A scientific journey: Nikolay Vasiliev’s quest to perfect the tools to drill into deep Antarctic ice

Since the early 1950s, when extensive exploration of Antarctica began, drilling has become an integral part of many large-scale scientific projects carried out on the sixth continent. Thanks to the rapid development of drilling equipment and technology, numerous scientific discoveries have been made in the fields of paleoclimatology, geology, glaciology, and other natural sciences. Since 1968, the St. Petersburg Mining University has played a leading role in this area’s development, and several generations of ice drilling specialists were trained within its walls. One of the most outstanding was Nikolay Vasiliev, who led Antarctic research at the university from 2002 to 2021. His contribution to the development of ice core drilling in Antarctica cannot be overestimated. Professor Vasiliev’s extensive and highly creative work laid the foundation for many achievements in this field over the past 30 years. His path is a brilliant example of hard work and dedication to one’s cause. This article is a tribute to Professor Vasiliev, who is cherished by his friends and colleagues who had the good fortune to work and study with this talented person and scientist.