L.A. Nikolaeva is a PhD, honoured Russian scientist, Russian government prize winner, honorary subsurface exploring worker; she is among top Russian native gold researchers and a founder of a new research area (gold typomorphism use in deposit forecasting, prospecting and assessment). She participated in besieged Leningrad defense. In 1941, she was 15. Together with her classmates, she worked for the fire brigade, which guarded the school and adjacent buildings from fire, and acted as deputy commander. After evacuation, she worked as a locksmith at an aircraft factory. L.A. Nikolaeva was awarded various medals (“50th anniversary of Leningrad siege breaking”, “Resident of the besieged city”, etc.).