On July 22, 2026, Doctor of Geographical Sciences Roman Vyacheslavovich Gorbunov, Acting Director of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, turns 40. 

Roman Vyacheslavovich Gorbunov began his scientific career while still in school—he was a full member of the "Iskatel" Crimean Academy of Sciences and served on the Yevpatoria City Environmental Council. He graduated from high school with a gold medal, then graduated in 2008 from the Vernadsky Taurida National University with a degree in Ecology and Environmental Protection, and then completed his postgraduate studies at the same university.

R. V. Gorbunov began his career during his student years: in 2007, he took up a position as a specialist in the water supply laboratory of the Crimean Research Center of the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Land Reclamation. In 2011, he began working as a research associate in the algae laboratory of the Karadag Nature Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. In 2012, he returned to the Department of Geoecology as an assistant, and in 2015, he became a senior lecturer. In 2013, he defended his PhD dissertation on "Physical and Geographical Factors in the Formation of Dissymmetry in Local Slope Landscape Complexes of Mountainous Crimea."

From 2015 to 2018, R. V. Gorbunov headed the T. I. Vyazemsky Karadag Research Station, a nature reserve of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2018, he was appointed head of the Federal Research Center "A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences" (FRC IBSS), where he worked until April 2026. He reorganized the center and ensured the incorporation of the Karadag Research Station and the Research Center for Freshwater and Brackish-Water Hydrobiology into FRC IBSS. In 2025, FRC IBSS received the status of a State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation.

In 2022, Roman Vyacheslavovich defended his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Geographical Sciences in Geoecology, titled "Functioning and Dynamics of Regional Geoecosystems in the Context of Climate Change (using the Crimean Peninsula as an Example)." In this dissertation, the author developed a methodology for assessing the response of geoecosystems to climate change, identified spatiotemporal patterns in the dynamics of meteorological elements and ecological niches, and proposed recommendations for optimizing environmental management in Crimea, taking into account climatic and anthropogenic factors.

In the area of ​​international cooperation, under the leadership of R.V. Gorbunov, 25 agreements were concluded with scientific organizations from 16 countries, projects were implemented within the BRICS program, including an expedition to the West Coast of South Africa, scientific cooperation with Guinea was resumed, and a Memorandum on the establishment of the International Scientific Council on Environmental Problems of Post-Conflict and Conflict-Affected Territories was signed.

R.V. Gorbunov's research focuses on landscape ecology and the geoecological assessment of coastal areas. He developed a methodology for the geoecological assessment of coastal areas based on remote sensing data and geoinformation modeling, and compiled the Atlas of Renewable Energy Potential of the Crimean Peninsula and the Atlas of Prospective Aquaculture Development Regions in the Republic of Djibouti. R.V. Gorbunov is the author of over 300 scientific papers, including 10 monographs, 3 textbooks, 3 copyright certificates, and 1 atlas. He supervised the defense of 1 doctoral dissertation and 3 candidate dissertations.

R.V. Gorbunov is a member of the Marine Collegium of the Russian Federation (member of the scientific expert council), represents Russia on the International Scientific Committee for the Study of the World Ocean (member of the SCOR National Committee), is a member of the joint dissertation council based at the Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Grozny State Oil Technological University, and Chechen State University, and heads the editorial board of the journal "Biodiversity and Sustainable Development." Since April 7, 2026, R.V. Gorbunov has been appointed Acting Director of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The Directorate of the Institute, colleagues, and friends congratulate Roman Vyacheslavovich on his 40th birthday
and wish him success in his work, new creative achievements, and the implementation of his scientific and organizational plans.
And, in keeping with maritime tradition, fair winds and a happy voyage together!