2022 Volume 5 Issue 4 (Published 31 May 2023)

Dear colleagues,  

The new issue is ready. Our appeal to the Institute staff has proven fruitful, our portfolio grows, and the editorial team is close to working at full capacity. As it says in the Scriptures, seek and ye shall find. The old proverb goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained. While we were suffering silently because of the low activity of the authors, the authors were quietly discussing that INEOS OPEN is coming out very slowly, not at all as it was designed to, although the cure is right here, if not under the same roof, then definitely nearby. As soon as we got together to discuss the problem, everything began falling into place, and we have acquired confidence that, in its anniversary year, we will be able to maintain a proper schedule and get noticed by the databases. And if before, when I was saying "we", I meant the editorial team, now "we" means the editors, the authors, and the advisory board.

However, there is the usual expectation that, if appealing to the authors and readers had worked once, it would do so again, and, consequently, using this method would be a constant temptation for as long as it keeps working. Still, it's too early to think about that, our "electorate" is far from being fully saturated, and those who haven't yet prepared an article for our Journal may yet respond to our other pain and assist with assembling the scientific legacy of our Institute.

That work may take different shape, but I have yet again become convinced that it's necessary after examining the experience of the Nesmeyanov Seminar. We have come upon such treasure troves of scientific and administrative knowledge that its value is difficult to calculate. It even appears at times that we can drop everything else and only convey those treasures to the people who currently run science and our entire scientific reality would be instantly changed for the better.

Or, for instance, let us take the topic of synthetic food, historically part of our Institute's legacy. The keeper of our Nesmeyanov Museum had asked me and I had agreed to record an interview for the NTV Channel discussing that issue. While preparing for it, I borrowed for a day that thin, tiny brochure "The Problems of Synthetic Food"—the report Alexander Nesmeyanov had made at the Mendeleev Congress. I read it and was amazed. The depth and scale on which our Director had been operating were staggering, the same as his deep understanding of the chemical basis of synthetic food—and all of that in line with the huge visionary program for liberating our planet from dependency on food sources that has no analogues in its scale, economic foundation, and the human aspect. It's important to note that Alexander Nesmeyanov never claimed authorship of it, but thought himself a follower of the ideas of his great predecessors such as Dmitri Mendeleev and Marcellin Berthelot. However, unlike his predecessors, Nesmeyanov started systematically and skillfully executing those ideas and plans.

However, his life was finite, and, without him, the discoveries of the INEOS RAS had sunk into various administrative corners and management feuds, and soon after the interest in the synthetic food had waned. To be fair, he had understood that as well, had known that he was working for a very distant future, as stated in the last sentence of the brochure. "All of this is only the formation of the problem to be solved—the planting of a tree, whose crown is way up in the future, while the roots are in the present and are calling for a thorough development."

Back to the interview (https://www.ntv.ru/novosti/2764889/). I have done my best; however, the cunning TV professionals had taken two lines that they needed to somehow throw emphasis on the new business enthusiasts who develop Nesmeyanov and his INEOS followers' ideas without mentioning them, and worse—without knowing of them at all. Once, such businessmen had already discredited a great idea in their hurry to get rich, when they had injected tons of protein emulsion into sausage without bothering to inform the consumers that such sausage can't be fried—it will lose its consumptive qualities. Will it be more of the same this time? Meanwhile, Nesmeyanov's program suggested a long and slow introduction of the scientific achievements in this area into more practical realm. That was meant to be done working closely with biochemists and microbiologists, with specialists in gastroenterology and many different experts in the humanitarian fields. It was designed as a whole paradigm shift when it comes to food consumption.

Of course, we still have grounds for optimism. Experience shows that Nesmeyanov's ideas don't die, they simply await their proper time when new generations of chemists dreaming big would get to those treasure troves. We can make that task easier for them by popularizing the achievements of our brilliant Director. Perhaps, in time, the Russian Academy of Sciences would open a new direction for synthetic food that would supervise all aspects of that global issue, would hand over the carefully selected and researched samples to the licensed companies. Yes, that might be a prospect for the far future, but we must start thinking of it today, while simultaneously exerting strict control over all relevant RAS research.

Back to the famous brochure, it exists in digital version—please ask for it the Museum. I can assure you, it's a much more fascinating read than theories on ozone layers thinning, carbon footprint, and the anthropogenic impact on climate. Feel the difference.

Meanwhile, life goes on. The main assembly of the Russian Academy of Sciences has come and gone. There are new winds in managing of the scientific process and the state of being relevant for the scientific research. The assembly was attended by a number of members of the Government, the State Duma, and the Federation Council, who had, unexpectedly, listened to the RAS President's report with great attention, demonstrating the audience their benevolence and full support of the President's plans to fine-tune the cooperation between the RAS and the governmental structures.

Practically at the same time, the Volpin Conference was held at the INEOS RAS. Its main event was the brilliant presentation of Irina Beletskaya who had not only demonstrated the deep understanding of the problems of catalysis in addition and substitution reactions, but also an amazing synergy with the audience, which made her presentation a truly felt experience.

More on the conference in the special edition of our Journal that is being compiled right now—please consider participating!

Sincerely yours, Editor-in-Chief Prof., Full Member of RAS Aziz M. Muzafarov

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