The monument was opened in 1986, on the 275th anniversary of the birth of the great scientist. The statue of Lomonosov was cast in bronze and mounted on a base of red granite. The height of the pedestal together with the figure of the enlightener is about six meters.
The scientist sits holding the manuscript on his knees. He is depicted thoughtful and a little tired. His expression is full of thoughts about new discoveries.

The statue of the scientist is located at the intersection of the Mendeleevskaya line of Vasilievsky Island and the University Embankment. The place where the monument is installed was not chosen by chance: the monument is located next to the main building of the St. Petersburg State University and the Academy of Sciences, where Mikhail Yurievich at his time rose from a student to an academician and rector.

By tradition, every year on the first of September, freshmen are initiated into students next to the bronze scientist.