Andrey Yurkov, graduated from Moscow Mendeleev University of chemical technology, department of ceramics and refractories. He holds a Ph.D. in structural ceramics and Dr. Sci. Degree in materials science of refractory materials. Yurkov has more than a 100 publications. His areas of expertise and interests include materials science and processing of non-oxygen and oxygen containing ceramics and refractories, and their applications in the Aluminium industry Yurkov is currently working for the company “Russian Aluminium (RUSAL). He has also served as the organizer and chairperson of the seminar and conference “Refractories and carbon cathode materials for Aluminium industry”.