Estonian Academy of Sciences Yearbook 2010 XVI (43)
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Facta non solum verba ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES YEAR BOOK ANNALES ACADEMIAE SCIENTIARUM ESTONICAE XVI (43) 2010 TALLINN 2011 ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES The Year Book was compiled by: Leo Mõtus (editor-in-chief) Galina Varlamova, Ants Pihlak (translator), Ülle Rebo ISSN 1406-1503 © EESTI TEADUSTE AKADEEMIA CONTENTS Foreword. 5 Chronicle . 7 Membership of the Academy. 15 General Assembly, the Board, Divisions, Councils and Committees . 21 Academy Events . 38 Popularisation of Science . 46 Academy Medals, Awards . 50 Publications of the Academy . 53 International Scientific Relations. 54 National Awards to Members of the Academy . 60 Anniversaries . 61 Members of the Academy. 76 Estonian Academy Publishers . 87 Under and Tuglas Literature Centre of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. 91 Financial Activities. 96 Associated Institutions . 99 Associated Organisations . 127 In memoriam . 162 Remembrance . 166 Appendix 1 Statutes of the Estonian Academy of Sciences . 171 Appendix 2 Estonian Contact Points for International Science Organisations . 185 Appendix 3 Cooperation Agreements with Partner Organisations . 187 Directory . 188 3 FOREWORD Composition of the Academy was rejuvenated this year by an influx of younger members –nine new Members of Academy were elected pur- suant to the new Academy Act. A downturn to negative of the trend for growth of the average age of Members of Academy prevailing over years enables making optimistic plans to enhance the impact of Aca- demy on the development strategy of the state of Estonia. In the mean- time the somewhat overdone state bureaucracy has found a formulation, by which to divest the Academy of its influence on development of Estonian research, based on the fact that the Academy is not an eva- luated research and development institution. The fact that the fulfilment of main tasks set down in the Academy Act is thereby hampered is not an argument to be reckoned with by the bureaucrats. The budget of 2010 decreased even more as compared to the previous year, and is a true survival budget, run on a shoestring than that in con- formity with anticipated future developments. The daily work effort was most painfully sapped by scarcity of the support money for updating of equipment and renovation of the Academy House, for the second year running nullified in the subsidy of the Ministry of Education and Re- search. Fortunately the enthusiasm is still running high in our workers. On account of the amounts for main activities we had to replace the outdated computers and liquidate the breakdowns in infrastructure of the House. As regards the replacement of the roof, leaking already for se- veral years, the Government of the Republic committed itself to finan- cing it in 2011. Nevertheless, the Academy has persisted in continuing its activities rea- ching farther into the future. Take for instance the work of the Academy’s Committee on Marine Sciences, Committee on Nature Conservation and Energy Council, participation of Estonian researchers in environmental and energy panels of the European Academies’ Scien- ce Advisory Board (EASAC); ongoing is the preparation for setting up the Committee on Economic Development, continuing as Head of the European Federation of National Academies of Sciences and Huma- 5 nities “ALL European Academies” (ALLEA) is a Member of Estonian Academy. The yield of the sub-fund of the Estonian Academy of Sciences created mainly by savings of Members of Academy in the Estonian National Culture Foundation enabled the Academy to issue the first Young Researcher’s Grant (50 000 kroon) and two doctoral stu- dent’s grants (à 15 000 kroon). Continuing are the brainstorming ses- sions to elaborate the plans for advanced study institute and further improving the institution of research professors. The Academy has also, as far as possible supported the activity of Estonian scientific societies, although over years the amounts of support have decreased and we have landed on the level of 2001. The size of fees of the Member of Academy has also been fixed by Regulation of the Government of the Republic of 2002. The Year Book endeavours to provide an objective picture of delibe- rations and activities carried out in the Academy in 2010, as well as the activities of the institutions and societies associated with the Academy. The offhand opinions of the Members of Academy on phenomena of the world and processes lurking behind them should help understand the state of the Academy and mood of Members of Academy in the repor- ting period. You are welcome to read and join with us in contemplation! Leo Mõtus 6 CHRONICLE January 12 – Board members held a meeting with representatives of the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR). Discussions were involved with the mission, objectives and functions of ERR, among other issues the necessity