Categories
The History of the Latvian Union of Scientists in Outline
The idea of creating an Latvian Union of Scientists began to take shape in 1988. Upon the initiative of Dr. Jānis Vaivads, a group of scientists, the majority of whom were from Salaspils research institutes, met together at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry in Salaspils on 22nd June to discuss the transformation of science in the coming years. The meeting lasted for eight hours and the scientists resolved to start preliminary work for founding the Union. The Foundation Congress was held on November 27, 1988. In 1989, similar unions were also founded in Estonia and Lithuania. First of all, the Union took an important initiative in developing a new scheme of science funding and administration in Latvia. During 1989 and the first half of 1990, the Union jointly with the Latvian Academy of Sciences and the Board of Rectors of the higher education institutions carried out preparatory work. On 8th June 1989 the Union held a conference “Science in Latvia: problems and outlook”. On July 3, 1990 the Council of Ministers made a decision of founding the Latvian Council of Science (LCS). Professor Elmārs Grēns was elected the first Chairman of the LCS. It must be emphasised that the members of the Council are elected by ballot by all scientists (persons holding a doctoral degree) of Latvia. On July 12-17, 1991, the 1st World Congress of Latvian Scientists was held in Riga. Its organisers were the Union and organisations of Latvian scientists living abroad.
Zinātnieku savienības Padome 1988.gadā No kreisās: (1.rindā) J.Kļava, A.Blinkena, R.Bebre, E.Grēns, B.Rivža, A.Krēsliņš, E.Siliņš. (2.rindā) J.Vaivads, V.Tauriņš, J.Stradiņš, E.Gudriniece
Recent past Chairmen of the Latvian Union of Scientists
- 1988.-1991.g. – Professor Elmārs Grēns
- 1991.-2000.g. – Professor Juris Roberts Kalniņš
- 2000.- 2003.g. – Professor Jānis Štrauhmanis
- 2004.- Professor Aivars Āboltiņš