History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back V.V. DOKUCHAEV SOIL SCIENCE INSTITUTE: FROM THE ORGANIZATION TO OUR DAYS A.L. Ivanov Historical stages of the organization and development of the V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute – one of the most renown scientific institutes of Russia – in the past 90 years of its activity are described. Strategic goals and major challenges facing the institute in the future are discussed. They are aimed at the development of fundamental and applied studies in the fi eld of soil science and sound management and conservation of soil resources of Russia in agreement with the modern biospheric tendencies of the development of economy and society. Keywords: Dokuchaev soil science; genesis of soils; geography of soils; soil cover patterns; soil mapping; soil-geographic zoning; register of soil resources; landscape-adaptive farming. Contacts: Е-mail: ivanov_al@esoil.ru Pp. 03-42.