LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES YEARBOOK 2019 EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES YEARBOOK 2019: Ojārs Spārītis, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Ilze Trapenciere, Advisor to the President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Namejs Zeltņš, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Energy Efficiency Centre, Institute of Physical Energetics THE ISSUE WAS PREPARED BY: Editor-in-chief: Ojārs Spārītis Project manager: Ilze Trapenciere Editor: Regīna Jozauska Design: Līga Sarkane On the front cover: Gunārs Krollis. HAZARDOUS EQUILIBRIUM I. 97 x 74 cm Author’s medium, digital print. 2009/2018 On the back cover: Gunārs Krollis. STONE GUEST – ANTI-GRAVITATION. 97 x 74 cm Author’s medium, digital print. 2009/2018 Publisher Zinātne Ltd Registration No. 40003576967 Authors are responsible for the reliability of any facts and data declared in the articles. Copyrights to the published articles belong to the authors. Republishing of articles requires written permission by the Publisher. Printed at Jelgava tipogrāfija Ltd © Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2019 ISBN 978-9934-549-77-9 2 CONTENTS 3 Ojārs Spārītis. The President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences 5 The President of the Republic of France Emmanuel Macron’s address on awarding the Cicero Prize THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 7 Jānis Stradiņš. Transformation of the Academy of Sciences in the 1990s and accomplishments in Latvian science 12 Structure of the Latvian Academy of Sciences 16 Divisions of the Latvian Academy of Sciences 23 Cooperation between the Baltic Academies of Sciences - Baltic Conferences on Intellectual Cooperation 25 Tālavs Jundzis. Baltic Centre for Strategic Studies of the Latvian Academy of Sciences 27 Inna Šteinbuka, Zane Zeibote, Signe Groza. European Policy Research Institute of the Latvian Academy of Sciences 32 Ņina Linde. Institute of Economics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences 36 Alma Edžiņa. On the activities of the National Scientific Qualification Commission 38 Ruta Skudra. The Latvian Academy of Sciences Archives 40 Edvarda Šmite. Portraits of the Presidents of the Latvian Academy of Sciences RESEARCH NOVELTIES 45 Gunita Zariņa. Stone age females in Latvia 49 Pauls Daija. Popular Enlightenment in the 18th and 19th centuries and its legacy today 52 Kristiāna Ābele. Multi-volume edition Art History of Latvia as a national responsibility 55 Baiba Rivža. The collective monograph on the research on transformation of the state Simtam pāri. Viedā Latvija 59 Gunārs Lācis. The basic biological research for the future horticulture 63 Jānis Kloviņš. Genomics and microbiomes in treatment of diabetes 67 Georgs Jankovskis. Development and elaboration of osteoreflexotherapy in Latvia 72 Maija Dambrova, Osvalsds Pugovičs, Zlatuše Novotná, Jiří Nantl. Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis joins forces with nine excellent research institutions to shape better research environment in the Eastern Europe 76 Kārlis Gross, Dārta Ūbele, Liene Plūduma. In pursuit of increasing the functionality of orthopaedic implants 79 Research activities at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia 80 Uldis Rogulis, Māris Spriņģis, Anatolijs Šaharovskis, Jurģis Grūbe, Andris Fedotovs, Edgars Elsts, Guna Krieķe, Andris Antuzevičs, Meldra Ķemere. Novel materials for infrared light convertors and white light sources 81 Kaspars Pudžs, Aivars Vembris, Mārtiņš Rutkis. Waste heat to electrical energy via sustainable organic thermoelectric (H2ESOT) – FP7 FET project 82 Juris Purāns, Andis Anspoks, Artūrs Cintiņš, Inga Jonāne, Aleksejs Kuzmins, Jānis Timošenko. XAFS Synchrotron radiation studies of construction nuclear materials 84 Kurt Schwartz. Nanostructuring and strengthening of lithium fluoride crystals under swift heavy ion irradiation 88 Modris Greitāns. Smart industrial robotic system for cognitive manufacturing 93 Award of the L’Oréal Baltic for Women in Science Fellowship 95 Achievements in Latvian Science, 2018 4 Yearbook 2019 WE ESPECIALLY NEED IMAGINATION IN SCIENCE. IT IS NOT ALL MATHEMATICS, NOR ALL LOGIC. BUT IS SOMEWHAT BEAUTY AND POETRY. Maria Mitchell, astronomer OJĀRS SPĀRĪTIS, PRESIDENT OF THE LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Dear Colleagues in Science, This year, like every year, the Latvian Academy of ners was the President of France Emmanuel Macron, Sciences confirms its unfailing role of national im- whose thoughts and words express new and essen- portance and responsibility in the development of tial ideas for restarting Europe. In his words of grati- education, science and economy of our country. With tude for the Cicero Prize, he addressed the Latvian this new version of the “Yearbook”, I would like to scientific community with the following: “France inform our partners in many countries in an attractive and Latvia are closely linked in their choice in favour and popular way about the major directions of our of Europe, in their desire to see a strong Europe, national science policy as well as the international a Europe that can protect its citizens and protect importance of our academically outstanding per- itself from external