Karelian scholarly geologist Vladimir A. Sokolov

Vladimir Alekseevich Sokolov (1927–1999), Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Honoured Scientist of the KASSR, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Oulu (Finland). He started his professional career at the Karelian-Finnish Research Facility of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1954 as a Researcher in the Geology Department, to become the Head of the Regional Geology Section in 1960, and then Head of the Laboratory of Lithology and Paleovolcanology, Director of the Institute of Geology of the Karelian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences and Chairman of the Presidium of the Karelian Research Centre of the USSR Academy of Sciences. He is a well-known Karelian geologist, a reputable specialist in the fields of geology, lithology, stratigraphy, palaeovolcanology and palaeogeography of the Precambrian. The main milestones of scientific and science-administration activities of this geologist are characterised, proving V. A. Sokolov can be rightfully called the founder and leader of the scientific fields of stratigraphy, lithology and paleovolcanology of the Precambrian in Karelia. The high value of novel research methods is demonstrated on the basis of concrete acknowledged results. Recollections of Sokolov’s collaborators about their joint work are gathered into a separate section.