VLADIMIR A. MAGNITSKY: "RESEARCH OUGHT TO BE HONEST"
The article "Research Ought to Be Honest" is dedicated to the life and scientific activities of the prominent researcher, one of the founders of contemporary geophysics Vladimir A. Magnitsky. The academician conducted considerable investigation of the physics of the Earth and, to a great extent, determined the further development of this field of scientific knowledge. Magnitsky was born in Penza in 1915. His interest in physics and natural studies was formed in his childhood: Magnitsky's father, Alexander Nikolaevich, was one of the founders of the Penza Society of Natural Science Lovers and the keeper of the town Museum of Natural History. The future academician graduated from Moscow Institute of Engineers of Geodesy, Aerophotography, and Cartography (MIEGA and C) at the age of 25, after which he remained there to take his Master's degree. Even during the tough years of the Great Patriotic War Magnitsky did not interrupt his research. In 1943 he headed the expedition which accomplished topographic and geodesic tasks delegated by the general headquarters of the Red Army. Soon Magnitsky defended hid PhD and Dr. Sci. Theses. The scientist was associated with the activities of Lomonosov Moscow State University for quite a long period of time. Magnitsky delivered lectures to the students of the Faculty of Geology, headed the Chair of the physics of the Earth. The academician was also in charge of the leading geophysi cal journal of the USSR "Fizika Zemli" ("Earth Physics") for about twenty years and was the chairman of the Scientific Council of the Academy of Science on the physics of mineral resources of the Earth. Magnitsky concentrated his research on the study of the shape and gravitation field of our planet. Later on, the academician took interest in the issues of the Earth physics and current movements of the Earth crust. The uniqueness of his research lies in the fact that he applied the data of all the other available interrelated scientific disciplines - geology, material studying, crystallography, petrology, geochemistry, theoretical physics - to studying the physics of the Earth. Magnitsky is the author of dozens of scientific papers on geophysics, gravimetry, and other subjects. His textbook "The Theory of the Shape of the Earth" (in joint authorship) and monograph "Inner Structure and Physics of the Earth" have become the main papers in geophysics and desk-top books for students and specialists that determined the course of development of this science for many years. In his research Magnitsky relied not only on his personal concept and hypothesis, but on other viewpoints and interpretations. It is the wide comprehension of all the available facts that enabled the scientist to achieve genuine integrity of research.