of Emperor Peter the Great—to the Polytechnic University.
In the same festive atmosphere, the Polytechnic students were honored for their achievements in various fields and their contributions to the development of the university, science, and education.
Nina Pankova, Advisor to the Rector's Office, was awarded the "Honorary Mentor" badge from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
The title of "Honored Worker of Education of the Russian Federation" was awarded to Inna Nikolaeva, associate professor at the Higher School of Mechanics and Control Processes.
Professor Sergei Barykin of the Higher School of Service and Trade received the Medal "For Impeccable Work and Distinction" from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
For his significant contribution to the development of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Stanislav Vladimirov, Vice-Rector for Organizational and Economic Affairs, was awarded the "For Merit" badge.
Mikhail Silnikov, General Director and Chief Designer of the Scientific and Production Association of Special Materials, presented the Polytechnic University with a Certificate of Honor from the Public Council of the Leningrad Military District for assistance in solving service and combat tasks.
Commemorative signs for the "Joint Strategic Exercise 'WEST-2025'" from the Russian Ministry of Defense were presented to: Vice-Rector for Organizational and Economic Work Stanislav Vladimirov, Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education Dmitry Tikhonov, Director of the SPbPU History Museum Valery Klimov, Leading Specialist of the SPbPU History Museum Artyom Solovyov, Director of the Higher School of Materials Physics and Technology Sergey Ganin, and Associate Professor of the Higher School of Social Sciences Ivan Kolomeitsev.
Opening the renovated auditorium, Polytechnic University Rector Andrey Rudskoy proposed that it be used for doctoral dissertation defenses. This time, the diplomas of the successfully defended PhD candidates were awarded there.
Candidate of Technical Sciences diplomas were awarded to:
Svetlana-Victoria Muzafarova (scientific supervisor – Anton Naumov), Alexander Doronin (scientific supervisor – Andrey Andreev), Anastasia Borina (scientific supervisor – Valery Tereshin), Alexander Savelyev (scientific supervisor – Igor Bobrovsky).
Candidate of Economic Sciences diplomas:
Sofia Kalyazina (scientific supervisor – Anastasia Levina), Nikolai Nikitin (scientific supervisor – Igor Ilyin).
The diploma of candidate of biological sciences was awarded to Luiza Abdul-Azizovna Garayeva (scientific supervisor – Tatyana Shtam).
Also, a diploma conferring the academic title of associate professor was awarded to Wang Juntao, candidate of political sciences and associate professor of the Higher School of International Relations at SPbPU.
Vice-Rector for Human Resources Policy Maria Vrublevskaya presented a report on the university's progress in national and international rankings.
Scientific Secretary Dmitry Karpov reported on the implementation of the Academic Council's instructions.
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