The Energy of Thought, the Energy of the Future: On the 75th Anniversary of Professor S. E. Shcheklein (Editorial for Issue No. 6 (June) 2025)

This article is a commemorative editorial dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Professor Sergey Evgenievich Shcheklein – an outstanding scientist, educator, organizer of science, and one of the key architects of modern energy thought. His name is firmly associated with the advancement of nuclear and hydrogen energy, the formation of scientific schools, the training of thousands of specialists, and the implementation of innovative technologies capable of transforming the global energy landscape.

 Over five decades of Professor Shcheklein’s scientific and educational career encompass a broad spectrum of disciplines: from fundamental research in thermophysics, hydrodynamics, and stochastic processes to applied developments in energy-efficient systems, renewable energy sources, and hydrogen technologies. His work on two-phase vapor-liquid flows, liquid phase inversion, and heat and mass transfer control in film boiling regimes laid the foundation for improving the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants. These studies not only expanded theoretical understanding of complex physical phenomena but also found practical application in reactor modernization and the creation of new types of equipment.

 Special attention in this article is given to Professor Shcheklein’s contribution to the development of hydrogen energy – a field in which he became a recognized leader. His research on ultrasonic intensification of water electrolysis, biomass hydrolysis, fuel cell design, and the creation of energy-efficient hydrogen complexes opened new horizons in the production of clean energy carriers. Under his leadership, projects were implemented to build an energy-efficient house integrating renewable energy sources, which was awarded the national environmental prize named after V. I. Vernadsky. He also founded the Euro-Asian Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which became a platform for scientific research, startups, and international collaboration.

 Professor Shcheklein is the author of over 400 scientific publications, including 11 monographs and textbooks, and holds 71 patents. His Hirsch index (Google Scholar) is 29. He has received numerous honors, including the V. I. Vernadsky Prize, the Don Quixote Order, medals for safe operation of nuclear power plants, and is a member of the International Energy Academy. His teaching career includes the training of more than 20,000 specialists –master’s students, engineers, and postgraduates – and the Department of Nuclear Power Engineering at Ural Federal University, under his leadership, has become a recognized center for preparing personnel in advanced energy technologies.

 The author of this editorial – a colleague, scientific associate, and initiator of Professor Shcheklein’s nomination for the Global Energy Prize – shares not only biographical facts but also a personal perspective on a man whose life has become a symbol of scientific service, intellectual integrity, and pedagogical wisdom. This editorial aims not only to honor the jubilarian but also to emphasize the relevance of his scientific legacy in the context of the global energy transition, where the ideas of sustainable development, hydrogen transformation, and renewable energy integration are becoming strategic priorities for humanity.

The article is addressed to a wide audience – from energy professionals and technical university faculty to students, researchers, and science organizers. It may serve as a source of inspiration, a model of scientific service, and a guidepost for future generations striving to build a safe, sustainable, and intellectually honest energy future.