On September 22, a gala meeting dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the NSCMB FEB RAS was held at the Pushkinskiy Theater of the Far Eastern Federal University. The Center was founded on January 1, 1970, as the Institute of Marine Biology within the Far Eastern Scientific Center of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

At the Pushkinskiy Theatre, guests viewed a photo exhibition highlighting the key milestones and stages of the Institute’s development. By its 55th anniversary, one of Russia’s leading scientific institutions had achieved significant success through the efforts of numerous employees, scientists, and specialists, of each everyone made a valuable contribution to the development and recognition of the Institute, now the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology FEB RAS, both in our country and abroad. All the speakers emphasized this and many other aspects in their speeches from the stage.

Special guests—public and political figures, and representatives of scientific organizations of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and regional universities—took part in the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the region’s leading scientific center. The anniversary event brought together employees, researchers, veterans, students, and guests, more than 300 people in total.

The solemn meeting was opened by the Director of the Center, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences I. Yu. Dolmatov. Igor Yuryevich warmly greeted everyone and expressed deep appreciation for those who stood at the origins of the Institute. He mentioned all the directors who had previously headed the Institute. The first and foremost was the founding director, Alexey Viktorovich Zhirmunsky, followed in 1988 by Vladimir Leonidovich Kasianov, who, during the difficult years of the 1990s, not only managed to save the Institute but also made it one of the most productive among the institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Under the leadership and initiative of Academician Andrei Vladimirovich Adrianov, who became the head of the Institute in 2005, another important area of scientific research was developed: the study of the World's ocean depths. Andrey Vladimirovich personally supervised the creation of the Primorsky Aquarium, a unique world-class scientific and educational complex, conceived by the President of the Russian Federation, V. V. Putin. Over the years, this facility has become highly significant for the development of science and education in the Far Eastern region.

In honor of the celebration, representatives from all levels of the government expressed their congratulations and gratitude to the leaders and the entire team of the Center.

The speakers noted the high professionalism, many years of fruitful work, and the great contribution of the Center’s scientists to the development of fundamental academic science in the Far East.

The ceremony was also attended by the Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vladivostok, representatives of the General Consulates of the People’s Republic of China, India, Japan, and Vietnam.

A significant number of video greetings and postcards from our leading foreign partners were also sent to the Center, including the Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IDSSE CAS, Sanya); the South China Sea Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SCSIO CAS, Guangzhou); the Director of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (Kobe, Japan); the Institute of Oceanography of the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (Nha Trang); and the Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Yantai).

The most kind and touching words of thanks and respect were expressed to the leaders and the team of the Center on behalf of the A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas RAS (Sevastopol), the Far Eastern Geological Institute FEB RAS, the Institute of Chemistry FEB RAS, the Federal Scientific Center of the East Asian Terrestrial Biodiversity FEB RAS, the Pacific Geographical Institute FEB RAS, the Botanical Garden-Institute FEB RAS, the Institute of Automation and Control Processes FEB RAS, the V.I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute FEB RAS, the G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (PIBOC) FEB RAS, the Geographical Society for the Study of the Primorsky Kray (Society for the Study of the Amur Region), the Land of Leopard Natural Park, the Institute of History, Archaeology, and Ethnography FEB RAS, the Labor Union of FEB RAS, and many others.

The award ceremony for veterans and staff of the Center was held on the stage of the Pushkinskiy Theatre FEFU. On this day, several specialists of the Center were honored with letters of thanks and commendation from the Duma of Vladivostok, the Governor of Primorsky Krai, and FEB RAS for their many years of conscientious work and high achievements in their professional activities.

Among the awardees:

The 55th anniversary of the NSCMB FEB RAS was celebrated on a grand scale, marking an important event for Vladivostok. The Center highlighted its high scientific achievements and strong ties with the city, region, and country. By remaining open and expanding partnerships, we are creating new opportunities for public engagement and collaboration.