The 2nd of March the outstanding Russian geographer Anatoly Grigorievich Isachenko died on the 96th year of life.
The whole creative life of Anatoly Grigorievich was connected with the St. Petersburg State University. The work of Professor Isachenko covered such fields of science as landscape studies, thematic mapping, ecological geography, theory, methodology and history of geographical science. He has authored more than five hundred scientific papers, many of which are published in the US, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, China, Vietnam, Australia and other countries. Each new book of the scientist became a major event in science.
On the account of Anatoly Grigorievich are hundreds of developed original thematic maps, including the first «Landscaping Map of the USSR», published in 1988. In 1995 he was awarded the highest award of the Russian Geographical Society for scientific works - the Great Gold Medal. In the year of 2002 the scientist was awarded the Government of the Russian Federation Prize in the field of science and technology for his participation in the creation of the «Ecological Atlas of Russia».
From the pen of Anatoly Grigorievich came not only scientific monographs and articles, but also innovative textbooks, in demand in all universities in the preparation of geographers and ecologists. His numerous students and followers work in Russia and abroad. For many years, Anatoly Grigorievich was the chief editor of the oldest scientific journal in Russia – «Izvestia of the Russian Geographical Society».
Outstanding scientific merits of the geographer were based on the unique diligence of encyclopedic knowledge and the thirst for new knowledge. The wide erudition, intelligence, principledness and constant benevolence of Anatoly Grigorievich Isachenko earned the love and respect of colleagues.
Anatoly Grigorievich made an invaluable contribution to the development of geographical science, and his death became an irreparable loss.