Alexei Ivanovich Dzens-Litovsky and his contribution to the study of salt lakes of the Urals. Part I

In the historical and scientific aspect, the article examines the biography, creative heritage and contribution to the study of the phenomenon of salt lakes and karst of the Urals of the outstanding Russian scientist, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences Alexei Ivanovich Dzens-Litovsky (1892-1981). His scientific contribution to the study of salt lakes and krast is now generally recognized, but there are still no systematic studies of the heritage and biography of the scientist. Due to the fact that in the current conditions his research is very relevant, their analysis is carried out and the periodization of his activities is given. The scientist's activity is also studied in the context of overcoming the problems of interaction between scientists and the system of managing their activities, especially in the context of crisis and adverse phenomena. On a particular example of his biography, the context of complex processes in the scientific community and Soviet society of the 1920s-1960s, which affected the fate of many Russian scientists, is revealed. The first part shows the processes of transformation of pre-revolutionary amateur and professional communities into Soviet scientific institutions, the strengths and weaknesses of such a reorganization, which were especially acutely manifested during the Great Patriotic War. Little-known pages of the scientist's scientific life are studied and presented, and his contribution to Uralic studies is shown.