Vladimir N. Zharkov

The 2004 Runcorn-Florensky Medal is awarded to Vladimir N. Zharkov for his many important contributions to planetary science, especially related to the interior structure and chemical composition of Mars.

Professor Vladimir N. Zharkov, at the Institute of Physics of the Earth, Moscow, is working since the middle of last century in the area of planetary physics and related subjects. He has published more than 200 papers and 10 books on the physics of Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. All his publications reflect his very broad knowledge about many issues of planetary science. His contributions in this field are very essential.

Recently, Prof. Zharkov concentrated his interest on planet Mars. He successfully used the knowledge on the chemical composition of Mars to unravel the internal structure of this planet. His research group is internationally highly recognized and contains among younger people eminent scientists like Prof. A. P. Trubitsyn or Prof. V. S. Solomatov. His relation to EGU is reflected by a number of papers and abstracts given at the EGU (EGS) meetings.

Prof. Zharkov is Deputy Chief Editor of Astronomicheski Vestnik/Solar System Research and member of the Editorial Board of Pis’ma v Astronomicheski Zhurnal/Astronomical Letters.

Since 1996, Prof. Zharkov is chief scientist of the Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences.