The 2006–2007 Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) Yearbook Is a Follow-Up Edi- Tion—Already the Eleventh One Under This Title
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UDK 061.23:001(474.3)(058) La 801 LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Akadçmijas laukums 1 Tel.: (371)7225361 Fax: (371)7821153 Rîga, LV 1050 E-mail: [email protected] Latvia http://www.lza.lv The 2006–2007 Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) Yearbook is a follow-up edi- tion—already the eleventh one under this title. The previous issues reflected the situa- tion in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998/1999, 2000/2001, 2002/2003, and 2004/2005. The Yearbook consists of the main part and the Appendix. The main part includes the principal documents of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, basic information on the Academy, its structure and members, surveys of activities in 2005–2006. Appendix contains brief information on Latvia’s science and research institutes. The contents of the Yearbook are also available on the Website of the LAS (http://www.lza.lv). All data of the Yearbook are given to 15 March 2007. ISBN 978-9984-808-05-5 ISSN 1407-0383 Ó Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2007 CONTENTS Preface ...................................5 PRINCIPAL DATES IN 2007 AND 2008 ....................8 BASIC DOCUMENTS Charter of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ................9 Statute of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ................14 UNITS OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Senate of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ................29 Presidium of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ...............31 Board of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.................32 Supervisory Council of the Latvian Academy of Sciences...........33 International Relations of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ..........33 Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ..............34 MEMBERS OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Full members .............................35 Honorary members...........................50 Foreign members ...........................56 Corresponding members ........................67 Changes in the LAS membership .....................81 DOCTORS HONORIS CAUSA OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ....83 HONORARY PATRONS OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ......91 SCIENTIFIC DIVISIONS Division of Physical and Technical Sciences ................92 Division of Chemical, Biological, and Medical Sciences ...........95 Division of Social Sciences and Humanities ................98 Division of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences ...............102 Overseas Division ..........................104 GRAND MEDAL, PRIZES, AND AWARDS OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Grand Medal of the Latvian Academy of Sciences .............105 Prizes of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ................105 The outstanding scientists whose names have been attributed to the Latvian Academy of Sciences prizes .....................107 The outstanding scientists whose names have been attributed to the Latvian Academy of sciences prizes for young scientists .............113 Prizes and grants of the Latvian Academy of sciences awarded in sponsorship . 115 Prizes and awards to young scientists ..................119 Winners of the Grand Medal, prizes, and awards of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ..................121 Winners of other significant prizes in science ...............129 Winners of prizes and awards for young scientists .............132 SCIENTIFIC AND ORGANISATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES IN 2005 AND 2006 Principal events in Latvia’s science and at the Latvian Academy of Sciences in 2005 and 2006.....................140 Academic lectures delivered by distinguished scientists ...........148 Elmârs Blûms. Thermophysics of magnetic fluids (abstract) .......148 Çvalds Mugurçviès. Livonian chronicles and archaeological data about the Baltic nations in the period of the 12th–14th centuries (abstract) . 150 Rihards Kondratoviès. Introduction and breeding of rhododendrons in Latvia (abstract) .......................151 Jânis Stradiòð. The Courland (Kurzeme) Society for Literature and Art (1815–1939)—the First Point of Reference for the Later Latvian Academy of Sciences ...................153 General Meetings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ...........171 The Spring General Meeting of 14 April 2005 .............171 The Autumn General Meeting of 24 November 2005 ..........171 The 1st Congress of Latvian Studies .................172 The Spring General Meeting of 6 April 2006 .............176 The Autumn General Meeting of 7 December 2006...........177 Meetings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences ...............180 INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION .....................184 Appendix. MAIN SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS IN LATVIA Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia .........194 Latvian Council of Science .......................194 Latvian Union of Scientists.......................195 Universities of Latvia .........................195 Scientific institutes ..........................196 Institutes of physical and technical sciences ..............196 Institutes of chemical and biological sciences .............197 Institutes of medical sciences ....................199 Institutes of agricultural and forestry sciences .............199 Institutes of social sciences and humanities ..............201 Institutes of economics ......................201 Other scientific institutions .......................202 Scientific publishing..........................204 PREFACE Since 2004, Latvia’s science like Latvia herself has become a full-fledged member of the EU research area. In 2006, the Latvian National Develop- ment Plan and the operational programmes for mastering EU structural funds in the period 2007–2013 were worked out, anticipating essential development of science including new financing mechanisms. In 2005, the Sub-Commis- sion for Science of the Commission of Strategic Analysis, created by the President of the State, completed the job on the draft Strategy for Latvia’s Science, Technological Development, and Innovations. In 2006, the Law on Scientific Activity, passed in 2005, started its full op- eration and the Cabinet of Ministers adopted several new regulations, rules, and directions in accordance with the given law. The year 2006 for Latvia’s science was a year when, in accordance with the Law on Scientific Activity, funding from the state budget grew by 0.15% of the GDP. Funding of science in the higher education establishments and state programmes was increased, and realisation of the basic funding was partly initiated. In 2006, Latvia’s science received 75 million euros in total, from different sources. In 2007, approximately 75 million euros will be added to the funding of science from the structural funds of the EU. Funding from the state budget in 2007 will grow by 0.15% of the GDP. All the means will be directed towards complete coverage of state programmes and for the reali- sation of the basic funding. Essential additional funding allows to activate the scientific work in Latvia and to attract young scientists. In 2005–2006, the priorities of Latvia’s science for the nearest period were set up and implemented in the financing mechanisms. Information tech- nologies, materials sciences, biotechnologies and pharmacy, pulp technology and national humanities (Lettonics or Latvian Studies) had been fixed as the priorities already earlier. Now, the priorities for the period 2006–2010 include also agricultural biotechnology, medicine, power engineering, and environ- 5 PREFACE ment. To ensure the optimum utilisation of the 1+2% funding of the Lisbon strategy it is necessary to develop the system of Doctoral and Post-Doctoral studies and to involve all kinds of working force in scientific and technologi- cal elaborations. Development of different science and competence centres and parks, technological switching centres has been started and should ac- tively go on since it is a remarkable opportunity to realise the link with entre- preneurship. Special funding is essential for national humanities setting them apart from the applied sciences. A special additional funding has been achieved for the programme of Latvia Studies co-ordinated by the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The 2nd Congress of Latvian Sciences will be held in October 2007. What is the present role of the Academy of Sciences in Latvia? 15 years ago—on 14 February 1992—the reorganisation process of the Latvian Acad- emy of Sciences was started with the adoption of the Charter and the new Statute. Now it can be considered as basically completed. The Latvian Acad- emy of Sciences has found a stable place in the organisational system of Lat- vian science and is performing the chosen mission of a classical-type academy of sciences of Western Europe. The Academy unites its full mem- bers and corresponding members—208 distinguished scientists of Latvia. Al- together 52 prominent figures of culture and education have been elected as honorary members of the Academy. As the foreign members, the Academy has elected 92 renowned foreign scientists, many of whom are of Latvian ori- gin. Therefore, we may freely say that the Latvian Academy of Sciences unites both the local intellectual potential of Latvia and that of the residents of other countries, who are connected with Latvia’s science. Accordingly, the Latvian Academy of Sciences unites the highest official contingent of science experts in Latvia. For Latvia’s scientists (both members of the LAS and other scientists) the Latvian Academy of Sciences is traditionally the venue of discussions on sig- nificant science issues. Discussions take place at the meetings of the Acad- emy and its divisions, at conferences, as well as in different commissions and working groups.