Between Profession and Politics 69
The Expert Community in the Field
of Radiation Medicine
The formation of modern radiological disciplines in the USSR began in 1945
as part of projects to develop nuclear weapons. 5 The groups of enthusiastic
scientists who were engaged in radiology before World War II developed
into structured, hierarchical communities of experts. On the one hand, the
formation of radiological disciplines was a continuation of prerevolutionary practice, when scientists were united in special committees under certain ministries. 6 On the other hand, ideology and mobilization techniques
had a huge impact on expert communities, their professional culture, and
communication.
During the period when the atomic project in the USSR was at the stage
of experiments and laboratory research, a small group of leading specialists
in the field of radiation biology and medicine was formed mainly in Moscow
and Leningrad. In the course of the development of the nuclear industry, the
Institute of Biophysics of the Third Directorate of the Ministry of Health of
the USSR became the central organization of the radiation medicine expert
community. 7 At the same time, a number of research institutions concentrated on the problems of radiation impact on living organisms, occupational
health and safety at nuclear facilities, and radiation safety issues. 8 In the late
1940s and early 1950s, their directors and employees made up the scientific
and managerial top of the system of medical and biological protection in the
USSR and carried out not only experimental research, but also the development of measures and practices to protect workers in the nuclear project and
the standards of maximum allowable doses of radiation and treatment schemes
for occupational diseases. 9 Many of them were reputable scientists with experience in administration and organizational work. Representatives of Soviet
science, such as Academician-Secretary of the Academy of Medical Sciences
(AMN) and biophysicist Vasili Parin, 10 Professor Gleb Frank (Scientific
Secretary), Academicians Leon Orbeli and Nikolai Anichkov, cancer specialists Moisei Domshlak and Nikolai Petrov, 11 director of the Institute of
Occupational Diseases of AMS, Academician Avgust Letavet, head of the
Special Department at the Ministry of Health (MZ), Avetik Burnazian, and
others, were a group of so-called opinion leaders and organizers of medical
and biological radiology.
The development of the nuclear industry has required the expansion of the
expert community and the study of new conditions and threats that have arisen
in the industrial production of radioactive plutonium. This forced the formation of a new group of experts, whose relations with the “opinion leaders”
were not simple, reflecting both the generational conflict in science and the
organizational specifics of the centralized and classified Soviet nuclear industry.
At the stage of construction of Plant No. 817, the medical care of the
personnel was fully under the responsibility of military doctors and medical institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 12 In May 1947, the civil
The Expert Community in the Field
of Radiation Medicine
The formation of modern radiological disciplines in the USSR began in 1945
as part of projects to develop nuclear weapons. 5 The groups of enthusiastic
scientists who were engaged in radiology before World War II developed
into structured, hierarchical communities of experts. On the one hand, the
formation of radiological disciplines was a continuation of prerevolutionary practice, when scientists were united in special committees under certain ministries. 6 On the other hand, ideology and mobilization techniques
had a huge impact on expert communities, their professional culture, and
communication.
During the period when the atomic project in the USSR was at the stage
of experiments and laboratory research, a small group of leading specialists
in the field of radiation biology and medicine was formed mainly in Moscow
and Leningrad. In the course of the development of the nuclear industry, the
Institute of Biophysics of the Third Directorate of the Ministry of Health of
the USSR became the central organization of the radiation medicine expert
community. 7 At the same time, a number of research institutions concentrated on the problems of radiation impact on living organisms, occupational
health and safety at nuclear facilities, and radiation safety issues. 8 In the late
1940s and early 1950s, their directors and employees made up the scientific
and managerial top of the system of medical and biological protection in the
USSR and carried out not only experimental research, but also the development of measures and practices to protect workers in the nuclear project and
the standards of maximum allowable doses of radiation and treatment schemes
for occupational diseases. 9 Many of them were reputable scientists with experience in administration and organizational work. Representatives of Soviet
science, such as Academician-Secretary of the Academy of Medical Sciences
(AMN) and biophysicist Vasili Parin, 10 Professor Gleb Frank (Scientific
Secretary), Academicians Leon Orbeli and Nikolai Anichkov, cancer specialists Moisei Domshlak and Nikolai Petrov, 11 director of the Institute of
Occupational Diseases of AMS, Academician Avgust Letavet, head of the
Special Department at the Ministry of Health (MZ), Avetik Burnazian, and
others, were a group of so-called opinion leaders and organizers of medical
and biological radiology.
The development of the nuclear industry has required the expansion of the
expert community and the study of new conditions and threats that have arisen
in the industrial production of radioactive plutonium. This forced the formation of a new group of experts, whose relations with the “opinion leaders”
were not simple, reflecting both the generational conflict in science and the
organizational specifics of the centralized and classified Soviet nuclear industry.
At the stage of construction of Plant No. 817, the medical care of the
personnel was fully under the responsibility of military doctors and medical institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 12 In May 1947, the civil