ON CONTINUITY IN SCIENCE

"There are scientific schools. There are people who teach the youth. I feel sincere gratitude when thinking about Acad. Ioffe under whose guidance I worked and whom 1 owe everything I achieved. To my mind, the scientific school of Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology played a significant role in my life, in the fate of Acad. Kurchatov, Khariton, Zeldovich, and many other Soviet physicists...

Perhaps, the most striking thing was a friendly attitude of the institute employees towards each other and the creative atmosphere that reigned in the house in Lesnaya Street. Unfortunately, today such a friendly atmosphere is a kind of rarity at research institutes. I remember Abram Fyodorovich walking through the laboratories. Once a week he visited each of them. He asked about their work, with authentic interest discussed obtained results, pointed out possible mistakes and what to focus on. We felt really sorry if we had nothing to say when he asked: 'Well, what's the news?'. To avoid such situations, we had to work a lot. And we worked hard...

We were very young and bowed down before the authority of our teacher. But, of course, we had different vision of the world. And, most likely, we quarreled and felt hurt... But I do not remember that. I do remember the enthusiasm we worked with. I remember how we helped each other when the equipment broke down, how we put aside everything and rushed to repair it. We shared everything we had. As for seminars and different scientific views on this or that problem, we spoke straight out when arguing. I remember someone once told Ioffe: 'You forgot Ohm's law!'

An interesting fact is that at the institutes later on headed by former students of the Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology conflicts are avoided even today."

ON COMPROMISES

"There are different types of compromises. You know, I don't like those brave wise heads, who attack everything and everyone, sitting in a cozy and safe atmosphere. Do they try to gain a foothold in this way, I wonder? They cannot even imagine our problems and challenges. Scientists are under special criticism: this one worked in the period of Stalin's repressions, that one--during the Brezhnev stagnation. But, where would our science have been if it were not for them (he meant Sergei Vavilov, Pyotr Kapitsa, Igor Kurchatov, Lev Landau, Mstislav Keldysh.--Ed.).

I knew many of them. They were famous not for their daring speeches at meetings and on TV, but for scientific works and noble actions. They were forced to act taking into account severe circumstances they lived in. And it hurts me when they are judged today. The ungrateful

role. Well, a few words about myself... I never made a compromise in science. At least, tried not to compromise. As for relations with people, authorities, in politics, it is another thing...

In early days of the war our group worked on degaussing of vessels to protect them from fascist mortar shells. Such works were carried out even before the war. Our group included Prof. Regel, a very gifted scientist and an excellent man. We were close friends. But after the war, when scientists got to the development of an atomic bomb, he was discharged. I agreed, even though I could take a strong stand. But I was not afraid for myself, but for him. I was afraid that he would be smashed. I could insist and take him to my team, since my work was very important then, but I was not sure that he could escape in those circumstances. Alas... Therefore 1 agreed."

ON THE ACCIDENT ON THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ELECTRIC-POWER STATION (1986)

"Chernobyl is a tragedy in my life too. 1 feel it every second. When it happened and 1 learned what had been done there--I almost died. I felt very bad. That is why I decided to immediately resign from the post of President of the Academy of Sciences and even turned to Mikhail Gorbachev. My colleagues tried to stop me, but 1 thought 1 was right. I believed it was my duty to do everything I could to upgrade the reactor.

To be responsible for the development of nuclear industry and, in particular, for the Chernobyl accident are two different things. Think of it. However, I'm absolutely sure that everything I tell you will only result in another stream of invectives to my old hairless head. But I would act against my conscience if I subscribed to the opinion that nuclear industry should not be developed and that all nuclear power plants should be decommissioned. This would have a destructive effect on mankind. This decision could turn out to be no less ignorant and unnatural than the experiment at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station that resulted in the accident...

I'm worried about a negative attitude towards nuclear power engineering in our country. A whole branch of science and industry cannot be ostracized. In this respect we already have a negative experience--genetics and cybernetics... I do not know if you will publish this talk but I used to say what I think for all my life. And I'm

still sure that development of atomic power engineering is crucial for the country. I believe that in case of safe handling, it is much safer and environmentally friendly than thermal power plants polluting the atmosphere and hydropower plants deforming rivers...

Safe operation is the only criterion of existence of nuclear electric power stations. It can be ensured only on the basis of achieved results and experience of the past. Why should be destroyed the industry branch that accumulated efforts of many gifted scientists, engineers and designers?! Anyway, we cannot do without nuclear power engineering and a new generation will have to go back and begin from zero."

From the interview of Anatoly Alexandrov to the reporter Vanda Beletskaya ("Ogonyok" magazine, No. 35, 1990)

Illustrations from the archives of the laboratory of scientific and technical photos of the Kurchatov Institute and family archives of Anatoiy Alexandrov