Spotlight: Ukraine's academy of sciences, its president Paton celebrate 100th anniversaries

Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-08 11:11:32|Editor: xuxin
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UKRAINE-KIEV-ACADEMY OF SCIENCES-100TH ANNIVERSARIES

The 100th anniversary of the establishment of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) and the 100th jubilee of its president Borys Paton, who chairs the academy since 1962, are celebrated at the National Opera House of Ukraine in Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)

KIEV, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The 100th anniversary of the establishment of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) and the 100th jubilee of its president Borys Paton, who chairs the academy since 1962, were celebrated here Friday.

Hundreds of guests, including top Ukrainian officials of the government and parliament and renowned foreign scientists, gathered at the National Opera House of Ukraine for the celebrations.

While addressing the event, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that over the past hundred years, much has changed for the UNAS, but the academy remained the iconic landmark of Ukraine's intellectual heritage.

"During this time it has grown into one of the most powerful scientific centers in Europe. The results of its scientific research have been recognized, and it glorified Ukraine throughout the world," Poroshenko said.

Currently, the UNAS is actively engaged in research aimed at strengthening Ukraine's security, Poroshenko said, noting that the academy's scientists have developed many kinds of defensive technologies, including an innovative radar station, a ceramics cover for protecting military equipment, and a unique system of information protection.

Poroshenko stressed the important role of the president of the UNAS in developing science in Ukraine and awarded him with the order of Yaroslav Mudry, one of the highest state awards of Ukraine.

Paton, who is 100 years old this year, thanked Poroshenko for the appreciation of his scientific work and said that the UNAS will continue its efforts aimed at developing science.

"The National Academy of Sciences will continue to work fruitfully in the future, preserve and develop its scientific schools and traditions, and play an appropriate role in the life of society," Paton said.

The head of the UNAS has received congratulations and good wishes from the chiefs of the academies of sciences from all over the world.

While addressing the jubilee, Bai Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), extended his best wishes to Paton, saying the CAS is willing to strengthen cooperation and boost exchanges with the UNAS.

"We see a lot of complementarities we can tap together for each other's benefits and for our shared benefits. This is exactly what the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative aims -- to achieve joint benefits," Bai said.

He invited Ukrainian scientists to join the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the CAS next year.

The UNAS is the highest state-supported research institution in Ukraine with about 15,000 research staff members, including 98 foreign members. It was founded by a well-known Ukrainian geochemist Volodymyr Vernadsky on Nov. 27, 1918.

On the same day, Borys Paton, the current president of the UNAS, was born in the family of Eugene Paton -- the founder of Institute of Electric Welding in Kiev.

Borys Paton is known for his research in electric welding, including welding in space and welding of human tissues -- technologies currently used by engineers and surgeons around the globe.

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KEY WORDS: Science
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