HOW THE FIRST RUSSIAN HISTORICAL-BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL LIVES IN ITS 15TH YEAR OF EXISTENCE

Abstract

This article examines the origins and development trajectory of the first Russian academic journal devoted to the history of biology, “Researches on the History of Biology.” The authors note that the need for such a specialized publication in Russia arose long ago, since despite the existence of an active scientific community of historians of biology since the mid-20th century, there was no special scientific channel for disseminating their research until 2009. The path leading up to the journal is examined in detail, starting with the publication of collections on the history of biological sciences, which began in 1955. The main stages in the history of the new journal are highlighted, including its official registration in 2009, the presentation of the first issue, receipt of an international ISSN number, and its inclusion in the list of peer-reviewed publications of the Higher Attestation Commission of Russia. The first editor-in-chief was E.I. Kolchinsky, until his death in 2020, S.V. Shalimov took over the editorial duties. The article reflects the main conceptual principles of the journal: covering the history of biology and related disciplines, publication of archival materials, and bilingual English-Russian publication format. The composition of the international editorial board is summarized, and statistics on the number of issues published in recent years and the topics of publications are presented. The authors emphasize the prestigious position of the journal among the ratings of Russian scientific periodicals. Finally, the importance of attracting new authors and readers for the continuous development of the journal as a platform for scholarship in the history of biology is emphasized.