Continuity of Scientific Traditions: Kabardino-Balkarian State University’s Polymer School
Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh. M. Berbekov is rightfully proud of its scientific schools, among which the School of Polymer Chemistry occupies a special place. Its founder was the outstanding scientist, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, and Professor Abdulakh Kasbulatovich Mikitayev (1942–2017). Today, the development and qualitative renewal of this school are inextricably linked with the name of his student and successor – Vice-Rector for Research at Kabardino-Balkarian State University, Director of the Center for Advanced Materials and Additive Technologies, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Svetlana Yuryevna Khashirova.
The Foundation Laid by Abdulakh Mikitayev
Over 57 years of work, research, and teaching, approximately 40 of which were devoted to his alma mater, Professor Mikitayev created one of the strongest schools of polymer materials science in the country. While also working as a professor at the Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia and heading the laboratory of nanocomposites based on industrial polymers at the Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry, Abdulakh Kasbulatovich never lost touch with KBSU and his native region.
His research in polymer synthesis, the study of the structure and reinforcement mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites, and the development of industrial technologies for their production have received wide recognition in the scientific community. The scale of Abdulakh Mikitaev’s pedagogical contribution is unique: under his supervision and with his active participation, 33 doctors of science and 123 candidates of science have been trained. Many of them are successfully working at KBSU, KBGAU, leading universities in southern Russia, as well as in research centers in Italy, Mexico, Norway, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. In terms of the number of scientists trained, his school is comparable to the largest academic centers in the country.
Under his leadership, the Department of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Compounds and the Polymers and Composites Research and Education Center consistently demonstrated high results in competitions and successfully completed grants and projects under federal target programs. At KBSU, under Professor Mikitaev’s chairmanship, the dissertation council for candidate and doctoral dissertations in the field of macromolecular compounds worked productively, ensuring the continuous renewal of scientific personnel.
A Relay of Scientific Leadership
Svetlana Khashirova considers Abdulakh Mikitaev, who laid the foundations of polymer materials science in the North Caucasus, to be her main mentor in the field.
«He was truly a great scientist and mentored many students. He can rightfully be considered an academician, because after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Abdulakh Kasbulatovich was tasked with participating in the formation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and for a time he served as Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. «We will always remember him and will do everything possible to continue his work and ensure its development,» notes Svetlana Khashirova.
Under her leadership, the scientific school not only maintains traditions but also reaches a fundamentally new technological level. Key challenges in creating the fundamental principles of synthesizing highly heat-resistant polymers have been addressed, and technologies for producing innovative, environmentally friendly catalysts have been developed. Professor Khashirova is at the forefront of a new field in polymer physicochemistry related to additive manufacturing (3D printing of functional materials).
One of the most significant results was the development of superstructural polymers. The materials created at the Center for Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing are half the weight of aluminum and titanium, do not conduct heat, maintain structural stability at extreme temperatures, and exhibit high radiation resistance. These developments open up immediate prospects for application in the space industry, aircraft manufacturing, and Arctic exploration.
Institutional Continuity and Development
Continuity is embodied not only in scientific results but also in the university’s organizational structure. In 2014, the Advanced Polymers Laboratory, under the direction of Svetlana Khashirova, was established within the Polymers and Composites Research and Education Center, founded with the participation of Abdulakh Mikitaev. In 2017, it was transformed into the Center for Advanced Materials and Additive Technologies, a modern platform for interdisciplinary research.
In memory of the founder’s contribution, KBSU holds the «Mikitaev Readings» annually, and has also launched the «Polymer Schools for Young Scientists» series. The university continues to operate a graduate school, a doctoral program, and a dissertation council, ensuring the training of highly qualified personnel. Research teams led by Svetlana Khashirova regularly win scientific competitions, attract federal and regional funding, and expand international collaboration.
Svetlana Khashirova’s work at KBSU is not just a continuation, but a logical evolutionary development of Abdulakh Mikitaev’s scientific legacy. The combination of deep fundamental research and the implementation of breakthrough technologies and systematic work with young scientists allow the university to maintain its status as a leader in polymer materials science in southern Russia and throughout the country. The continuity of generations, rooted in the traditions of KBSU, guarantees that Mikitaev’s scientific school will live on, develop, and produce new discoveries that meet the challenges of modern industry and science.