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USIC President to Get Honorary Degree from MEPhi

The United State Industry Coalition is pleased to announce that the USIC President, Dr. Gerson Sher, will receive an honorary Ph.D. from the Moscow Engineering-Physics Institute (MEPhI) in June.

MEPhI is one of Russia’s premier universities, specializing in nuclear physics and engineering, with a diverse curriculum in a wide range of scientific and technical fields as well as in the humanities. Among its graduates are Nobel Prize winners and members of the RussianAcademy of Sciences. The honorary degree will be presented by the Rector of MEPhI, Dr. Mikhail Strikhanov, at a ceremony in June.

MEPhI’s honorary degree recognizes Dr. Sher’s role in the creation of the program of Basic Research and Higher Education in Russia (BRHE). Begun in 1997, BRHE helps to strengthen the research capabilities of Russian universities. In less than a decade, BRHE has established 20 research and education centers (RECs) at universities throughout the country, helped curb the brain drain of scientists, strengthened the training of young researchers and given them an opportunity to pursue a career in academia that includes world-class research.

“This is one of the most successful programs in the Russian Ministry of Science and Education,” said Mikhail Strikhanov, rector of the MEPhI and former deputy minister of education for the Russian Federation. “Without research there is no good education. When you have students involved in research they will become an expert or specialist in the field in which they are studying. That’s beneficial for every country in the world. If we have good engineers or technicians, it could be very beneficial for us.” 1

The BRHE program is funded on the U.S. side by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York and on the Russian side by a 50% cost-share with Russian federal and regional government and nongovernmental sources.

1 Source: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, “Report on Activities in Russia, Grantee Profile: Basic Research and Higher Education Program, Strengthening Science Research and Education,” 9 November 2007.