Tashchev Family: SUSU Brought Up 3 Generations of Outstanding Scientists

In 2018 South Ural State University is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. The university has passed a long way of development over this period of time, and brought up several generations of talented scientists recognized not only in Russia, but abroad as well. Moreover, the university is represented by whole dynasties of scientists, among which is Tashchev family. The total record of service of its three generations in SUSU amounts to 235 years.

First Generation of the Dynasty

The dynasty begins with Aleksandr Tashchev who was born January 19, 1926. He was the founder of the university’s scientific school on the issues of economics and national economy. Aleksandr Kuzmich is Doctor of Sciences (Economics), Honoured Worker of Science and Technology of the Russian Federation, Honoured Professor of SUSU. When Aleksandr Kuzmich was young, the Great Patriotic War began, and already at the age of 15 he worked as an accountant’s apprentice at Makushino Division of the State Bank, and later — as a process technician at Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. Having finished the evening school, he entered Chelyabinsk Institute of Mechanics and Machine Building (that was how South Ural State University was called when founded in 1943).

Aleksandr Kuzmich became one of the first graduates of the institute, and in 1952 he began working here. During the period from 1958 through 1963 he was the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanics and Technology, and 1963 through 1988 — Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. In 1991 he established the Faculty of Economics and Management and acted as its Dean till 1999.

Aleksandr Kuzmich has worked for 65 years in the university. Under his guidance 10 Doctor theses were defended. Today Aleksandr Kuzmich is the author of more than 150 research papers, actual founder of the Chelyabinsk school of specialists in the issues of economics and national economy management. For his achievements this scientist was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Medal for Valorous Labour during the Great Patriotic War of 1941—1945, Order of the Veteran of Labour.

Photo: Aleksandr Kuzmich Tashchev; Valentina Nikolaevna Tashcheva

“Aleksandr Kuzmich finished his scientific and teaching activity in 2017, but he is still interested in the research studies of the university, and writes brilliant reviews to scientific works,” shares son-in-law of Aleksandr Kuzmich Mikhail Sergeevich Kuvshinov.

The wife of Aleksandr Kuzmich, Valentina Nikolaevna, worked at the Department of Advanced Mathematics in Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute 1963 through 1977, she was an excellent resource teacher promoting love to exact sciences.

Interest in Science since Being a Student

Vera Kuvshinova, daughter of Aleksandr Kuzmich is a graduate of the Department of Technology of Machine Building of the SUSU Faculty of Mechanics and Technology, where she worked since 1976 as an assistant, and later as senior lecturer. The work experience of Vera Aleksandrovna at SUSU is 37 years.

Photo: Vera Aleksandrovna Kuvshinova; Mikhail Sergeevich Kuvshinov; Nikolay Sergeevich Kuvshinov

The husband of Vera Aleksandrovna, Mikhail Kuvshinov, keeps working at South Ural State University at present. He started serious work in science back when he was a student.

“As a student I actively worked in research and participated in organization of various scientific events at the department and on the Instrumentation Engineering Faculty. In 1976 I graduated from the Instrumentation Engineering Faculty and remained here to work at the Office of Machine Building Automation of the Student Design Bureau of Research-and-Development Division of the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute. Two years after that I entered the Master’s program and defended my thesis in 1981. I was assigned to the Department of Automation of Mechanical Assembly Production, where I worked for 19 years. Since I had experience in organizing activity, besides being Associate Professor I also acted as Deputy Dean of the Automation of Mechanical Faculty till 2000,” shares Mikhail Sergeevich.

M.S. Kuvshinov, Professor of the SUSU Department of Economics and Finance

In 1996 a Faculty of Commerce was established at the university, and Mikhail Sergeevich was invited there as Associate Professor of the Department of Accounting and Finance. Today Mikhail Sergeevich is Doctor of Sciences (Economics), Candidate of Sciences (Engineering), Honoured Worker of the Higher Education. Under his guidance 4 Candidate theses and 1 Doctor thesis on Economics were defended.

“I’m proud to have a qualification of an electrical engineer. With competence in engineering and starting to work in the field of accounting and economic analysis I could guess that any economic system should have a certain optimal state meeting the demands of owners. My fascination with this problem brought me to defending my Doctor thesis on Forming of Investment Climate of Industrial Enterprises back in 2009. Later my scientific advisor, Professor Igor Aleksandrovich Baev offered me to transfer to the Department of Economics and Finance, where I have been working since 2012.”

Brother of Mikhail Sergeevich, Nikolay Kuvshinov, also committed himself to South Ural State University. Back when he was a student he worked at the Department of Metal and Wooden Structures, where he was developing, engineering and producing complex goods made of fiber-glass. Gas ducts engineered with his direct participation are still used in the Far North territories resisting the most severe climates. Nikolay Sergeevich is Candidate of Sciences (Engineering), Member of the Union of Photography Artists of Russia, a talented specialist in the fields of computer graphics. He is a Professor of the SUSU Department of Graphics, where he has been working for 45 years now.

Several Dynasty Generations Devoted Themselves to SUSU

South Ural State University also became alma mater for grandchildren of Aleksandr Kuzmich. Elder son of Mikhail Sergeevich, Boris Kuvshinov, graduated from SUSU in 2001, and already in 2004 obtained his Candidate of Sciences academic degree. He has worked at the Department of Applied Mathematics for 12 years. His main field of research is processing of data flows in complex information systems.

Photo: Natalya Lvovna Kuvshinova; Boris Mikhailovich Kuvshinov; Aleksei Mikhailovich Kuvshinov

The wife of Boris Mikhailovich, Natalya Kuvshinova, is still working at SUSU. She is a graduate of the Automation and Mechanics Faculty and a senior lecturer at the Department of Aircraft Engines of the Polytechnic Institute. Natalya Lvovna is a specialist in the field of calculating the dynamics of complex fine-tuned engineering systems.

Aleksei Kuvshinov, junior son of Mikhail Sergeevich, followed in the steps of his father. He is also a graduate of the Instrumentation Engineering Faculty of the year 2006. In 2010 he defended his Candidate thesis on Chemistry of Solid Bodies.

“The education that the SUSU Instrumentation Engineering Faculty offers allows to successfully work practically in any sphere in the future,” notes Mikhail Sergeevich. “That is anywhere, where information and analytical approach to processing data of various nature is required. This opens a really limitless field of activity.”

Aleksei Mikhailovich is Candidate of Sciences (Chemistry), senior lecturer at the Department of Physical Electronics. His field of research is physics of solid bodies, integrated electronics and nanoelectronics, basics of Microsystems engineering, and other. Aleksei Mikhailovich represents the third generation of one of the biggest university dynasties, the total record of service of which amounts to about 235 years.

Viktoria Matveichuk; photo by: Viktoria Matveichuk, archive of M.S. Kuvshinov
You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.