ИСТИНА

Mining and metallurgical industry has been one of key sectors for the Russian state since the 17th century. This paper addresses cooperation and unity within the production sector and the scientific and engineering communities. In particular, this paper describes the foundation of the Learned Mining Committee, focus areas and results of its activities. The Mining Institute was founded back in 1773 to train competent professionals for the mining and metallurgical enterprises. However, for many reasons including the lack of the relevant professional periodicals, technological innovations sometimes took long to reach these enterprises. To address this problem, the LMC was set up in 1825 under the Mining Department (established in 1806) on the initiative of the Emperor Alexander I. LMC was comprised renowned scientists, practitioners, and managers of iron and steel enterprises. One of the Committee’s core functions was reviewing projects concerned with developing the mining and salt industries. From the very first year of its functioning, the Committee published Journal of Mining and facilitated the publication of technical works on the subject. The Committee members collected, processed and published statistical data and conducted studies on the history of metallurgy and mining. After the October 1917 Revolution, the LMC was dissolved and the Journal of Mining first changed its name and then was temporarily discontinued. However, the experience of the Committee was taken into consideration in setting up the Soviet public administration bodies. The publication of the Journal of Mining was resumed. It is still being published in Russia.