3. History
of science and technique
T.R. Hryshchenko
Ph.D in
History, Head of the Sector of Science Center for History
of Agrarian Science
National Scientific Agricultural Library of the
National Academy of Agrarian Sciences
SCIENTIFICALLY-ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY OF ACADEMICIAN
V. Vernadsky IN THE Agricultural
Scientific Committee of Ukraine (1918–1927)
2013 UNESCO declared the Vernadsky
Year. The global scientific community is celebrating the 150th anniversary of
the birth of the brilliant scientist, founder and first president of the
Ukrainian Academy of Sciences – V. Vernadsky. In connection with the
celebration of a landmark event, new material on significant contribution to
the national scientific theory and practice of agricultural research deed,
which contributed to the transition from the category applied only in
fundamental science. However, industry experts do not mention V. Vernadsky
made for the establishment of the organizational structure of scientific
support agriculture – the cornerstone of food security and independence of any
country.
The results of the archival studies only in
post-Soviet the Center for History of Agrarian Science at the National
Scientific Agricultural Library of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of
Ukraine under the supervision of Corresponding Member NAAS V. Vergunov
found that Ukraine must Vernadsky advent of today's National Academy of Agricultural
Sciences Ukraine – Agricultural Scientific Committee of Ukraine (ASCU).
Agricultural Scientific Committee of Ukraine
under the Ministry of Land Affairs Ukrainian Hetman State P. Skoropadskiy
was officially established November 1, 1918 by the order number 162 Land
Affairs Minister V. Leontovich. The purpose of the Committee was
"... study of climatic and soil characteristics of Ukraine" and
the preparation of evidence-based recommendations for the development of
agriculture by types his Russian counterpart, which history has begun its
countdown of 1837. Should be noted that along with the formation ASCU was
established and the Committee of Agricultural Education.
Conducted archival searches have shown that
V. Vernadsky is not only one of the ideological inspirer of creation ASCU,
but first his head, as evidenced by Order of the Minister V. Leontovich
number 172 of November 16, 1918. At the time of the election of Vladimir
Vernadsky already had considerable experience and their own vision of agronomic
services and industry in the field of education, the creation of experimental
stations and deployment of research in the field of agronomy.
It is noted, that
Vernadsky in his multi-faceted research activities did much for the development
of soil science. Made in his own county soil maps Kremenchug and Poltava
province first of all, not only in the Russian Empire, but in the world used
morphological and genetic approach to evaluate specific areas of administrative
units of the country (in collaboration with his teacher V. Dokuchaev). The result of these and
other works of two prominent scientists was establishment of world-renowned
Ukrainian black earth and scientific knowledge about it.
Request lead ASCU
Acad. V. Vernadsky accepted during the agricultural reform in the
country, when the development of new science-based principles of agricultural
science required. At the end of 1918 in Ukraine carried out a detailed
"ukrainization" vertical of power, affecting all operating research
and educational institutions, and certainly ASCU. It should be noted that the
issue of language editions of the ASCU was one of the most important
organizational principles of the new institution. Minister of Education and
Arts Ukrainian State M. Vasilenko considered uncontested position of
language in favor of Ukrainian. The "Diary" Academician
V. Vernadsky is a note of the May 11, 1918, which claims that Ukraine
should print "... Ukrainian language with the right to decide the
printing itself" or – author. V. Vernadsky believed this provision
"... is not fair, because it worsened conditions for the Russian
language than English, German and French, and was ... inappropriate".
According to V. Vernadsky, it meant the domination of one culture over
another. However, this approach was unacceptable for the head ASCU, because the
situation that arose was the source of complications and discomfort in his
work. Under these conditions scientist to fully work could not.
December 18, 1918
brought to power a directory Ukrainian People's Republic. And December 24, 1918
was an order number 18 the Minister of Land Affairs M. Kozoriz that
obliged to release all that "... hostile to Ukrainian national
cause". Next Order number 29 dated December 30, 1918 on strengthening
activity ASCU introduced a new provision – instead appointment to Chair the
Committee for further approval by the People's Minister of Land Affairs. In
terms of the newly formed January 1, 1919 V. Vernadsky applying a complete
withdrawal from the ASCU, despite the request of leading scientists – members
of the Committee. In
his place immediately appointed academician P. Tutkovsky that by the time
the head of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and fully complied with the
requirements of the Directory on the institution of this type.
