Konstantin Gavrilov

Graduated from the Physics Faculty of PSNRU (undergraduate, master degree, postgraduate) and Mediterranean University specializing in Mechanics and physics of fluids and gas (postgraduate), worked in Prognoz and Macroscop companies, head of the Physics Faculty of Perm State National Research University.

Quotes

• We are trying to help students to find themselves in different projects, be initiative, share their discoveries.
• I see how enthusiastic they get discussing questions, solving problems at the competitions, how involved they are. It is a huge emotional springboard. I get my inspiration here; it is where I understand, everything we've done was worth it.

My story

When I was in the sixth grade, I found schoolbook of the seventh grade in physics at my older brother's and immediately read half of it. It is my first memory of a distinct wish to become a physicist. In the 8th grade, I went to school #9, and immediately we had facultative studies, Olympiads, research projects. I am very grateful to Lubov Ivanovna Kolesnichenko, with whom we still work together, for that time.

After finishing my postgraduate studies, I returned to Perm, because my friends and relatives were there. Communication with people is extremely important for me. In 2015, I was offered to become head of the Physics faculty of Perm State National Research University, and, of course, I accepted. What I really like and what brings me satisfaction is not administrative work, though, but organizing competitions: «Physicist's Day» for students, «Young Physicists School» for school pupils, Science Fiction Festival, conferences, championships in problem solving, open lectures for all ages. We've done lectures with PERMM Museum, our lectures were part of the events program of the city embankment, of Opera Extreme program at the Perm Opera and Ballet theatre, of festival Mosty... These are wonderful projects, they are also efficient as more people get to see familiar subject in a new light; people enrich their knowledge, they start mentioning what surrounds them. It is great when there are more of such projects and ideas.

Events for school students are very important. I want as many children as possible to see physics not as a part of obligatory boring tasks, not as pain or disappointment from the complex formulas, but as beautiful and graceful thing. There are many scientific books that will say it better than I do, but in order for a person to become interested, he needs an inner motivation. My task is to inspire children to move further. It is important that Perm pupils could partake in contests and conferences as other cities are also full of smart and curious kids.

In summer, for our summer programs, we welcome students from Oxford. This communication is necessary; after all, we are not isolated here in Perm. Students have to see not only a straight educational path from first to forth year; they can pause their education for a while, change direction. The most important thing to do is to keep moving forward. This is how I see the main task of the university: not to isolate, or to create borders, but to give an opportunity to discover yourself, feel personal responsibility for your own development.