sentences:  He coined the Russian term for "Precambrian Paleontology" (Палеонтология докембрия), which evolved into a separate branch of science.Sokolov was elected to full membership of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in 1968, and headed the Department of Geology of the Academy from 1975 to 1987, the longest tenure since the establishment of the Department.He chaired the International Stratigraphic Commission and the International Paleontology Association from 1972 until his death, and the national Paleontological Society from 1974 until his death.