Gubkin Dynasties. The History of the Ermolkin Family

"How many of my relatives graduated from Gubkin University? I can't count them, and I haven't even tried, there are so many of them!"

I, Oleg Viktorovich Ermolkin, am a graduate of our university, a professor, and a doctor of technical sciences. Science has accompanied me throughout my life, from my youthful hobbies to my mature scientific career. But my story is not only about formulas, logic, and calculations. It is about a dynasty in which science has become a tradition rooted in several generations.

I was born into a family where geology and oil business were an integral part of life. My paternal grandfather, Ivan Potapovich Ermolkin, worked in the oil fields of Kazakhstan, and my father, Viktor Ivanovich Ermolkin, became an honored geologist of Russia and a laureate of the Academician I.M. Gubkin Prize. My mother, Galina Georgievna Ermolkina, is a graduate of the geological faculty of our university, like her father, Georgy Fedorovich Kipsar, a laureate of the USSR State Prize. And my great-grandfather on my mother's side, Academician Vladimir Aleksandrovich Selsky, is one of those who stood at the origins of oil education in the country: he became the first rector of the Grozny Oil Institute, and later a research vessel was named after him.

My father is well known at our university. During his student years, he was the secretary of the Komsomol organization of the university, and later the secretary of the party organization of the university. He worked at our university all his life. Here he defended his candidate's dissertation, and then defended his doctoral dissertation. Until the end of his life, he worked as a professor at the geological faculty.

Fate first brought me to MIPT, but soon I realized that my path was at Gubkin University, with which my whole family was connected. Here I completed my postgraduate studies, defended my candidate's dissertation, and then my doctoral dissertation. For many years, I headed the Department of Information and Measuring Systems, and now I work as a professor. In science, I found not only my calling, but also a way of life. I happened to become a laureate of the Russian Government Prize, and receive awards from PAO Gazprom.

My wife, Olga Remirovna Ermolkina, is a graduate of the same department as me. Her family is also a real scientific dynasty of Gubkin students. Her father, Remir Vasilyevich Senyukov, defended his doctoral dissertation at our university and worked as a professor at the geological faculty. My wife's grandfather, Vasily Mikhailovich Senyukov, graduated from our university and three years later became the first doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences in the USSR. In his youth, he went to school only at the age of 18, finishing it in three years, and already at the age of 31 he became a doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences. For his scientific discoveries, he was awarded the title of laureate of the USSR State Prize three times. Such a path - from an illiterate youth to one of the country's leading scientists - commands respect and inspires to overcome any difficulties.

My children chose humanitarian professions, but I am sure that the engineering and analytical thinking instilled in them in childhood helps them cope with any tasks.

Family photo, 2022

Today, I continue to do scientific work, consult, and give lectures. I am proud of my students - many of them have already defended their dissertations, and work successfully at our university, in the industry and science. Seeing their success is a great joy.

The staff of the Department of Information and Measuring Systems with excellent graduates, 2006

I cannot help but note that my scientific and technical skills help me not only in my professional activities. I am a techie in everything: at work and in everyday life. I am even interested in making various automation systems at my dacha: controlled irrigation on the site, remote control of electricity supply, heating, climate in the house, etc.

I am grateful to fate that I ended up at our university, that I met my soulmate here, my wife Olga, with whom we have been together for almost forty years, that I was lucky enough to do interesting research work here.