National Academy of Science of Ukraine

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The National Academy of Science 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: academics and corresponding members. There is also an additional membership category for foreign members. It operates many research institutions in various fields primarily in the fundamental sciences, as well as in the humanities. The Academy has "state-agency" status, but based on its statute it is self-governing in decisions relating to its own activities.

1 History
2 Current Status
3 Trivia
4 External links

[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

Today, the NASU has 3 sections, 13 departments, nearly 170 institutes, with over 13,000 researchers. Currently, the 13 departments are:

Mathematics
Computer Theory (інформатики)
Mechanics
Physics and Astronomy
Geology
Physical and technical problems in Materials (фізико-технічних проблем матеріалознавства)
Physical and technical problems of Power Engineering (фізико-технічних проблем енергетики)
Chemistry
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Experimental and Clinical Physiology
General Biology
Economics
History
Philosophy and Law
Literature
Language and Art

There are 2 national libraries afiliated 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 duma") 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 academics and corresponding members along with 130 foreign members.

[edit] Trivia

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.