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Winter 2000 (8.4)
Page
12
Newsmakers
Mehdiyev
Jubilee
  Shafaat Mehdiyev's 90th Jubilee was celebrated
on December 19 in Baku in recognition of his scientific contributions
related to his theory about the genesis of oil. Shafaat Farhad
Mehdiyev was born on December 15, 1910 in the village of Shelkun
in Iran's Sarab district but grew up in Baku's Sabunchu (then
Lenin) district.
In 1930, he began studying geology at the Azerbaijan Oil Institute.
He defended his diploma in 1934 and started working as a geologist
for "Aznefterazvedka" (Oil Survey of Azerbaijan) and
in the survey field in Mardakan and later as a senior geologist
in the Mardakan-Turkan survey group. For a few years, he also
served as the editor for publications such as "Young Worker,"
"Azerbaijani Athlete" and "Young Bolshevik".
In 1939, he was appointed the head of the Geological Fund of
Azerbaijan and in 1940 became the head of the Absheron Geological
Survey.
Mehdiyev completed his graduate study in geological-mineralogical
sciences at Azerbaijan's Academy of Sciences and defended his
dissertation after returning from World War II.
In 1951 he became professor. From 1954 to 1958, Mehdiyev served
as the director of Azerbaijan's Institute of Geology. In 1958
he became a member of the Academy of Sciences and went on to
mentor 37 doctoral students in geological mineralogical sciences.
His held the position of Rector at Azerbaijan State University
[1958-1965].
Mehdiyev wrote more than 190 scientific works, including 25 monographs,
training manuals and scientific works - mostly about oil and
gas deposits. He also served as the editor and compiler for geological
and tectonic maps of Azerbaijan and its oil and gas fields. In
addition, he wrote a significant number of poems, plays and satiric
novels.
Mehdiyev died on his birthday in 1993 and is buried in Fakhri
Khiyaban (Alley of the Honored Ones). His son Arif is General
Director of the Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency [See Aerospace
article in
AI 3.2 , Summer 1995]. Another son Agshin
currently heads the Department of Europe, U.S. and Canada in
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs [See Quotable Quotes
in this issue].
_____
From Azerbaijan
International
(8.4) Winter 2000.
© Azerbaijan International 2000. All rights reserved.
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