Submitted by Victor Latynov, International Relations, Obninsk

... ... a community called Obninsk surrounded
... ... by picturesque Russian forests on the left
... ... bank of the Protva river. It takes you only
... ... an hour and twenty minutes to travel from
... ... Moscow to Obninsk by car. Vnukovo airport for domestic flights and shipping is only 50 min away from Obninsk. There is a railway station in the city and a freight airport only 20 km away.

...

... The city is situated about 60 miles to the south west from Moscow, in the Kaluga region. The place where Obninsk is located has a rich background of historical events. Three archaeological relics of about 2000 years old are known here. A Slav hamlet with the signs of ancient culture was located on the place from where the IPPE started, a remarkable monument, the Luzhki-village, comprises a vast settlement and a neighboring necropolis with about 20 tumuli. In the vicinity of Obninsk there are several famous old Russian communities such as Borovsk, Maloyaroslavets and Tarutino.

... In the middle of the sixteenth century an estate appeared here with its center in the Belkino village, whose area is covered by Obninsk now. In the end of the 16th century the owners of this estate were the representatives of famous Russian families. In the late 19th century the owners of the estate became the Obninskies who took an active part in the preparation of reforms of 1861 in Kaluga province. In the end of the 19 century Belkino became one of the centers of cultural life in the vicinity of Moscow.

...In 1911 a part of the estate as well as some funds were given by the owners to the famous Russian pedagogue Shatsky in order to construct a special summer boarding school "Cheerful life" for Moscow children. The school functioned up to 1941 and became an outstanding event in the pedagogic science and practice. The works of Shatsky are known all over the world.

...In 1936 a special building was constructed, and a children's home for Spanish children was organized there.

... In the middle of October, 1941 the Kaluga region was occupied by fascist troops, but as early as on December 29 it was liberated by the Red Army. In May, 1942 buildings of the Spanish children's home and the boarding-school served as the head quarter of the Western front under the command of our famous fellow-countryman, Marshal Zhukov.

... About forty five years ago the name "Obninsk" became famous when the nuclear power plant was built. During the first years after World War II, when the country was restoring its economy and rebuilding its towns and villages, not far from Moscow a group of builders came to the previously almost unsettled region of Obninskoye to build the first nuclear power plant in Russia. A few houses and a construction site with a fence around it was the humble beginning of the new scientific center. The builders worked intensively and with interest, understanding the difficulty and the importance of the task.

... The settlement began to grow. Researchers were the first to come to it, both well-known scientists and university graduates. They came with grand expectations and lofty ideals. These people were going to harness the energy of the atom to make it serve the man. Their work was a success and on June 27, 1954 the world witnessed the opening of a new nuclear power plant. With the opening of the power plant, a new town and a future scientific center was born in Russia.

... On July 24, 1956 Obninsk community acquired a status of a city within the Kaluga region. The city was built and inhabited by young people with an average age of 25 years old. Among them there were physics-engineers, biologists, meteorologists, medical workers, builders. For 40 years its population has increased a hundred time, and now the city has more than100,000 inhabitants.

... Obninsk maintains a well developed infrastructure, manufacturing base, and a highly educated population, which provide the city with unique potential for future development. The activity of famous scientists such as Kurchatov, Blokhintsev, Leipunsky, and Timofeev-Resovsky began the city's legacy of innovative research. Today the work of 200 doctors of science and over 2,000 Ph.D. in Obninsk continue that legacy.

... The city's closeness to Moscow, the country's center and the quietness of the city create wonderful conditions for fruitful work. Good technical facilities, a well developed communication network and the high intellectual potential of the city make it one of the country's best places for the research activity.

... The successes of the Obninsk's contributions to science are not attributable solely to the city's institutes and research complexes. Obninsk has greatly benefited from scientific exchange. Obninsk has had the privilege to host many conferences, seminars and symposia which gather researchers from all over the country. For many years participants in these meetings have also been some of the best scientists of Europe, America, China and Japan.

... The reforms that are changing Russia also influence this young scientific center. These changes initiated in politics have found their way to the economic and social spheres of the city. More than 3,000 new ventures and joint-stock companies have been registered and started their work in Obninsk in recent years. A characteristic featureof our enterpreneurs is their understanding of perspectives. Most of the new ventures are developing their own scientific projects, know-how, supporting innovation programs. The privatization program developed and being implemented in the city is an additional stimulus to the growth of private business. Shops, small ventures, flats are becoming private and at the real estate auctions one may buy unfinished constructions. Great attention continues to be given to projects that support the intellectual potential of the city.

... Culture and arts thrive in Obninsk because the community both participates and appreciates. Museum, dance and theater groups, chorus and a multitude of other cultural activities reflect the city's love affair with the arts. Cultural life flows with a richness and diversity. Obninsk has much to offer. We invite you to come and see for yourself.