Geneva, 5 October 2009 — ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré today unveiled a plaque at ITU headquarters in Geneva to commemorate the ground-breaking work of leading Russian physicist and radiocommunications pioneer Alexander Stepanovich Popov.
Joining Dr Touré at the unveiling were Mr Igor O. Shegolev, Minister of Telecom and Mass Communication of the Russian Federation, Naum Marder, Deputy Minister of Telecom and Mass Communication of the Russian Federation, Valery Bugaenko, Head of the Federal Communications agency, amongst others. Please click here for a full list of participating dignitaries.
The plaque was unveiled before a crowd of high-ranking officials present in Geneva for the ITU Telecom World 2009 event, which brings together top-level representatives from across the ICT industry to share knowledge and debate pressing issues such as the role of ICTs in the global financial crisis, in mitigating climate change and in promoting global cybersecurity.
Dr Touré said, “I am most honoured to unveil this plaque at ITU headquarters, where the inspiration and dedication of visionaries like Alexander Popov is remembered every day in the work we do to promote wireless services and create new radiocommunication standards. Without the enormous scientific achievements of Popov, modern radiocommunication technologies, that have done so much to connect people and assure the development of other sectors, from maritime and air transport to satellite systems, might never have become a reality.”
“The anniversary of Alexander Popov gives us opportunity to reflect on his life and extensive accomplishments,” said Mr Shegolev. “It is talented researchers, inventors, and professionals such as Popov who provided the building blocks for our state today, and established the foundations of our postindustrial information society.”
The presence of so many leading Russian organizations and VIPs at this year’s ITU TELECOM WORLD event shows the legacy of Mr Popov’s work. Technology innovation in Russia is booming and this is reflected across the show floor, from the Russian Pavilion, to standalone exhibitors, to expert Forum speakers.
Born in a small town in the Ural Mountains in 1859, Alexander Stepanovich Popov was one of the first physicists to demonstrate the practical application of electromagnetic radiation. He continued the experiments of other radio pioneers, such as Heinrich Hertz, and in 1894 built his first radio receiver. Further refined as a lightning detector, it was presented to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society on May 7, 1895, which is now celebrated in Russia as ‘Radio Day’.
ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) constantly builds upon the crucial work carried out by scientists like Popov, through its work in managing the global radiofrequency spectrum and satellite orbits, and the work of its Study Groups in defining new standards (ITU Recommendations) for wireless systems and services.
The new plaque is the first of several ITU intends to unveil, as part of a plan to rename its Meeting Rooms in honour of famous scientists in the technology sector.
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