Lomonosov, Euler, Mendeleev — Three Great Names in the History of Saint Petersburg University

Abstract

The article focuses on the lives and work of three outstanding scientists — M. V. Lomonosov, L. Euler, and D. I. Mendeleev — among the brilliant galaxy of scientists who made the glory of St. Petersburg University, which will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2024. Undoubtedly, they are the pride of all Russian and world science, but a significant part of the life of each of them is connected with the history of the formation and development of St. Petersburg University. Representing various branches of scientific knowledge, they not only enriched the world science, but also made an invaluable contribution both to the initial period of the creation of the university and to its leading role at the time of widespread development of higher education in Russia. The analysis of the activities of these scientists enables to make the conclusion that all of them shared the aspiration to achieve the highest possible accuracy in their scientific researches, which ensures the reliability and high quality of scientific conclusions and their application in practice. Each of this great trinity, having become an outstanding theoretician in his field of science, consistently developed such an important scientific and practical area as metrology — the science of measurements, methods, and means of ensuring their unity and ways of achieving the required precision. The author of the article is a specialist in this field, president of the Metrological Academy, one of the founders of the scientific direction of quality economics, in which metrology, along with the standardization and quality management, forms the basis for attaining the economic efficiency and improving the quality of life. The article shows how great the contribution of these scientists to the development of Russian metrology and the creation of the scientific and organizational foundation, on which the current successes of national metrology and its leading positions in the world are built, was. A historical perspective on the outstanding role of the three great scientists, whose life and work for many decades was associated with St. Petersburg University, in the development of metrology, will allow us to better appreciate the versatility of their talent and their ways of searching for scientific truth.