Estonian Academy of Sciences Year Book Annales Academiae
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Facta non solum verba ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES YEAR BOOK ANNALES ACADEMIAE SCIENTIARUM ESTONICAE XVII (44) 2011 TALLINN 2012 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, Board, Divisions, Councils, Committees . 21 Academy Events . 41 Popularisation of Science . 48 Academy Medals, Awards . 52 Publications of the Academy . 55 International Scientific Relations. 57 National Awards to Members of the Academy . 61 Anniversaries . 64 Members of the Academy. 85 Estonian Academy Publishers . 97 Under and Tuglas Literature Centre of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. 101 Financial Activities. 107 Associated Institutions . 110 Associated Organisations . 139 In Memoriam . 182 Appendix 1 Estonian Contact Points for International Science Organisations . 184 Appendix 2 Cooperation Agreements with Partner Organisations . 186 Directory . 187 3 FOREWORD The eleventh year of this century was very instructive and successful for the Academy in the true sense of the word. For the second consecutive year we used the possibility granted by the new law adopted in 2010 to update the Academy’s competence and to reduce the average age of Members of Academy. We elected 7 new Members of Academy, among them also a Member of Academy in the domain of music (A.Pärt), the first in the history of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Estonia was replenished by five new Centres of Excellence in Re- search, with participation of Members of Academy. Funded by Mi- nistry of Education and Research, the Academy composed a com- prehensive and forward-looking collection of scientific articles “Re- search in Estonia”. Besides that the Academy participated actively, both as an institution and through its members, in Estonian re- servedly intensive research and social life. As a result of support by Ministry of Education and Research, in 2011 we succeeded in starting renovation of the roof of the Aca- demy house, the work is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2012. That will put an end to the leakage of the roof having for years damaged the structures of the house. It is possible, on prin- ciple to start eliminating the damage sustained – provided the fun- ding necessary for renovation of the house, cut short three years back is restarted. The year was illuminating for the Academy because we understood that at least some of the difficulties in the relations of the Academy with the State are conditioned by decisions taken by the State. For instance the Members of Academy seeking alternative sources of funding, being in the state of mind brightened during the crisis, no- ticed that a number of orders by ministries, regulations and other lo- wer-level legal acts made it essentially impossible for the Academy to fulfil the tasks prescribed by law. In many cases the authorities have admitted their mistakes however until now recognition of the mistakes has not yet eased the situation of the Academy. Hopefully the cooperation of the Academy, society and the State structures will improve in the future. Leo Mõtus 5 CHRONICLE January 10-13 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht visited Brussels to participate in the assessment of project proposals submitted in the framework of the EU Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship Initiatives funding scheme. January 11 – Assistant Secretary General for Foreign Relations Anne Pöitel and Foreign Relations Manager Piret Press visited Tartu and attended a meeting of the Estonian contact persons for the European Network of Service Centres EURAXESS. The main topic of discussion revolved around the options for introducing the network to enterprises and researchers. January 25 – Board at its meeting discussed the Academy’s calendar schedule of events for 2011 and issues related to the premises of the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre. Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht presented an overview of the compilation progress of the publication “Research in Estonia” and Secretary General Leo Mõtus explained the situation regarding membership fees for international associations. The Board decided to withdraw the Academy’s membership of the European Science Foundation (ESF). In view of the request expressed by Endel Lippmaa to terminate his services as Chairman of the Academy’s Energy Council, Members of the Board deliberated further management of the council’s activities. Arvi Hamburg and Enn Lust were nominated candidates for Chairman of the Council position. The Division of Informatics and Engineering was assigned to examine and formulate the operating principles and action plan of the council for the foreseeable future, and possibly ask both candidates to prepare their personal visions on the successive activities of the Energy Council. The Board also decided to put deliberations over appointing the Chairman of the Energy Council on the Board meeting agenda in March. January 25 – Academy House was the venue for a joint discussion between Board Members of the Academy and representatives of political party factions in the Riigikogu, which was primarily aimed at preparing a comparative analysis of provisions dedicated to research, development and entrepreneurship policies in the 2011 election programmes of those political parties. February 1 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht participated in a work meeting of the European Federation of National Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA), the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and Academia Europaea in Brussels. February 16 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht attended a NETWATCH Advisory Board meeting in Seville. The EU 7th Framework Programme for 7 Research and Technological Development (in further text FP7) project NETWATCH (netwatch.jrc.ec.europa.eu) is an information platform, which for now is mainly focused on ERA-NETs. It was started as a three-year project, but on the basis of interim reports stakeholders suggested extending the project up to March 2013. February 28 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht participated in the 21st session of the Advisory Board for the FP7 specific programme “People” in Brussels. March 2 – House of the Estonian Writers’ Union was the venue for a festive seminar “Dreams of Reality. Friedebert Tuglas 125, Karl Rumor-Ast 125” organised in the programme of events celebrating the 125th anniversary of the birth of F.Tuglas. March 2 – Academy was visited by a Taiwan delegation, chiefly composed of researchers and political scientists who intended to get a closer look at the e- election system in Estonia. The delegation was received by President Richard Villems, Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht and Secretary General Leo Mõtus. March 8 – Board at its meeting announced a consecutive Student Research Paper Contest under the auspices of the Academy, approved the Academy’s Action Plan 2011, accepted the financial activity report 2010 and budget 2011, and decided to submit them for approval to the General Assembly. The Board also considered issues relating to advancement of the Academy’s publishing activities and electing members from among prominent figures in the creative community. Dr. Arvi Hamburg was appointed Chairman of the Energy Council and Member of the Academy Enn Lust member of the Council. The Board agreed to sign an association agreement with the Estonian Chemical Society and the Estonian Society of Human Genetics. March 21-23 – Foreign Relations Manager Piret Press attended the Annual Conference of the European Network of Service Centres EURAXESS in Limassol (Cyprus), which was devoted to summing up the results of the project nearing its conclusion in the financial year. The project “Enhancing the Outreach and Effectiveness of the Partners in the EURAXESS Services Network” (EURAXESS TOP) is a project funded by the European Commission, which brings together partners from 11 states, including Estonia. An overview was provided of the network’s enlargement plans and activities in third countries (China, Singapore, Japan, USA and India). March 25 – Vice-President Jüri Engelbrecht attended celebrations in Vilnius to mark the 70th anniversary of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. March 29-30 – Raivo Uibo represented the Academy at a meeting of the ALLEA Standing Committee on Science and Ethics in Brussels. The range of problems considered at the meeting focused around the impact of integrity issues in relation to scientific studies in separate fields of research. Among other things attention was given to planning of follow-up activities. 8 April 5 – Board at its meeting heard a survey on solving the problems with regard to the Estonian Academy Publishers, which had been raised at the previous meeting of the Board. Nomination of Professor Ülo Mander of the University of Tartu for the K. E. v. Baer Memorial Medal was approved. With a view to directing and co-ordinating purposeful developments in the sphere of medical science and health care, the Board decided to establish the Standing Committee on Medical Science and Health Strategy (ATSAK) and appointed Eero Vasar Chairman of the Committee. The following agenda items were heard: an overview presented by President Richard Villems on coordination of the National Health R&D programme TerVE aimed at enhancement of the capability level in the health sciences, an explanation given by Secretary General Leo Mõtus about alterations in the membership fee list of international science organisations