In February 2022, the scientific community of Kazakhstan celebrated the birthday of a veteran of science, a man of great soul and unlimited hard work, who devoted himself entirely to the working scientific activity of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Igor Mikhailovich Malkovsky.
Igor Mikhailovich inherited his love for science from his father, Mikhail Pavlovich Malkovsky (1901-1978), a scientific entomologist who throughout his life dealt with the problems of protecting plants from pests and diseases in various regions of Kazakhstan. Being very young, Igor Mikhailovich took part as a technician in scientific expeditions organized by his father, Mikhail Pavlovich, and went a long way from a participant in an anti-landing expedition in South Kazakhstan to speaking at the representative international rostrum of the VII All-Russian Hydrological Congress with a report on the results of studies of the Institute of Geography on water issues.
Here are some of the main milestones that Igor Mikhailovich passed.
Born February 8, 1936 in Alma-Ata. In 1962 he successfully graduated from the Kazakh State Agricultural Institute (now the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University), having received the qualification of a hydraulic engineer with a degree in hydromeliation.
He began his career as an engineer at the design institutes Kazgiprozem (1962) and Kazhydroproekt (1964).
Since 1965, he began to engage in scientific work, entering the laboratory for regulating river runoff of the Kazakh Research Institute of Energy. In 1975 he defended his thesis.
Since 1982 - Associate Professor of the Department of Land Hydrology, Faculty of Geography, Kazakh State University named after S.M. Kirov. Combining teaching work with scientific activity, he performed economic contracts with the Ministry of Water Management of the Kazakh SSR as a responsible executor and, as a coordinator, a large scientific and technical program of the USSR State Scientific and Technical Committee on Ile-Balkhash issues.
In 1986 he joined the Institute of Geography at the Laboratory of Hydrology, where he headed the group of mathematical modeling of water management systems.
In 1991-92, he combined the position of leading researcher at the Institute of Geography with the duties of executive director of the Temporary Creative Team "Aral," the main activity of which was the implementation of the Union (SCNT of the USSR) and republican (Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR) scientific and technical programs on the problems of the Aral Sea basin.
With his direct participation, the Aral Region Environmental Center of the Institute of Geography was created, where a hydrological monitoring system was organized and operated in the ecologically destabilized regions of the Kazakhstan Aral region.
From 1994 to 2009, he worked (with a short break) as deputy director of the Institute of Geography for Science, while being the head of the thematic group of the hydroecology laboratory. In May 2010, he was appointed Deputy Director for Project Management.
Currently, he is the scientific director of the Center "Water Security of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Problems and Solutions" of the Joint-Stock Company "Institute of Geography and Water Security."
In 2003 he defended his thesis for the degree of Doctor of Geographical Sciences. The dissertation developed a constructive direction of geography in the field of water resources management in natural systems, taking into account uncertainties and conflicts.
In 2003, he was elected a full member of the International Academy of Human and Nature Safety Sciences (AHNSS) with a degree in Environment and Health (St. Petersburg).
In 2006, he was awarded the academic title "Associate Professor," and in 2011 - the scientific title "Professor" in the specialty "Geography."
In 2013, for a series of works in the field of atlas mapping as part of the author's team, he became a laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of science and technology.
In 2018, he was elected academician of the Kazakh National Academy of Natural Sciences.
In 2019, for the second time (!), For the cycle of work in the field of sustainable water supply of natural and economic systems of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the context of national security, he was awarded the title of laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of science and technology named after Al-Farabi.
Behind these dry facts is everyday companion work for the benefit of science of Kazakhstan. Igor Mikhailovich is at the forefront in the field of water resources management and in the development of the concept of "water security" of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Occupation of science, dedicated service to it for many years, deep knowledge, high human qualities, kindness, honesty, decency arouse deep respect among the geographical community, water workers of Kazakhstan and the CIS, the admiration and love of his younger colleagues and students.
In relation to Igor Mikhailovich, even Time, bowing to his talent and performance, slowed down his pace. Otherwise, how to explain excellent physical shape and honed intelligence at such a solid age?
I. M. Malkovsky is well known in Kazakhstan and far beyond. The main results of the research were published by him in more than 210 scientific papers, including 52 monographs and 5 geographical atlases, there are 4 copyright certificates. Under his scientific supervision, 2 doctoral and 5 master's theses were prepared and defended.
Igor Mikhailovich's studies of a theoretical and applied nature in the field of water resources are always in demand and are used by the state in the development of the water management policy of the republic. The recognition of this fact is numerous awards and thanks. I.M. Malkovsky was awarded the badge of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan "For merits in the development of science of the Republic of Kazakhstan" (2008) and diplomas of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is awarded the commemorative anniversary medal «60 years of a victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945», the jubilee medal of the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi «Al-Farabi Kazakh National University marks its 80th anniversary» (2016), award AHNSS "Honourable ecologist" (2016), Association of water management of Kazakhstan (2016) and the Ministry of ecology, geology and natural resources (2021) it is awarded with the medal «Veteran of water management». In 2021, by decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K.K. Tokaev was awarded the Order of Құrmet (Order of Respect).
Scientists such as Igor Malkovsky are the gold fund of the republic, its main assets, the main driving force on the way to building a beautiful, flowering, strong Kazakhstan!