Government of the Directory actively involved in
improving the work of the ASCU. Among the priority actions should include the
following: 1) the appointment of the first members of ASCU professors
P. Tutkovsky, J. Vysotsky, director of experiential Department –
private-docent B. Krechun, head of the Bureau of Soil – private-docent
M. Florov, head of the Botanical Office – private-docent O. Yanata,
acting head of the Met Office – N. Danilevsky, 2) approval of the
charter, and 3) a partial definition of the form of organization and
activities. Along with ASCU Bureau was established Zoological and Entomological
section when it led by scientist-agronomist I. Schogoliv and
Phytopathological section at the Botanical Office under the direction of
Nevodovsky. Also, the Committee was translated Department to combat pests and
plant diseases, which still existed in the Department of Agriculture, and the
Department of Conservation, subject to the Department of State property. All
the above changes must comply with Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, one of the
founders and first president of which was Academician V.I. Vernadsky
(1918).
Significant
improvements in the ASCU occurred after the arrival of Soviet power in Kyiv.
April 2, 1919 V. Vernadsky returned to join the Agricultural Scientific
Committee of Ukraine and worked there until September 20, 1921, helped to
establish close relations with colleagues from the Agricultural Scientific
Committee (St. Petersburg). He was one of the initiators of change of its name
to scientific: Agricultural Scientific Committee of Ukraine, as well as
joining ASCU as a separate component of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences under
the new Charter UAS from February 1,
1920.
Unfortunately, the general practice in the
agricultural direction V. Vernadsky failed to deploy because after leaving
to Rostov for saving the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences in Kyiv, he did not
return. Further ideas on academic forms of coordination and development of
research work in the agricultural sector of Ukraine did not find their embodiment
in contrast to Russia, where, as a coordinating body of agricultural science at
the People's Commissariat of Agriculture was established Agricultural
Scientific Committee, which in 1923 became the National Institute for Agronomy
Research (Petrograd).
However, two months stay on as chairman of the
Agricultural Committee of Ukraine scientist V. Vernadsky actively engaged
in drafting the first "Regulations", the structure and the state
Committee (together with A. Yanata) and, most importantly, the strategy
worked backbone of branch research business in Ukraine, the fundamental
provisions which retained its relevance today. In particular, independent
activity while maintaining coordination and creative collaboration in certain
areas of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences assumed. This industry research
carried out at regular institutions (research farms, stations and institutes)
on specially designed and approved methods as state budget request. However,
V. Vernadsky's ideas were put into practice any time soon – only May 22,
1931 Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars USSR first gave this area
its own academic status – Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Creation and
development of the Agricultural Scientific Committee of Ukraine were in a
difficult period in the life of Ukrainian society, related to the first
expectations of their own state. Despite the unfavorable external circumstances
for the development of agricultural science in Ukraine managed to keep the idea
of organization structure that would consolidate the scientific potential in
the agricultural sector of the state. In creating major organizational period
of the ASCU’s activity V. Vernadsky and other outstanding figures of
agricultural research deed – Committee members put into it part of his life.
The Agricultural Scientific Committee of Ukraine preserved and multiplied
scientific achievements for nearly 10 years, having gone through different
systems of government, catastrophic destruction, drastic changes in social and
political life. The fundamental principles of theoretical and practical
contribution of Academician V. Vernadsky was the determining factor and
strategic guidance in the development of the Agricultural Scientific Committee
of Ukraine. They
have become extremely important unifying factor at a time when society is
actually split into various political parties and factions.
A powerful intellect, scientific and
organizational experience and authority of Academician V. Vernadsky
allowed to join in the best Ukrainian scientific potential, to reveal the scope
and power of their potential in building agricultural science, despite all the
social upheaval opened up a great opportunity to create a research team of
scientists that quickly gained recognition representing the main directions of
the domestic branch of scientific knowledge.