THE INITIAL STEPS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Abstract

February 10, 1941 is a particularly important date in the history of modern Georgia. On this day, the Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Georgian SSR (№ 183) on the establishment of the Academy of Sciences was an nounced. By this resolution, all institutions included in the Georgian branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the Georgian State Museum, and the Stalin Tbilisi State University were transferred to the Academy of Sciences: the Institute of Geology, the Institute of Physiology, the Laboratory of Psychology, and the Laboratory of the former Institute of Physics. The statute and structure of the Academy were approved, which became the basis for the further organizational activities of the Academy. On February 22, 1941, the Council of People’s Commissars approved the initial constitution of full members of the Academy (16 people). The candidates, as can be seen from the archival materials preserved at the Academy of Sciences, were proposed “from scientific and public institutions, individual scientists and their groups.” By this resolution, the following became full members of
the Academy of Sciences: Nikoloz Muskhelishvili, Giorgi Akhvlediani, Ivane Beritashvili, Kiriak Zavriev, Filipe Zaitsev, Aleksandre Tvalchrelidze, Karneli Kekelidze, Nikoloz Ketskhoveli, Taras Kvaratskhelia, Dimitri Uznadze, Akaki Shanidze, Arnold Chikobava, Giorgi Chubinashvili, Giorgi Khachapuridze, Simon Janashia, Aleksandre Janelidze.
On February 26, 1941, a general meeting of the Academy of Sciences was convened, which was attended by all members. At the meeting, Nikoloz Muskhelishvili was elected President of the Academy, Simon Janashia was elected Vice-Presi dent, and the following members of the Presidium were elected: N. Muskhelishvili, S. Janashia, I. Beritashvili, G. Akhvlediani, N. Ketskhoveli, K. Zavriev, A. Janelidze.
Moreover, it’s worth mentioning the active participation of the scientists in World War II. The war broke out in the summer of the same year when the Academy was founded. Georgian scientists were supposed to take a huge part in providing scientific and technical assistance to the front; they worked hard to solvedefense problems, use raw material resources and replace deficient materials with local feedstock.
Overlooking at the results of the six-month activity of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, one would clearly see that much has been done since its foundation which displays a tireless work of the first members of the Academy of Sciences and the scientific institutions included in them. The visible outcome continued throughout the entire existence of this institution. The Academy of Sciences carried out adequate activities in accordance with the requirements of the time.