LONDON, January 25 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s science, in order to be developed, needs the attention of the country’s businesses and economy that should take an interest in its discoveries and achievements, outstanding Russian scientist and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Zhores Alferov told Itar-Tass.
On Thursday, evening Academician Alferov spoke at the Russian Embassy in London, delivering a lecture on the semiconductor revolution and its impact on human life, as well as talked to representatives of the scientific community. The physicist is currently in Britain on a visit during which he meets with his colleagues from the country.
Answering a question what is the scientist’s view on the current situation of Russian science and whether it can be compared to the situation during the days of his youth, Alferov said: “This is the most difficult subject of those I have to speak about. We’ve lost very much over the past quarter of the century. And the most important is the fact that we have practically lost such sphere as industrial science.”
“There is no need to speak about the close interrelation between the development of science and the availability of the necessary equipment, which is particularly important in that sphere of knowledge in which I work,” continued the scientist. “In the late 1970’s of the last century, we could reach the desired level of technical support and fulfil the most serious tasks.” “But then, in the 1990’s this was lost, and as a result many talented people were forced to leave the country to be able to effectively do their work,” he admitted.
At the same time, speaking about the current situation Alferov also called it “very difficult.” “I always emphasise that the main problem of the Russian science is not in the financing,” he said. “The main problem is that the economy, society and industry should need scientific findings. When businesspeople have a practical interest in our field, the money for research is found as a rule.” “The lack of such interest is the main contradiction,” the scientist stated.
Zhores Alferov is the only Nobel Prize winner in physics currently living in Russia. He received the top award in the world of science in 2000 for developing semiconductor heterostructures and creating fast optoelectronic and microelectronic components. Alferov invented the heterotransistor. This coped with much higher frequencies than its predecessors, and apparently revolutionised the mobile phone and satellite communications. Alverov and Kroemer independently applied this technology to firing laser lights. This in turn revolutionised semiconductor design in a host of areas, including LEDs, barcodes readers and CDs. He is also a Russian politician and has been a member of the Russian State Parliament, the Duma, since 1995. Lately, he has become one of the most influential members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF).
His research has played an important role in the development of computer science, and the scientist received numerous Russian and foreign awards.