On 21 October 2019, at the 207th session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, it was decided to establish an international prize of UNESCO and Russia named after D. I. Mendeleev for achievements in the fields of fundamental sciences. The Russian initiative to establish the prize nicknamed as “the second Nobel Prize” is the result of joint work with UNESCO in the frames of the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements, which also has been organized on the initiative and with the support of Russia. The importance of the event was highlighted by the first Russian scientist to be honoured by having an element of the Periodic Table named after him during his life Academician Yury Oganessian.

“It is a truly wonderful event! The International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements announced by UNESCO evoked a vivid interest. During this year, interesting symposia took place, numerous breakthrough projects and scientific papers on chemistry, nuclear physics were carried out. It demonstrates that chemistry, a science studying the origins of the Universe, on which Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev was and many people all over the world work, is significant.

Sooner or later, it was to happen. And the International Mendeleev Prize is established for people who have linked their lives with science. I greet the establishment of the prize!” Academician noted.

According to Prof. Oganessian, international cooperation plays a significant role in the modern world. The outstanding scientist acknowledges world achievements in the fields of the synthesis of superheavy elements. “Important results of complex experiments are now cannot be conducted by a single person. This prize will be an indicator of successful international cooperation that may bring great scientific results in spite of political events,” Yuri Tsolakovich said.

President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeev agrees with the academician.

“Establishment of the UNESCO-Russia International Mendeleev Prize for achievements in fundamental sciences is the result of International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements successfully held in cooperation with UNESCO, numerous countries. The proposal to hold the International Year was made by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Mendeleev Russian Chemical Society, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. It is a victory of our scientific diplomacy. The Prize is a sign of acknowledgement of merits of an outstanding scientist D. I. Mendeleev who made this great discovery. The Periodic Table continues to be fulfilled nowadays thanks to the joint efforts of scientists from different countries. I am sure that the Mendeleev International Prize will be a great impetus for the development of fundamental science and international cooperation.”

Ruthenium, discovered in the Russian Empire in the 19th century, nobelium, lawrencium, rutherfordium, dubnium, hassium, flerovium, moscovium, livermorium, tennessine, and oganesson are elements discovered and synthesized in JINR (Dubna, Russia). The latter – element 118 – is named after its discoverer Academician Yuri Oganessian, Scientific Leader of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions JINR.

Following the materials of the “Scientific Russia” website