AASP Primary Records Program

PALYNOS 26(1): p. 9, 2003.

German P. Gapochka German P. Gapochka was born in Ryazan’ on June 8, 1933. In 1952 he enrolled in the Faculty of Biology and Soil Sciences of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). Obtaining his degree in 1957, he joined the All-Union Research Institute of Natural Gas. Since 1962, he worked at MSU, first as an instructor in the Department of Higher Plants, then as an assistant professor in the same department, and later as a deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Soil Sciences, deputy Pro-rector of MSU, and deputy Head of the Department of Higher Plants. He was a member of the Scientific Council of the Biological Faculty and Joint Councils of MSU.

His research interests included palynomorphology and evolution, and nature conservation. For many years he led a team working on the ‘Man and Biosphere project’ under the auspices of UNESCO. He initiated the Laboratory of Ecology and Nature conservation at the Department of Higher Plants. German is author or co-author of 58 papers, including three textbooks and the monograph ‘Herbaceous Plants of the Soviet Union’.

He developed original theoretical courses for students and fellows of the Department of Higher Plants. His courses included Electron Microscopy in Botany, and ’Pollen Morphology and Pollen and Spore Analysis’, the latter course was taught by him for about thirty years. Since the 1990’s, he taught studentsin higher plants systematics and general botany, He also organized field trips. He was awarded several medals for his scientific, public, and educational activities. German P. Gapochka will remain in the memories of his friends and colleagues as a friendly and warm-hearted person.