Sokolov Valentin Nikolaevich
(23.02.1916–18.02.1978)

Arctic geologist.
Born in Petrograd in the family of teachers.
After graduating from the seven-year school, Sokolov received a specialty as a turner and worked at the Leningrad Machine-Tool Plant. Then Rabfak followed Leningrad State University, studying at the geological and soil faculty of Leningrad State University. Life forced to seek additional means for existence, and Sokolov combined his studies with teaching geography in the evening school. In 1938, I had to stop training for half a year and go on an expedition to the Far East.
After graduating from university in 1939, Sokolov entered Lenntransmostproject, where he worked for 11 years. During the war years, he traveled to various sectors of the front as part of project teams, participating in the restoration of railway bridges and tunnels.
From 1949, Sokolov transferred to Arctic Research Institute of Geology, with whom his entire subsequent professional life was connected. Until 1956, he, as the head of the party, the chief geologist, and the head of the expedition, traveled to the Arctic regions of Western Siberia, dealing with the problems of the oil and gas potential of this region. According to the materials of these studies in 1956 he defended his dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences.
In subsequent years, the range of scientific interests of Sokolov shifted to the Western Arctic. He entered the cohort of leading domestic researchers dealing with the problem of the oil and gas potential of the Barents-Kara region, Spitsbergen, led the Thematic Spitsbergen Party, sector, department, during the winter periods of 1956–1961  acting Deputy Director of Arctic Research Institute of Geology. Sokolov's high professionalism was combined with integrity, demanding of himself and his subordinates, clarity and organization, the ability to set and solve scientific and production problems.

The merits of Sokolov were awarded the Order "Badge of Honor", medals "For the Defense of Leningrad", "For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.", "For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.".
Died in Leningrad, buried in the Northern cemetery.
The ridge (Valentin) in the central part of Oscar II Land, the island of Western Spitsbergen. The coordinates are 78° 36.3'N   13° 06.0'E. Named by the Norwegian Polar Institute as proposed by Arctic Research Institute of Geology.