# Vera Varsanofieva

Vera Aleksandrovna Varsanofieva (Russian: Вера Александровна Варсанофьева; 22 July 1890, Moscow — 29 June 1976) was a Soviet geologist, geomorphologist, a member-correspondent of the USSR Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, and an honored scientist of the RSFSR. She was the first woman to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences.

## Biography

Born in Moscow to a military family, she received her initial education at home under the guidance of her mother, the French, Yulia Lvovna, who taught her foreign languages and aroused her interest in scientific pursuits. Varsanofieva spent most of her childhood in Ryazan, according to the duty station of her father. At the age of 13, she entered the Mariinsky Women's Gymnasium in Ryazan. In 1906, she graduated with a gold medal. At 14 years old, Varsanofieva told her parents that she would be a geologist. In the gymnasium, the sister of the future professor-geologist A. D. Arkhangelsky became a classmate and friend of Varsanofieva. To supplement her education in mathematics and history, she began to attend the 8th grade at the V. P. Cimicky private gymnasium.
In 1907, she entered the physics and mathematics department of the Higher Women's Courses in Moscow. In the summer of 1911, Professor A. A. Chernov organized the first excursion to the Northern Urals for students, and thus V. A. Varsanofieva first came to the area, which later became the site of her many years of geological research.
In 1915, Varsanofieva passed the state exams at the First State Testing Commission at the Moscow Higher Women's Courses and was left at the geology department of these courses "to prepare for a professorship". From 1916 to 1919, she taught at the Moscow Prechistenskii working courses. In 1918, as an assistant, she gave lectures on geology and mineral resources at the Moscow Higher Courses for Women, and then at Moscow State University in the Department of A. P. Pavlov. Since 1920, as an assistant professor at the 1st Moscow State University, she read the first special tectonics course in Moscow. In 1919–24 she taught at the Tver Pedagogical Institute, at the Ivanovo-Voznesensky Pedagogical and Polytechnic Institutes. In 1921–1924, she conducted research, mainly in the mountainous belt of the Northern Urals.
In 1925 she was briefly arrested. In 1925-1956 she taught at the 2nd Moscow State University (from 1930 - MGPI them. V. I. Lenin ), where she read her original course in mineralogy and geology, which included the basics of paleontology and lectures on dynamic and historical geology. In 1934–1935, under the leadership of Varsanofieva, a course of teaching geology was developed.
In 1935, for the totality of the works of V. A. Varsanofieva that were published by that time, she was the first woman to receive the degree of Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences without defending a thesis.
Academician V.A. Obruchev recommended in 1941 to print her book "The Origin and Structure of the Earth" with the following words: "The book is read with great interest and even I have learned from it quite a bit of new knowledge departments that are less close to me."
In 1945, she was elected a corresponding Member of the Academy of pedagogical Sciences of the USSR.
Since 1954, living in Moscow, she worked as a senior researcher and head of laboratory (1961-1964) in the Institute of Geology, Komi branch of the USSR.
In 1970, she retired.
In 1976, she died and was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

## Membership organizations

* since 1916 member of the society of lovers of natural science, anthropology and Ethnography.
* since 1923 — member of the Moscow society of naturalists. Vice-President of the society since 1942.
* since 1927 — member of the Geographical society of the USSR.

## Awards

* 1944 — Medal "For the Defense of Moscow"
* 1946 — Medal "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
* 1945 — Order of the Red Banner of Labor
* 1948 — Medal "In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow"
* 1950 — Gold Medal to them. A.P. Karpinsky Academy of Sciences of the USSR (For the totality of geological works)
* 1953 — The Order of Lenin
* 1957 — Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Komi ASSR
* 1960 — Honored Scientist of the RSFSR
* 1970 — Order "Badge of Honor"