risks”. sonalities and their research. I am convinced that I am delighted with the achievements of Latvian information on the history, structure and achieve- scientists in 2018 and the extensive international ments of the Latvian Academy of Sciences will make cooperation projects that are part of the world’s sci- it possible to ascertain not only the unique and entific and technological progress and their theor- symbolic place of our ACADEMY in the spiritual life etical and practical input brings tomorrow closer. It of the Latvian nation, but also build up the pride of is good to know that the language of science is so each country’s scientists and politicians for the universal that it crosses borders and that it creates symbolic role and place of THEIR Academy. new knowledge. However, if economic and diplo- Along with other awards for scientific achievements, matic ties between countries were to be obstructed the Latvian Academy of Sciences annually awards or discontinued, I am convinced that scientists, as also the special Cicero Prize to outstanding person- recognised leaders of public opinion, will be able to alities in the humanities and natural sciences, edu- avert contradictions and delineate new ways of cation, culture and politics. One of the 2018 win- international cooperation. 5 Yearbook 2019 THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE EMMANUEL MACRON’S ADDRESS ON PRESENTATION OF THE CICERO PRIZE (Read out on behalf of the President Rīga, 6 December 2018) Mr President of the Senate of the Academy of Sciences, Mr President of the Academy of Sciences, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am particularly pleased to accept the Cicero Prize Raimonds Vējonis. On this occasion, the Foreign Minis- accorded by the Latvian Academy of Sciences and ters were able to sign an Action Plan of the Strategic I thank you warmly for it. Partnership, which sets ambitious goals for the rela- Through you, Mr President of the Senate, I would tionship between France and Latvia over the next five like to thank the Latvian people, their President and years, in all areas of the bi-lateral relationship. In light their Government for this symbol of “strong friend- of the troubled and uncertain international context, it ship and strong relations” between our two coun- is essential to continue the very close cooperation be- tries, to use the expression of the President François tween our two countries, particularly in terms of de- Mitterrand, who was the first European Head of fence and security. It is in our mutual interest. It is in State to pay an official visit to Lithuania, Latvia and the interest of the European project. Estonia in May 1992. France and Latvia are closely linked by the choice The celebration of the centenary of the creation of for Europe, by a common destiny centred on the the Latvian state throughout 2018 was the occa- same European ambition, with the same desire to sion of a special intensification of the bilateral rela- have a strong Europe, a Europe that knows how to tionship between France and Latvia. The inaugur- protect its citizens and defend itself against external ation at the Musée d’Orsay, last spring, of the superb risks. If Latvia is today in the first circle of solidarity exhibition “Untamed Souls” has highlighted great within the European Union, it is because it made the European painters originating in the Baltic coun- deliberate choice, already before 2004, to overcome tries who contributed to the awakening of national difficulties, to be at the forefront of the project Euro- feeling. I welcome the major role played by Latvia pean Union and to hold high European values. in organising this exhibition, which is now also taking Before we embark on the year 2019, which will allow place in the three Baltic States. us to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the This exhibition, inaugurated by the Presidents, in liberation of Rīga, I wish to reiterate the commit- the presence of the Ministers of Culture and your ment of France to a sovereign, united and demo- Minister of Foreign Affairs, marked the beginning of cratic Europe. a series of fruitful contacts, notably with President Thank you. Translated by Eduards Bruno Deksnis 7 THE LATVIAN ACADEMY O F SCIENCES Yearbook 2019 TRANSFORMATION OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES IN THE 1990S AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LATVIAN SCIENCE Jānis Stradiņš, Dr. habil. chem., Dr. hist. h. c., Professor, Full Member of the LAS, Chair of the Senate, Latvian Academy of Sciences In 2015, the Latvian Academy of Sciences celebrated the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Academia-200 Kurzeme Society for Literature and Art; during the first decades of its existence, this association had functioned as the first Academy of Sciences in the Baltic provinces of the Russian Em- pire until it was dissolved in 1939, with repatriation of the Baltic Germans. The Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences was founded in 1945/1946. It was com- posed of individual members and had a vast net- work of research institutes, design offices, work- shops, libraries, and other institutions, which for almost 50 years served as the leading and most significant research system in Latvia.