Valery is a researcher at the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. He specializes in fields of geography and landscape science, ecology, economy, Kamchatka local lore. Author of over 100 scientific works and more than 150 popular publications that cover influence of volcanic activity upon landscapes and ecosystems, problems of nature management and regional economy, local history.