Presentation of a book titled Prokopiev Valerii Nikiforovich was held at the Pushkin Hall of South Ural State University.
This book describes the life and work of Valerii Prokopiev, Doctor of Sciences (Engineering) (1986), Professor (1987), Honorary Figure of Russian Higher Education (1999), academician of the Russian Academy of Transport (1995), and Head of the Department of Automotive Engineering (1976–2009).
In his opening speech, the Head of the Department of Automotive Engineering Iurii Rozhdestvenskii noted that this presentation is held at the time when we celebrate the 80th anniversary of SUSU, 80th anniversary of the Automotive Engineering section of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and the 65th anniversary of the Department of Automotive Engineering.
The research works by Valerii Prokopiev deal with the diagnostics of the technical condition of vehicles and tribological engineering – science about friction, wear and lubricants for vehicles.
“The graduates and successors of Valerii Prokopiev should set themselves an important task – to continue their work in this relevant field and reach new heights in science. Our university needs such research studies,” noted SUSU President Aleksandr Shestakov.
Valerii Prokopiev is also a creator of the scientific school in the field of hydrodynamic multiaxial-load sliding bearings. He obtained 18 inventor's certificates, and 6 thereof were implemented into production. For the development of diagnostic equipment, he was awarded gold (1978, 1983), silver (1977, 1982) and bronze (1979, 1980) medals at the USSR Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy.
It is very sad that Valerii Prokopiev passed away, but his disciples feel grateful to him and still remember his lectures, instructions and pieces of advice. One of his students closed his speech with this expression: “As long as we remember a person, they're not really gone!”.