The Karelian Research Centre of RAS (KarRC RAS) is a state public institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences based in Petrozavodsk. It was founded on January 31, 1946. At the beginning of 2010, the centre employed 751 personnel, including 3 Corresponding Academicians, 70 Doctors of Science (DSc) and 214 Candidates of Science (PhD).KarRC RAS staff

According to a 2006 book, KarRC RAS mission was stated as: organization and implementation of basic and applied research under governmental, academy and regional programmes, as well as under assignments from RAS divisions and exploration projects; the coordination of research activities carried out by KarRC RAS units, universities and other scientific organizations, organizations and institutions under ministries and departments, which work in the region; the organization of international scientific cooperation; the training of highly qualified scientific staff; the publication of its own editions (monographic books, volumes of collected papers, express editions, popular science books, brochures, etc.).

History The KarRC RAS timeline of major events includes: 1930 — Complex Karelian Research Institute was founded 1937 — it was reorganized into the Karelian Research Institute of Culture 1946 — Karelian-Finnish Research Facility of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR with its scientific and general subdivisions was established 1949 — the Facility was renamed as the Karelian-Finnish Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR 1956 — the Branch was renamed as the Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR 1963 — the Karelian Branch was closed, the divisions became part of ministries and departments 1967 — the Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was reopened as a unity of 6 research institutions 1990 — the Karelian Branch was transformed into Karelian Research Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR 1991 — became the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences 2007 — renamed to the Russian Academy Institution Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences 2011 — renamed to Federal Public Budgetary Institution of Science Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences 2014 — renamed to Federal Public Budgetary Institution Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Karelian Research Institute (KRI) On the 24th of September, 1930, the Council of People's Commissars of the Autonomous Karelian SSR passed the resolution "On foundation of the Karelian Research (Complex) Institute – KRI".The History of Karelia from Ancient Times to the Present Day / Eds. N. A. Korablyov, V. G. Makurov, Yu. A. Savvateev, M. I. Shumilov. — Petrozavodsk: Periodika, 2001. P. 573—944 p.: ill. KRI began operating in 1931, and E. Gylling was appointed the director (Vice Director — S. A. Makaryev). KRI was set up to comprise 6 structural units for:

forestry and forest industry natural productive forces agriculture socio-economic history and revolution ethnography and linguistics

The units were later on reinforced and enlarged.

In the very first year of KRI operation, 19 expeditions and field trips were organized. Owing to the systematic sampling and collecting work, highly valuable field materials were detected and preserved, and the baseline for scientific research was enriched.

One of the biggest problems for the Institute was the shortage of human resources with relevant qualifications and experience. A wide practice was to invite scholars from Leningrad and Moscow.

Karelian Research Institute of Culture (KRIC) On the 11th of January 1937, the resolution was adopted transforming KRI into the Karelian Research Institute of Culture (KRIC), where only the humanities were retained. Further redundancies and closing of structural units followed. Units of the natural sciences, technical and economic profiles were transferred to corresponding governmental authorities, and the rest were either partially or totally disposed of.

In this period the institute studied the history of Karelia, its culture, languages and folk poetry (Russian and Karelian folklore).

In 1937—1938, political repressions affected the institute's staff even more, and dismissals continued. The institute's vice director S. A. Makaryev, leading specialists E. A. Haapalainen, N. V. Khrisanfov, N. N. Vinogradov, director of the library E. P. Oshevenskaya were arrested and executed on false accusations of setting up an espionage and rebel nationalist organization at the institute.

When the Karelian-Finnish Republic was founded in 1940 it was announced that KRIC needs to be transformed into the regional branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (AS), but World War II impeded the realization of this intention. During the war, the institute's archives were moved deeper into the country, and KRIC itself was evacuated to Syktyvkar (Komi ASSR), where the institute's activities were temporarily halted in 1942 and resumed in 1943. In the summer of 1944, after the liberation of Petrozavodsk, KRIC was moved back. In 1945 the idea of reform re-surfaced, and the first step was the transformation of KRIC into the Institute of History, Linguistics and Literature (HLL Institute) made up of three sections (departments): of history, linguistics, literature & folk art. HLL Institute was comprised in the Karelian-Finnish Research Facility of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.

