The history of foundation and development of the Makkaveev’s laboratory

The N.I. Makkaveev Research Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Channel Processes was organized on the initiative of Professor N.I. Makkaveev in 1969 in accordance with the Resolution of the USSR State Committee on Science and Technology as a response to the Government Resolution “About urgent measures to protect lands from water and wind erosion of soils”. The paper presents that the basis of the new laboratory was formed by scientific teams (groups) created by N.I. Makkaveev since 1953 at Moscow University in various directions in the study of erosion and channel processes. Together with the development of the theory and methodology of erosion and channel studies, a unified doctrine of the erosion-accumulative fluvial process and erosion-fluvial systems, the laboratory’s research has always been closely linked to the solution of practical problems – protection of soils from erosion, regulation of river channels under development of water and other river resources, prevention of hazard manifestations of erosion and channel processes, on the one hand, and training of highly qualified specialists, on the other. The laboratory has overcome all the difficulties that have arisen in science development since the 90 s of the 20 th century and continues to function successfully at present, receiving support from the Russian Science Foundation, state and other programs, state contracts for the implementation of specific scientific and production tasks. The main scientific results of the 55-year activity of the laboratory are formulated.