The Institute of History and Archaeology

Visit website

HoNESt staff members

IHA UrO RAS was established in 1988. Over the twenty five years of its history the Institute has become a major research center studying the issues of historical research methodology, history of Russia, ethnology and literature studies. In the late 1990-s the Institute’s researchers were among the first to begin studies of the Soviet nuclear complex. The work included testing methodological approaches and identification of research tools for the systemic study of this phenomenon. The research team identified documentary sources (a set of historical official and private documents), studied major areas and principles of implementing research and technical policy in the defense industry. The team developed understanding of major development trends in nuclear industry, its technological and economic parameters, R&D support organization. Scope of the study also covered issues of the formation and evolution of uranium separation, development and batch production of nuclear warheads and nuclear munitions production facilities, their prototype testing, and the formation of the labor force of the industry. The authors have also started investigating the social and psychological climate and everyday life of the Soviet nuclear project's participants, residents of closed atomic cities).
The Institute maintains effective cooperation relationship with researchers from France, USA, China, Poland, Hungary, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, and the The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (TICCIH). The Institute's scholars have a positive history of participation in joint projects with international research foundations, such as INTAS, Soros Foundation, British Academy, CNRS, and Ministere des Affaire Etrangeres, DAAD.

Role in HoNESt

IHA UrO RAS will be focused in the historical research (WP2) and in the link between historians, ecologists and physicists. It will also play a role in the Dissemination Working Package (WP6).