16 December marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of Albert Nikiforovich Tavkhelidze, an outstanding scientist and science organizer, one of the creators and the scientific leader of the RAS Institute for Nuclear Research, a laureate of the Lenin and State prizes. He was the long-standing President of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia and a Member of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

In 1948, A. N. Tavkhelidze finished high school, and in 1953, he graduated from Tbilisi State University with a degree in theoretical physics. He obtained thorough training and recommendations from Academicians I. N. Vekua and N. I. Muskhelishvili, which allowed him to study for a post-graduate degree in the Mathematical Institute named after V. A. Steklov of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Academician N. N. Bogoliubov was his supervisor.

In 1956, on the invitation of N. N. Bogoliubov and A. A. Logunov, A. N. Tavkhelidze started his scientific career in the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research that had been just established in Dubna as an international physical centre. High scientific, exceptionally favourable and friendly atmosphere of JINR contributed to the creative growth of the young scientist.

A. N. Tavkhelidze worked in Dubna from 1956 to 1970passing the way from a researcher to LTP Deputy Director. In 1963, he defended his thesis at an LTP Scientific Council and obtained the degree of Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. In 1965, he was awarded the title of Professor. A. N. Tavkhelidze paid much attention to the training of scientific successors attracting the most talented students and postgraduates to JINR. International cooperation was developed and the Institute’s scientific policy was formed with his participation.

In 1965 – 1970, A. N. Tavkhelidze received an invitation from Academician A. A. Logunov and took part in the organization of the Sector of Theoretical Physics at the Institute of High Energy Physics (Protvino) and became its first Head. As a result of joint efforts of N. N. Bogoliubov and A. N. Tavkhelidze, the Institute of Theoretical Physics, now named after N. N. Bogoliubov, opened in Kyiv in 1967 where A. N. Tavkhelidze held the position of Head of the Department of Particle Physics (1967 – 1971).

In 1967, in close cooperation with Academician N. N. Bogoliubov and M. A. Markov, he reached a governmental decision to publish the journal “Theoretical and Mathematical Physics” of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Until 1991, A. Tavkhelidze was deputy editor-in-chief of this journal.

In 1970, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences approved A. N. Tavkhelidze as Director of the newly established Institute for Nuclear Research (Moscow) and instructed him to develop the structure and scientific topics of this centre. With the decisive support of Academician M. A. Markov, two major research fields formed there: particle and nuclear physics and neutrino astrophysics.

In 1970 – 1986, A. N. Tavkhelidze was a Professor at the Moscow State University. He established the Department of Particle Physics and Cosmology at the MSU Faculty of Physics. Albert Nikiforovich raised a galaxy of world-class scientists, many of whom became full members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and academies of other countries.

A. N. Tavkhelidze was President of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia for 20 years and greatly contributed to strengthening its role in the scientific and intellectual life of Georgia. He established the Institute of High Energy Physics at Tbilisi State University and the Department of Theoretical Physics at the Institute of Mathematics of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia. Albert Nikiforovich was a member of the JINR Scientific Council in different years and represented Georgia in the Committee of Plenipotentiaries of the JINR Member States.

A. N. Tavkhelidze authored more than 200 scientific publications with a high citation index. In 1984, A. N. Tavkhelidze was elected as a Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences for his outstanding contribution to science, and in 1990, he was elected as Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences (the Russian Academy of Sciences since 1991).

A. N.Tavkhelidze was a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1973) for his series of scientific papers “Photoproduction of mesons at nucleons”. In 1988, he was awarded the Lenin Prize for the series of joint studies “New quantum number: colour and defining of dynamic patterns in quark structure of particles and atomic nuclei”. The State Register of Scientific Discoveries in the USSR registered the discovery “Matveev-Muradyan-Tavkhelidze Quark Counting Rule”.

In 1998, A. N. Tavkhelidze jointly with employees of the Institute of Nuclear Research received the State Prize of the Russian Federation for the creation of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory and studies in the fields of neutrino particle astrophysics and cosmic rays.

The International Association of Academies of Sciences took into account the contribution made by A. N. Tavkhelidze to the strengthening of international scientific cooperation and awarded him a gold medal in 1998. For active participation in the operation of the World Federation of Scientific Workers, as well as on the occasion of the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Christ, Pope John Paul II presented to A. N. Tavkhelidze a Memorable Badge.

Everyone who knew well Albert Nikiforovich always noted his traits like devotion to the ideals of sciences, great willpower, exceptional efficiency and the ability to unite people to achieve their goals, reliability in friendship and kindness.

JINR Directorate, colleagues, friends, students