Nurlan Kapparov was a prominent Kazakhstan statesman, a bright entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

In 1990 Nurlan Kapparov founded Accept Corporation, one of the most successful private companies in Kazakhstan. Between 1997 and 1999 Nurlan Kapparov worked as President and CEO of Kazakh national companies KazTransOil and KazakhOil (currently KazMunaiGas). In 1999 Nurlan Kapparov was appointed Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan where he was responsible for monitoring the oil and gas sector.

Having served his country for four years, in 2001 Nurlan Kapparov was accepted at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard to study for a Master’s in Public Administration. On his return to Kazakhstan, in 2003 Nurlan Kapparov and his close friends founded Lancaster Group, a Kazakhstan-based holding company operating across different sectors such as oil and gas services, mining, pharmacy, infrastructure, financial services and real estate.

Following the success of Lancaster Group, Nurlan Kapparov was invited again for a Government position. In 2012 he took the post of Minister of Environmental Protection and Water Resources. Nurlan used his considerable political and diplomatic skills to make Kazakhstan a leader in environmental policy. Later, in 2014 Nurlan was appointed CEO of KazAtomProm, the national nuclear holding company.

Nurlan Kapparov was a leader who inspired his peers, partners and friends. He was also known for his commitment to charity and philanthropy. Nurlan Kapparov paid particular attention to the youth and their education. As a graduate of the National School of Physics and Math (Fizmat), he co-founded the Fizmat Alumni Fund in 1999 and was its long-time contributor. He believed that the talented children of his country should receive quality education, and the support of such children and the school would be the best investment for Kazakhstan. The Fund helped finance the participation of students in Olympiads, provide money rewards for the winners, as well as financial support for the distinguished teachers.

In 2003 upon his return from Harvard, Nurlan Kapparov founded the Harvard Club of Central Asia (HCCA), aimed at bringing together Harvard graduates from the region. With his assistance the HCCA started scholarships for local students to attend the institution and provided guidance on admissions. In honor of Nurlan Kapparov and his legacy at Harvard, his friends and family established The Nurlan Kapparov Fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. For a generation of talented young people, Nurlan became the bridge that made the previously unthinkable prospect of getting into this world-ranking university a reality.

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Ilya Segalovich was one of the founders and the director of  Yandex Company Technologies Department (since 2000).

Ilya Segalovich had started to work on search engines technologies in 1990 in Arkadiya Company where he led a team which worked on software programming. In the period of 1993-2000 he was a head of search engine department in CompTek International. In 2000, Ilya Segalovich left the CompTek International and became the technologies and development director at Yandex Company. Besides Ilya rendered his great assistance in establishing National Corps of Russian Language (Ruscorpora) and Russian Seminar in Assessment of Information Search Methods. Furthermore, Ilya is one of the founders of "Maria's Children" Rehabilitation and Arts Center.

In 1981 he graduated from National School of Physics and Math in Almaty and in 1986 he graduated from Russian Geological Exploration State University with distinction.

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Adilet Imambekov was born on September 2, 1981 in Taraz in a family of young local university lecturer. In 1984 his family moved to Almaty and in 1988 Adilet started his first studies in secondary school #7 in Alatau village (Nuclear Physics Institute). In 1996 Adilet was admitted to MSU Kolmogorov Physics and Mathematics School (AESC MSU), and graduated from it in 1998 with distinction. In the same year, he participated and was awarded with gold medal in International Physics Olympiad in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. After graduating from high-school he was admitted to Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) without admissions examination. During his studies Adilet actively participated in social life of the institute, serving as Students Government Senator. Adilet participated in organizing All-Russian Physics Olympiad and trained Russian students for participation in International Olympiad. In 2002 he graduated from MIPT with distinction and received offers to continue his studies in 5 top universities (Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Caltech). He decided to proceed with his studies and researches at Harvard for the next 5 years (2002-2007). Adilet was the very first Kazakhstani physicist who was recognized in scientific international arena. His works were published in such high-ranking journals as Nature, Science, Annal in Phys., Phys. Rev. Lett., Phys., Rev, and etc. Moreover, his works were distinguished by prestigious awards and scholarships: Landau Award, Parcell Fund Scholarship (Harvard University), Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Scholarship, and NSF Career Award that is supported by the US President and given to a limited number of young scientists.

In addition to being a remarkable young scientist, Adilet was also a seasoned sportsman and a tough marathoner, triathlete, and a mountaineer. On a regular basis he participated in annual New York, Boston, Austin and other marathons. In April 2012, participating in Texas IRONMAN program, he became an overall winner with 11 hours and 52 minutes result. Adilet alternated his scientific work with his hard trainings, and dedicated his summer holidays for conquering mountains. He participated in Alaska, Tian Shan, Pamir, and Himalayas expeditions. Adilet ascended to Mont Blanc Peak (4810 m), McKinley (6190 m), Muztagh Ata (7546 m). Tragically, he passed away in July 2012, during his expedition to Khan Tengri peak.

His short, but extremely bright life shined like a fireball. Adilet’s story can serve as a guidance for children who decided to devote their lives to develop science and to lead a healthy lifestyle.

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