An outstanding scientist in the field of optical electronics, academician National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (1988), Honored Worker of Science of Ukraine, laureate of State Prize of Ukraine and the USSR. He was born on July 26, 1926 in Dnipropetrovsk. In 1948, he graduated from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, where he began his scientific and pedagogical activities. After defending his thesis, Serhii Vasylovych passed the way from assistant to Head of Department of Technical Electronics (1951- 1961). Since 1961, he works at the Institute of Semiconductor Physics USSR Academy of Sciences: at first as the head of the department, and from 1990 to 2003 – as Director of the Institute, from 2003 – Honorary Director. The academician Serhii Svechnikov is recognized as the founder of one of the most important areas of science and technology – optical electronics. He developed physical and technical fundamentals of optical electronic conversion, the element base of optical electronics, created a theory of optoelectronic connections and infectious contact phenomena in semiconductors, photo and X-ray conductivity, electroluminescence, physico-chemical and laser modification techniques of semiconductors, that has fundamental importance for the development of optoelectronic systems. He is an author of over 600 scientific works, including 16 books with international prestige. Two of them were translated abroad. There are 106 patents for inventions among the scientific achievements of Serhii Vasylovych. Under the leadership of S.V. Svechnikov, 19 doctoral and 49 master’s theses were defended. During many years, he taught courses at the National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”. On his initiative and with the direct participation, the specialized departments of microelectronics in Chernivtsi and Uzhgorod University were created. Serhii Vasylyovich is the chief editor the self established International Scientific Journal “Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics and Optoelectronics”, a member of editorial board of a scientific magazine “Optoelectronic Information-Power Technologies” and “Functional Materials”. Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine and the USSR, Honored Worker of Science of Ukraine, he honorary awarded by the President of Ukraine (1992), Order “For Merit” II degree (1998), Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1976), Order “Badge of Honor” (1971), three medals.
