First light scattering works by B. I. Stepanov and his pupils at the Institute of Physics
The status of scientific works on the spectroscopy of light-scattering media performed in the fifties of the past century is given. A new technique of studying the absorption spectra of these systems, which is proposed by B. I. Stepanov at that time, is described. The first researchers of the Institute of Physics in the field of light scattering are mentioned. The history of the establishment and the development of this field in Belarus carried out by B. I. Stepanov is considered.