1851

• Mathematics has always been taught at our educational institution. The leaders of mathematical education at our institute were outstanding mathematician and beacons of European mathematics.

• Since 1851, courses in elementary mathematics were replaced with higher mathematics. Since 1849, the chief supervisor of all mathematical disciplines at the Civil Engineering College was the famous Russian mathematician M.V. Ostrogradsky, whose works made a great page in the development of global mathematical sciences. His authority and his works made a major contribution to the high level of teaching mathematics at our institute and beyond.

• Another outstanding teacher of mathematics was Ye.I. Zolotarev, one of the most talented representatives of the St. Petersburg mathematical school established by P.L. Chebyshev. He died very young, at 32, but had made a significant contribution in mathematics and caused major impact on the teachers of next generations.

1874

• A dedicated department of mathematics was established in 1874, and its first head was Yu. V. Sokhotsky, who remained in this position up until 1909. After a brilliant defense of his doctoral dissertation, Sokhotsky became professor of the Imperial University (1882), he also stayed with our department where he had worked for over 50 years.

1920s-1930s

• In 1920–1935, A.Ya. Bilibin was the leading professor at the department of mathematics. He translated from English and German into Russian two courses in mathematics and established a dedicated mathematics library at the department. Presently, these books are part of the fundamental library. He authored several books: Analytical Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, A Course of Mathematical Analysis, and Mathematics, which were used for teaching and made a major impact on its progress.
• B.M. Koyalovich, the next head of the department, also was a prominent mathematician. A graduate of St. Petersburg University, he taught mathematics at several separation institutes, including the Higher Courses for Women and St. Petersburg University. He had a great interest not only in pure mathematics but also metrology and practical use of his results: for 14 years, he worked at the Principal Weights and Measures Department. He brought the spirit of practical applicability of mathematical methods and techniques to the department.
• Alike his predecessor, D.K. Faddeyev had been holding concurrent positions at Leningrad University and Institute of Civil Engineering. A universal scholar, Faddeyev made major contributions to the theory of functions, probability theory, geometric crystallography and computational methods. However, algebra was the core of his research: he created the theory of group cohomology, made noticeable contributions to the Galois Theory. His works gave a great impulse to scholars of following generations. He was a brilliant teacher, author of many textbooks and books on mathematical problems.

1940s-1950s

• I.P. Natanson, a famous mathematician, was the head of the department in 1943 – 1957. A student of renowned G.M. Fichtenholz, he chose the most “Leningrad” sphere of mathematical analysis, the constructive theory of functions. Under his direction, the LISI Department of Mathematics was one of the best among its analogues at technical schools of higher education. He was a great lecturer and scholar. His monographs on the Theory of Functions of Real Variable and Constructive Theory of Functions played a great role in teaching mathematics and general progress in this field of mathematics.

1960s-1980s

• For 38 years (1958 – 1986) the head of the department was S.N. Numerov, a graduate of Leningrad University. A prominent mathematician and teacher, he continued the line of practical use of mathematics and actively collaborated with the Vedeneyev Institute of Hydrotechniques. He had achieved outstanding results in the sphere of gas and liquid seepage through porous media. His books were translated into several languages. Numerov had a unique talent to see the new promising directions in science, the Finite Element Method being one of them. By his initiative, one of the first computational laboratories in our city was established at LISI. Later on, it turned into one of the first computer centers in Leningrad. The courses of mathematics were significantly changed with consideration of new engineering specializations at the institute. Numerov himself wrote a full course of mathematics for students of engineering specializations.

1990s-2010s

• In 1987 – 2012, the head of the department was N.M. Ivochkina. A specialist in the theory of non-linear differential equations of the second order in partial derivatives, she was awarded with the S. Kovalevskaya Prize of the RAS for her cycle of works under the name “Non-linear Equations with Partial Derivatives.” In 2000, a new specialization was established in affiliation with the Department of Mathematics: “Applied Mathematics.” In 2012, another specialization, “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science” was added. Students of these specializations receive profound mathematical education. In 2012, new disciplines appeared in the curriculum of SPbGASU students: the game theory; methods of optimal solutions for economists and managers; equations of mathematical physics and the basics of the calculus of variations; econometrics and special sections of higher mathematics and methods for solving scientific and technical problems.
• Since 2012, the head of the Department is G.V. Yakunina.