On the website of the Russian Academy of Sciences, there is a congratulation for Academician Andrei Georgievich Degermendzhi on his anniversary.
Andrei Georgievich Degermendzhi was born on February 3, 1947. In 1970 he graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the Krasnoyarsk branch of the Novosibirsk State University with a degree in biophysics. In 1971-1981 he worked at the L.V. Kirensky Institute of Physics as a graduate student, and then, as a junior researcher. Since 1981 he worked at the Institute of Biophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a Senior Researcher, Leading Researcher, Head of the Laboratory of Biophysics of Ecosystems (since 1990), and as the Deputy Director for science (since 1994). Since 1996 he has been the Director of the Institute of Biophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Andrei Georgievich has been a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 2000, and an Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 2011.

A.G. Degermenji is a biophysicist, a recognized leader in the field of biophysics of aquatic ecosystems and microbial communities, and a specialist in the field of ecosystem modeling, including artificial closed and biospheric ones.

A.G. Degermendzhi performed the following:
- theoretical study of ecological mechanisms of regulation of the species composition of artificial and natural communities of microorganisms;
- experimental studies of the self-regulation mechanisms of the growth of microorganisms and the development of new biophysical methods;
- forecast of the state of aquatic ecosystems (river and lake) and water quality based on mathematical modeling and experimental studies.

Under the leadership of A.G. Degermendzhi, the Institute of Biophysics SB RAS has achieved world-class results in several areas. Pilot production of bioplastics and new bioluminescent diagnostic methods have been established. In the south of Siberia, he organized a biophysical field station with international participation to study the mechanisms of stratification and circulation of substances in "species-depleted" meromictic salt lakes. A new direction in the biophysics of superorganism systems has been formed and is now developing, which substantiates the possibility of an integral approach to diagnosing the state of biological systems of various organization and complexity levels. The research of the Institute covers not only the three elements of the biosphere - water, earth, and air - but also moves into space.

A large amount of the research is related to biopolymers obtained as a result of microbiological biosynthesis. As to agriculture, the topic of remote sensing of fields using hyperspectral technology is promising. A common lake problem, namely microalgae bloom, is also being studied. Mathematical models of forecasting water blooming are created and tested taking into account various factors.

The BIOS (bioregenerative life support system) is also worth mentioning here. This is the heart of the Institute of Biophysics, which resulted in research is being done today in almost all scientific areas.

The longest experiment with BIOS with the participation of people lasted 180 days (1972-1973): three researchers breathed oxygen released by plants growing in BIOS-3, and water was purified inside the system. Complete closure of the system (circulation) for oxygen and carbon dioxide and almost complete (95%) one for water were achieved. The entire plant part of the food, 50-70% of the human diet, consisted of wheat and vegetables grown in BIOS.

Recently, the biophysicists of the Institute have presented BIOS-4, a new type of closed life support system that is to become the basis of a future lunar base. BIOS-4 allows scientists to completely (!) close the cycle and provide future space colonists with food, air, and clean water.

The hermetic module "BIOS" enabled scientists to gain a lot of experience in space technologies. Unique installations for processing and involving all types of organic waste in a closed cycle have been created. Technology has been developed for the deep purification of gases released during the processing of organic matter: ammonia and volatile organic compounds. The problem of salt, which previously could not be completely removed from human excreta and returned to circulation, has been solved. Technologies for creating a soil-like substrate and introducing a protein link into the system have also been worked out. The BIOS-4 closed life support system in extreme conditions, designed for the long-term residence of astronauts on the Moon, can now be used for living in military units in the Arctic regions and small villages in the Far North.

A.G. Degermendzhi has trained 15 Doctors and 11 Candidates of Sciences, he is the supervisor of numerous grants from Russian and international foundations. He is the author and co-author of more than 300 scientific papers, including 6 monographs. He is a member of the editorial boards of the journals "Aquatic Ecology", "European Agrophysical Journal", "Science First Hand", "Ecological Studies"; "Siberian Ecological Journal", and "Journal of Siberian Federal University".

A.G. Degermendzhi is a Member of the Presidium of SB RAS, Deputy Chairman for Science of the Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS, member of a number of scientific councils of RAS: on biophysics, radioecology, environmental problems, mathematical biology, bioinformatics of SB RAS, and on emergency situations.
He is the Chairman of the specialized doctoral council, member of the scientific council of the Institute of Fundamental Biology.
A.G. Degermendzhi is also a Member of the Scientific and Technical Council of the RF Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (section "Water Resources"), a member of the International Society for Ecological Modeling "The International Society for Ecological Modeling". He is an Academician of the Ecological Academy of Russia, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Engineering Sciences of the Russian Federation, Honorary Professor of the Beijing University of Aviation and Cosmonautics, First Deputy of the Scientific Council on Ecology of RAS.

He was awarded the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II class.
He was presented with an award and gratitude from the Presidium of SB RAS and Presidium of KSC SB RAS for the successful organization and personal contribution to a comprehensive scientific expedition for the expert assessment of the feasibility study "Turukhanskaya HPP".
He was awarded the gold medal of VDNKh of the USSR for his work in the field of ecology: "Computer system for forecasting the state of ecosystems of lakes and water reservoirs."

We congratulate Andrei Georgievich on his anniversary and wish him further success in science!