From the fundamental theory of metal strength to the digital design of new alloys: current problems of metal science were discussed by the country's leading scientists at the XXVIII International Scientific and Technical Conference of the Ural School of Metal Thermists, which was held in the Novosibirsk region from February 2–6, 2026.
This year, a scientific event initiated by the Department of Materials Science in Mechanical Engineering of Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU) was held in the Siberian capital for the first time. Traditionally, the conference is held every two years in February in the Ural region. The main organizers are the Ural Federal University (Department of Heat Treatment and Metal Physics), the Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Laboratory of Physical Metallology) and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The reason for the expansion of geography this year was the 100th anniversary of the birth of an outstanding materials scientist, Honored Scientist, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Leonid Innokentievich Tushinsky, founder of the School of Materials Science at NSTU-NETI.
The Ural School of Metal Thermists was held with the support of industrial partners, including: Newtons LLC, Novosibirsk Switch Plant JSC, NPO ELSIB PJSC, Sistema Charitable Foundation, FIANUMLAB Group of Companies, AZPI Management Company LLC, MTK LLC.
The conference brought together representatives of the country's scientific materials science centers in Novosibirsk: Central Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Belgorod), the Urals (Yekaterinburg, Perm, Ufa), Siberia (Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Novokuznetsk) and other regions (Volgograd, Tolyatti). During the conference, scientists presented more than a hundred plenary, sectional and poster presentations on such relevant and promising research areas as additive technologies, the evolution of the structure of metals and alloys under plastic deformation and external influences, promising materials and new research methods, including the use of synchrotron radiation.
Competitions for the best oral and poster presentations among young scientists were held within the framework of the conference. The best poster presentation was the presentation by Alexander Ivannikov (National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI", Moscow) "Ensuring the vacuum density of Al2o3/29NA compounds during soldering with a quick-tempered ribbon solder of the Cu-Ti system". The best oral presentation was given by Irina Steshenko (National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk), "The effect of heat treatment on microstructure and elastocaloric effect in alloys (Ni 54 Fe 19 Ga 27) 99.7 B 0.3 with various alloying methods."
The conference was launched by the acting rector of NSTU-NETI, Chairman of the organizing committee of the conference, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Anatoly Bataev, presenting a report on the scientific heritage of L. I. Tushinsky and continued work at the Department of Materials Science in Mechanical Engineering, established in 1955. The speaker emphasized the special role of the department, which has essentially become the core of one of the country's leading scientific schools.
Among the modern achievements confirming not only the preservation of the great heritage, but also its active development, Anatoly Bataev noted, in particular, the work on new materials: within the framework of the Priority 2030 program, the department's staff developed manganese-zinc ferrites, which are not inferior in their characteristics to the best foreign analogues. NSTU-NETI materials scientists have also developed a technology for the production of ceramics and ceramic composites for a new generation of medical devices replacing metal implants. One of the strategically important areas is participation in the creation of the SKIF CCP: university scientists have developed a project for station 2-1 "Engineering Materials Science".
Speaking about the personal qualities of a teacher and scientific mentor, Anatoly Bataev noted the rigor towards young scientists, which was harmoniously combined with the talent to sincerely admire their achievements, accuracy and immense respect for work.
"I am sure that the Ural School of Metal Thermists that will be held in honor of L.I. Tushinsky is of great importance for the continuation of the traditions of our Siberian scientific school of materials science and, of course, the formation of young scientists. By presenting the results of their research in a friendly atmosphere, which is traditionally characteristic of this conference, they "grow stronger". Previously, we, the professor's students, suffered from the lack of equipment necessary for scientific work. Today, initiative people and ideas are becoming a deficit. And I am proud that there are such people at NSTU-NETI and the Tushinsky Scientific school will grow with new generations, discoveries and developments," Anatoly Bataev noted.
Alexey Makarov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Materials Science and the Laboratory of Mechanical Properties of the IFM of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized the integrating role of the conference: "Holding the Ural School on Novosibirsk soil in honor of Professor Tushinsky's centenary is an expansion of scientific horizons and the unification of academic and university science. Novosibirsk is the birthplace of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and such regional interaction enriches and becomes a source of new knowledge and practices."
Among the significant features of the Ural School of Metal Thermists, Head of the UrFU Department of Heat Treatment and Metal Physics, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Artemiy Popov noted the informality of the "school" environment, which removes barriers and gives a young researcher the opportunity to calmly approach and ask a question to a venerable professor.
According to Evgeny Kolubaev, Director of the Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, it is impossible to develop science without deep cooperation between scientific schools: "Now, in the face of technological challenges, it is critically important to exchange information about practical, technological development, which allows us to find solutions faster and achieve concrete results.".
In addition to the scientific program, a round table with the partner of the conference, Newtons, was organized for the conference participants, as well as an excursion to the SKIF Collective Use Center, which is being built in the Koltsovo science city of the Novosibirsk region.