Monument to Kurchatov

Igor Kurchatov was a Soviet nuclear physicist and the director of the Soviet atomic bomb project. He is often known as the "father of the Soviet bomb."
Igor Kurchatov was born on January 8, 1903, in the southern Ural Mountains of Russia, to Vassili and Maria Kurchatov. He had an older sister, Antonina, and a younger brother, Boris. Vassili was a forester when Igor was born but soon became a highly respected land surveyor. Maria was a teacher. The couple settled in the Simsky Factory Township, where Vassili received state honors for his work and was designated a noble. This status allowed his three children to attend school

Kurchatov Igor Vasilievich was born in Chelyabinskregion in 1903. It is not surprising that after the death of the famous compatriot, the chairman of the city executive committee of Chelyabinsk Petr Sumin started organizing the installation of a memorial dedicated to him. The great man was Kurchatov, the monument decided to do the corresponding - impressive size and interesting. The grand opening of the sculptural composition was timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the city. The figure of Kurchatov, 6.4 meters high, stands on the pedestal (the total height of the statue is 11 meters), and on the sides there are two pylons (columns), each 27 meters high. The lateral elements are completely symmetrical, on them the hemispheres, symbolizing the split atom, are located. This is incredible, but the sculpture composition, discovered in 1986, was equipped with searchlights. However, due to imperfections in the design they did not last long

Chelyabinsk Kurchatov (a monument near the South Ural State University) today
To date, a monument installed on thehomeland physics, is considered one of the most interesting among all the sculptures dedicated to Igor Vasilievich. In 2006, the restoration was carried out. And now the sculptural composition is highlighted in the evening, and on holidays the atom itself shines. A popular question among visitors: where is the monument to Kurchatov in Chelyabinsk? In fact, finding it is not easy. There is a sculptural composition near the South Ural State University, at the intersection of Lesoparkova Street and Lenin Avenue. The exact address of the landmark: Lenin Avenue, 89. If you decide to visit the monument to Kurchatov (Chelyabinsk), the photo can not be made on any day. Keep in mind, the attraction is on the campus, young people always gather here, many roll on skates and skateboards. And very soon, right in front of the monument, there will be an equipped playground for practicing extreme street sports.

Monument to the "father of the atomic bomb" in Moscow
The capital of Russia has its own monument to Kurchatov. It is located near the NC "Kurchatov Institute", on the square named after the academician. The monument looks original, as it depicts the huge head of the scientist, installed on the pedestal. The monument was created in 1971, and even then the sculpture was criticized by many. However, many like this monument. One of the versions: the image of a huge head symbolizes a clear non-standard mind and genius-qualities that Kurchatov undoubtedly possessed. The monument, as well as its analogue in Chelyabinsk, is very popular among young people. Near it, almost daily, amateurs of urban street sports gather and ordinary students come to see tricks performed by friends, and just talk.

Monuments to academician in other cities
In fact, the monuments of IV. Kurchatov in the vastness of our country is quite a lot. Sculptures look different. Some represent the academician in growth, others - in the "sitting" position, there are also busts. In the Chelyabinsk region you can see the great scientist not only near SUSU, but also in the cities of Ozersk and Sime. Just decorate the monuments Kurchatov cities such as Dubna (Moscow Region), Snezhinsk, Obninsk (Kaluga region), Kurchatov (Kursk region) and Volgodonsk. There is a monument to the academician in Ukraine, in the city of Yuzhnoukrainsk (Mykolaiv region).

How else has Kurchatov's memory been immortalized in our country?
The contribution of the brilliant scientist to Soviet scienceit is difficult to overestimate. In honor of Kurchatov the name was given to many settlements, streets and squares. But that's not all. Today in the periodic table of chemical elements included No. 104 - originally called by Soviet scientists "kurchatoviy." The name of the academician is also a small planet - an asteroid. Do not forget that the monument to Kurchatov in Moscow is installed on the square of the same name before a large scientific center - the Kurchatov Institute. In honor of the scientist named as the secondary school in the capital and the nuclear power plant. A special medal for outstanding research in the field of nuclear physics, named after Kurchatov, was awarded to the RAS laureates today. By the centenary of the scientist, the Bank of Russia issued a commemorative coin with a face value of 2 rubles, dedicated to the memory of an outstanding figure and decorated with his portrait.