It is an experience worth revisiting... Review of the book “Novosibirsk State University. The First Decade (1959–1968)” by V. A. Vybornova and M. P. Fedoruk

The monograph shows the history of Novosibirsk State University (NSU) from its foundation in 1959 to 1968 when the transformation of the HEI’s structure was basically completed and the staff and educational processes were stabilized. The authors trace the mechanisms of adaptation of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology model during the development of a new type of university, created in conjunction with the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences and focused on training personnel for scientific activities. In this context, the process of the formation of the teaching staff is shown, the emphasis is made on the principle of combining the work of researchers in the institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences and NSU, the role of the physics and mathematics school at NSU is discussed. Special attention is paid to the personal contribution of the organizers to the development of NSU. For this purpose, the authors used the prosopographical method and selected 176 key persons. The book also presents the trajectories of scientific and teaching growth of young researchers who worked at the university and examines extracurricular activities of students. The authors focus on the description of the activities of the key actors in making the image of the university.