The A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS is a leading Russian research institution dedicated to the study of marine biology, ecology, and the biodiversity of the southern seas, including the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Established in 1880, it is named after the renowned zoologist Alexander Onufrievich Kovalevsky, a pioneer in embryology. The institute conducts both fundamental and applied research, focusing on marine ecosystems, species physiology, and environmental monitoring, contributing to sustainable use and conservation of marine resources.