of popularizing science was brought to attention. January 12-15 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht attended a General Assemb- ly meeting of the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues (IAP) and a Biodiversity Conference in London. January 19 – Board at its meeting approved the Academy’s Action Plan 2010, the report of the first year’s work presented by Research Professor Martti Rai- dal and nomination of Jaan Einasto and Enn Saar to candidacy for the Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize. Allowances were assigned to the Estonian Mother Tongue Society for publication of its Jubilee Yearbook to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the society and to Hans Trass for publication of his article collection. The Board decided to award the W. Ostwald medal to Ilmar Koppel. Audience was given to an interim review of executing the Develop- ment Plan 2006-2010 presented by Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht and an overview covering the activities with regard to the Working Group of the Estonian Research Infrastructures Roadmap provided by Peeter Saari. A wor- king group was formed, tasked with preparing for the implementation of the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act Amendment Act. February 3-5 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht attended a meeting of the In- ternational Advisory Board in Bucharest dedicated to the higher education reform in Romania. February 8 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht participated in an advisory com- mittee meeting of the EU 7th Framework Programme for Research and Tech- nological Development (in further text FP7) Specific Programme “People” in Brussels. February 19 – 125th anniversary of the birth of Karl Schlossmann, the first President of the Academy was celebrated at his birthplace in the village of Pikknurme, Jõgeva County. February 19 – Board members held a meeting with representatives of the Es- tonian Economic Association (EMS). The issues under discussion were invol- ved with association of the EMS with the Estonian Academy of Sciences and possible formation of a committee on economic development at the Academy. February 25 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht participated in the working group meeting of the European Science Foundation (ESF) and the European Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCs) in Frankfurt, which had dis- 7 cussion of a restructuring plan for the European Science Foundation on the agenda. March 9 – Board at its meeting decided to award the Paul Ariste Medal to Member of Academy Huno Rätsep to acknowledge his notable contribution to furthering the studies on the origin of the Estonian vocabulary and the Finno- Ugric languages. After hearing a review on the reasons for discontinuing acti- vities of the Academy’s Council for Population and Public Health presented by Ain-Elmar Kaasik, the Board decided to consider the mission of the coun- cil completed and to terminate the council’s activities. The decision of the Academic Board of the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre concerning re- election of Jaan Undusk to the position of Director of the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre was approved. Further issues under discussion were related to installation of the Nord Stream gas pipeline and a draft on the “Organisa- tion of Research and Development Act and Administrative Co-operation Act Amendment Act”. March 13-17 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht participated as an invited lecturer in a conference of academies of sciences under the title “Science and Accountability” on the premises of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Hu- manities. The conference was held in the framework of festive events celeb- rating the Academy of Sciences' 50th Jubilee. March 23-24 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht attended an Advisory Board Meeting of the FP7 project NETWATCH in Brussels. The meeting was pri- marily focused on technical and administrative issues. April 6 ‒ Board at its meeting discussed a draft regulation of the Ministry of Education and Research for supporting energy technology research and deve- lopment activities and noted that the strategic plan, which had been prepared in 2007 called for expeditious, authoritative and critical examination with re- gard to its specific objectives. The new composition of the Committee of Me- teoritics (headed by Jüri Plado) was approved. After hearing arguments pre- sented by Urmas Varblane concerning the Estonian Academy of Sciences Committee on Economic Development under formation, the Board decided to submit a motion to the General Assembly for formation of this Committee. The Student Research Paper Contest was announced. The Board further dis- cussed possible development scenarios for the Estonian energy company Eesti Energia and a request submitted by Nord Stream for establishment of moni- toring stations.