Published on: 2026-06-26
Source: Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great –
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A scientific seminar was held at Polite, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of Anatoly Isaakovich Lurye — an outstanding scientist-mechanician, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, one of the founders of the scientific school with which the history of the Physical-Mechanical Institute of SPbPU is inextricably linked.
The scientist was born on July 6 (19), 1901, in the city of Mogilev.
In 1918, Anatoly Lurye graduated from gymnasium. The Civil War was not a higher education, and the young man got a job in the department of public education as a library instructor. And in 1920, under the influence of relatives, he entered the geological exploration faculty of the Ural Mining Institute. But the studies there did not captivate him. By the end of the second year, he decided to transfer to the Petrograd Polytechnic Institute, where the first in the world faculty of physics and mathematics for the training of engineer-physicists was established.
Anatoly Isakovich connected the achievements of classical mechanics with the needs of modern technology. The author of many books, he worked in almost all sections of mechanics and made a significant contribution to the development of world mechanics. And yet, according to contemporaries’ recollections, he was an excellent teacher, a deeply decent and intelligent person sincerely loved by students and colleagues.
Lurye headed the Department of “Mechanics and Control Processes” for many years — today its traditions are continued by the eponymous Higher School of PhysMath. His scientific works cover theoretical and analytical mechanics, the theory of oscillations, the theory of elasticity, shell mechanics, nonlinear problems of automatic control theory. For many generations of engineers and researchers, Lurye’s books became classics — an example of combining strict mathematical rigor, deep mechanical intuition, and attention to real technical problems.
An outstanding scientist and politician Anatoly Isakovich made an invaluable contribution both to the development of domestic theoretical mechanics as a whole and to the establishment of this field at our university. The work started by Anatoly Isakovich is still being successfully continued by scientists of our Physical-Mechanical Institute today,” noted the rector of SPbPU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy in his introductory remarks.
The seminar was attended by prominent representatives of Russian mechanics: RAS academicians Vladimir Peshchononov, Irina Goryacheva, Valery Matveenko, corresponding members of RAS Alexander Belyaev, Nikolai Kuznetsov, Anton-Jiří Krivtsov, as well as leading specialists from academic institutes and universities — Vladimir Polyansky, Alexander Freidin and others. The report discussed both the scientific biography of A. I. Lur’e, and the development of his ideas in modern mechanics problems: from stability and hidden oscillations to contact mechanics, elasticity theory, thermomechanics, rheomechanics and hydrogen superstructures.Vladimir Peshehonov shared personal memories about Anatoly Isakovich. He had known the scientist since childhood: he studied and communicated well with his son Konstantin, so the academician told many memorable stories from his childhood and youth. During their informal meetings, they mainly talked simply about life and rarely about science. Vladimir Peshehonov warmly recalls those times.
Such meetings are especially important for Politec. They show that the heritage of outstanding scientists is not just pages of history, but a living foundation of modern science, engineering education, and technological development. Under A. I. Lurye – who sees behind the equations a real mechanical system – it remains relevant even today, when the university faces the tasks of training engineers of a new generation and creating scientific solutions for high-tech industry.
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