National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
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The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Національна академія наук України, Natsional’na akademiya nauk Ukrayiny) is the highest state research organization in Ukraine. Like many other academies, it has a two-tier membership: academicians, and corresponding members. There is also an additional membership category for foreign members. It operates many research institutions, primarily in the fundamental sciences but also in the humanities. The Academy has "state-agency" status, but is self-governing in decisions relating to its own activities.
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[edit] History
The National Academy of Science of Ukraine was founded on November 27, 1918 during its first General Assembly. At this point it was called the Ukrainian Academy of Science (UAS). Its first president was the world famous geologist, V. I. Vernadsky. The first National Academy consisted of research departments in history and philology, physics and mathematics, as well as social studies. The UAS had 3 departments, 15 commissions, and the National Library. Its founding members were D. Bahali, A. Krymsky, M. Petrov, S. Smal-Stotsky, V. Vernadsky, M. Kashchenko, C. Tymoshenko, P. Tutkovsky, M. Tuhan-Baranovsky, F. Taranovsky, V. Kosynsky, and O. Levytsky.
Over the course of its history, the NASU has had 5 different names. From 1918 to 1921, it was known as the Ukrainian Academy of Science (UAS). From 1921 until 1936, it was known as the All-Ukrainian Academy of Science. From 1936 to 1991, it was known as the Academy of Science of the Ukrainian SSR. From 1991 to 1993, it was known as the Academy of Science of Ukraine. Since 1994, it has been known by its current name, National Academy of Science of Ukraine.
In 1924-5, the Academy held its first election for foreign members. However, none of the candidates were elected.
Through its history, various new departments have been founded by prominent scientists. The following list gives some of the scientist who founded new departments.
- Mathematics
- D. O. Grave, M. M. Krilov, and M. M. Bogoliubov
- Mechanics
- O. M. Dynnik and M. O. Lavrentiev
- Physics
- K. D. Sinelnikov, L. V. Shubnikov, V. Ye. Lashkariov, O. I. Akhiezer, O. S. Davidov, A. F. Prikhotko, O. Ya. Usikov, and S. Ya. Braude
- Geology
- P. A. Tutkovsky
- Chemistry
- L. V. Pisarzhevsky, O. I. Brodsky, A. V. Dumansky
- Biology and Medicine
- D. K. Zabolotny, O. O. Bohomolets, V. P. Filatov, M. H. Kholodny, and I. I. Schmalhausen.
The NASU has had only 7 different presidents:
- V. I. Vernadsky (1918-1921)
- M. P. Vasilenko (1921-1922)
- O. I. Levitsky (1922)
- V. I. Lipsky (1922-1928)
- O. O. Bohomolets (1930-1946)
- O. V. Palladin (1946-1962)
- B. E. Paton (1962-present)
[edit] Current Status
On 2006, the NASU has 3 sections and 14 departments within them, 6 regional science centers, 173 research institutions, with 43,613 employees including 16,813 researchers; among them, 2,493 with degree of Doktor Nauk (D.Sc.) and 7,996 with degree of Kandidat Nauk (Ph.D.). Currently, the sections and departments are:
- Section of Physical-Technical and Mathematical Sciences
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Computer Science
- Department of Mechanics
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
- Department of Earth Sciences
- Department of Physical and Technical Problems of Materials Science
- Department of Physical and Technical Problems of Power Engineering
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Power Engineering
- Section of Chemical and Biological Sciences
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Molecular Biology
- Department of General Biology
- Section of Social Sciences ad Humanities
- Department of Economics
- Department of History, Philosophy and Law
- Department of Philological Studies, Art Criticism, Ethnology
Regional science centers (SCs) are:
- Donetsk SC (center in Donetsk) - 9 research institutes;
- Western SC (Lviv) - 18 institutes;
- Southern SC (Odessa) - 7 institutes;
- North-East SC (Kharkov) led by Volodymyr Semynozhenko since 25.11.1992 - 17 institutes;
- Dnieper SC (Dnepropetrovsk) - 7 institutes;
- Crimea SC (Simferopol) - 8 institutes.
Most of institutes (108) are placed in Kiev.
There are 2 national libraries affiliated with the NASU:
- The V. I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine with 10 million books, manuscripts
- The V. Stefanyk National Library in Lviv.
The NASU has two publishing houses:
- «Наукова думка» (roughly "Scientific Thought" or "Naukova dumka") and
- «Академперіодика» (roughly "Academic Periodical" or "Akademperiodyka")
The NASU has made major contributions to most of the major fields of science.
Today, the General Meetings of the NASU consist of 512 academicians and corresponding members along with 130 foreign members.
[edit] Trivia
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- The NASU is responsible for over 90% of all discoveries made in Ukraine, including the transmutation of lithium into helium, the production of heavy water, and the development of a 3-D radar that operates in the decimeter range.
- The NASU was the oldest national academy in the former Soviet Union.
[edit] External links
- (Ukrainian) National Academy of Science of Ukraine
- (English) Brief Annual Report of NASU for 2006