Karelian-Finnish Research Facility of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR On 31.01.1946 the resolution was adopted on the establishment of the Karelian-Finnish Research Facility of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. It was made up of the following units (sections): Geology, Hydrology and Water Economy, Soil Science and Botany, Zoology, Industry & Economics, Laboratory of Forest Chemistry, HLL Institute; Kivach Strict Nature Reserve; scientific library and photo laboratory. A. A. Polkanov (1946—1947) was appointed the director, but had to resign in 1947 because of poor health, ceding the position to I. I. Gorsky (1947—1952). In 1948 the Industry and Economics Section was split into Economics Section and Laboratory of Non-metalliferous Minerals, and the Forest Laboratory was organized to be transformed into the Forest Section in the following year. Later on, the laboratories of parasitology and animal farming, and the White Sea Biological Research Station were set up.

Karelian-Finnish (Karelian) Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR On the 6th of October 1949, the Karelian-Finnish Research Facility of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was reorganized into the Karelian-Finnish Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. In 1952 I. I. Sykiäinen (1952—1957) became its president. The organization carried out research on useful minerals, water and energy resources, economic issues, forestry and forest industry; developed methods for wise use of logging wastes, fish resources of inland waters and the White Sea; continued studies of the history, literature and folk art of Karelia. In 1949—1951 most of the activities within the Integrated Expedition for the Study of the Productive Forces and Development Potential of Western Karelian Districts were implemented. In 1951 two new departments appeared: for economics and for mire science (including experimental facilities). In 1953 the Institute of Biology, and Departments of Hydrology and Energy were established. As of 1953, the structure of the Karelian-Finnish Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was the following: Geology Section; Hydrology and Water Economy Section; Forest Section; Economics Section; Kivach Strict Nature Reserve; Publishing Section; Scientific Library; Archives; Cartography Office; Photo Laboratory, HLL Institute and the Institute of Biology .

Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR

In 1956, as the republic changed status from union to autonomous the Karelian-Finnish Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was renamed as the Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The next president after I. I. Sykiäinen was V. S. Slodkevich (1957—1960), then the position was shortly held by V. P. Dadykin (1960—1962), who was succeeded by V. I. Yermakov (1962—1964, 1967).

In 1957 there appeared the Forest Research Institute and the White Sea Biological Research Station under the Institute of Biology, and in 1961 the Institute of Geology with Museum of Precambrian Geology.

On the 21st of November 1963, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR passed the ordinance "On the actions in connection with the termination of the operation of the Bashkir, Karelian and Kazan branches of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR". Pursuant to this ordinance the Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR stopped operating on 01.01.1964. The only unit retained with the Academy of Sciences was the HLL Institute with the scientific library, archives and cartography office now subordinated to it. The Institute of Biology became an entity with own budget directly subordinated to the Petrozavodsk State University. The Forest Research Institute is renamed as the Karelian Forest Institute and transferred to the authority of the State Committee on Forest, Pulp-and-paper, Woodworking Industry and Forestry subordinated to the USSR Gosplan, and the Institute of Geology becomes subordinated to the USSR Ministry of Geology. On 18.02.1967 the USSR Council of Ministers adopted the Resolution "On reinstitution of the Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR". The Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was reassembled to comprise the Institutes of Geology, Forest Research, Biology, HLL, Departments of Hydrology and Water Economy, Economics. Having resumed its activities the Karelian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was developing successfully relying on previous experience. The first president after the reinstitution was N. I. Pjavchenko (1968—1976). Leadership after N. I. Pjavchenko was ceded to scientists working at the Karelian Branch: first V. A. Sokolov (1976—1986) and then I. M. Nesterenko (1987—1991).

Karelian Research Centre RAS