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 June , 2009 |
The project dedicated to people of Belarus who contributed significantly to the development of the world science has been implemented during several years with the support of the State Committee on Science and Technologies and the Belarusian Society of Inventors and Rationalizers.
The recent meeting was dedicated to Ignacy Domeiko (07.31.1802-01.23.1889), a famous geologist and mineralogist.
The following participants gathered for the event: Yadviga Anoshko, deputy director of Belarusian Scientific Research Institute of Geological Exploration; Adam Maldis, Doctor of Philology, specialist in study of literature, author of the book about Ignacy Domeiko; Andrey Kovhuto, deputy director of the Geology Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Preservation of the Environment; Svetlana Koshur, senior researcher of Korelichi district museum; geologists, students, and journalists.
RLST Director Raisa Sukhorukova greeted the participants, congratulated them on the holiday, and presented the project "Belarusian Names in World Science and Technology."
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Natalia Safronova, head of RLST Patent Department, informed the participants about the unique books and documents of the past centuries available in RLST patent collection, and presented an exhibition of the original patents of XIX-XX centuries related to geology and geological survey.
The reports made by Anoshko, Maldis, and Koshur revealed a rare combination of scientific mind, enterprise, love to culture and art, and respect to Belarusian roots in the personality of Domeiko. Kovhuto spoke about the modern status and prospects of Belarusian geology.
Ignacy Domeiko was born in the village of Medvyadka, Novogrudok district, in a prosperous family coming from the ancient Belarusian gentry family. He studied in a monk school and continued his studies in Vilno University, where he received his master's degree. Being prosecuted for the active involvement in the national resistance movement in 1830–1831, he immigrated to France. In Paris, he attended lectures in Sorbonne and received a diploma of the Supreme College of Mines. After his close friend Adam Mitskevich sent him a letter about a vacancy in Chile, Domeiko went there to work as a teacher in a school of mines in the city of Coquimbo. There he made a breath-taking career as he became a mineralogy professor, the head of one of the departments of the National University of Santiago, and then the rector of the university.
Domeiko established mineralogy and ethnography museums, created several libraries, conducted numerous geological surveys, due to which the sources of clean water were found in the mountains. Due to this find, water-pipe was built in Santiago, so the problem of water supply was solved.
In 1847, Domeiko suggested that Chile introduce a new measuring system. Also, the state meteorological service was founded. In 1867, he presented Chile metal mining industry at the World's Fair in Paris. From 1839 to 1844, he explored the Cordillera and made several finds such as the mineral domeykite, the shellfish Nautilus domeykus, the ammonite Amonites domeykanus, and the violete Viola Domeykiano.
Domeiko wrote over 130 works published in many languages. Chile press called him the apostle of sciences. The day of his death was announced the day of national mourning in Chile. Chile President Balmaceda conferred the rank of the national hero of Chile on Domeiko. Named for Domeyko are the 350-kilometer Cordillera Domeyko mountain range in the Andes, the town at the foot of the Cordillera, the port of Puerto Domeyko, and one of the biggest libraries of Buenos Aires.
In 1884, he travelled to Belarus. Even living far from his motherland he always remembered it and wrote to Adam Mitskevich, "I may now never change my citizenship, but God grants me hope that wherever I may be—whether in the Cordilleras or in Paneriai (in Vilnius) - I shall die a Litvin."
On the 200th anniversary of his birth, UNESCO declared 2002 to be "Ignacy Domeyko Year." Belaruski Knigazbor publishing house issued a book of memoirs about Domeiko entitled, "My Travels," which is simultaneously a serious treatise and an absorbing novel.
In Medviadka, a memorable boulder was placed and a museum was created in a local school. However the main monument to Domeiko is a 120-year old oak in the village of Kroshin near Baranovichi, which Domeiko planted during his visit to Belarus.
According to the tradition, the participants had a picture taken. Koshur and Anoshko presented the library with the books about the life and work of Domeiko.
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