Speech at the gala meeting
in the State Kremlin Palace
June 4, 1999

 

 

At this solemn moment, it is a great honor for me to address you with words about the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The history of coming-to-be and development of the Academy of Sciences is inseparable form the o Russian and the destiny of its people. It is specific and instructive.

On February 8, 1724, an order of the Governing Senate of behalf of Peter the Great was made public on the establishing an Academy of Sciences and Arts. The decision was a kind of crowning the transforming Activities of Peter and his large-scale reforms.

Striving to pluck Russia out of backwardness. Often resorting to serfdom and violence-charged tactics, with the intuition of a statesman of genius, Peter understood the role of science and the people’s enlightenment for the sake of Russian’s recovery, strengthening the Russian state, raising the culture of the people, studying the territory and natural resources, modernization of the army and navy, development of industry and trade.

In accordance with his intention, he oriented the Academy not only toward applied knowledge, but, first of all, knowledge fundamental and theoretical. This was not understood either by many of his followers or foreign advisers. But, it was just such a plan that made the Academy of Sciences a research center of world importance.

Twelve years later the well-known French physicist Dortoux de Merand said, “The St. Petersburg Academy, since its conception, rose to an outstanding scientific level, which the Paris and London Academies reached only after 60 years of hard work”.

Since the moment of its creation. The Academy has become both a Russian and international phenomenon. Relying on the state support, its recognition and respect, the Academy of Sciences became a center point of scientific and enlightenment tendencies, a powerful factor in incorporating Russia into the system of Europe’s scientific and cultural values. From the very beginning, thanks to impressive wide-scale and liberal personnel policy of the Russian government inspired by Peter, the Academy became an independent and full-fledged element of world science, and a base for educating national scientists, rather than a shy pupil of world science. The activities of Lomonosov and his disciples brilliantly confirmed the fact.

Despite their sometimes incompatible disposition, traditions and habits, which is however common in creative persons, the selfless work of remarkable foreign and Russian scientists within the framework of the Academy in many respects fueled the advance of the medieval Russia on the road of civilizing progress.

The Academy of Sciences became an outstanding center of world science and , to a considerable degree, made this country one of the most important scientific powers. Not only mathematics, mechanics, physics, chemistry, sciences on life and the Earth, as well as technical sciences have been given brilliant development. And it is not only a wide range of the natural sciences and technical research that determines the character of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Academy has become a kind of a center of spiritual and intellectual culture where the humanities and social sciences have received brilliant development. The importance of the research reaches far out of the framework of narrow professional achievements. Pictures of native history and literary works come along with the inner spiritual world of an individual, form a foundation and prospects for the Russians’ national self-consciousness, and educate future citizens both in an emotional and highly moral way.

Much has changed in Russia in the last three centuries. Social structures, political setup and governing regimes changed. But the Academy of Sciences always working for the benefit of the country stayed on. It was preserved and developed thanks to its remarkable traditions. They helped it to survive also in the years of inadmissible intrusion of state power and ideology in science.

Certainly, people are subject to politics, but the true scientific creativity cannot be empowered either by politics r politicians, and even when the state and politicians lay out their demands for scientists, dictate them the directions of research, the creative thought itself continues to remain free. And in this sense, as a focus of free scientific thought, the Russian Academy of Sciences has remained a basic civilizing phenomenon at all the stages of native history. Great achievements of the Russian scientific thought have vividly confirmed this in all the branches of knowledge for 275 years.

Speaking of the role of the Academy of Sciences in the system of Russian civilization, it is necessary to stress that this role is predetermined by outstanding personalities and prominent scientists. Since the moment the Academy was founded up to now, it is just they who, with their all-consuming dedication, penetrate the intimate secrets of the Universe, reconstitute the course of social life, culture and spiritual life. It is just their discoveries, knowledge, their understanding of life, nature and society that not only enrich our Fatherland with startling achievements, but also perfect its intellectual level, and carry out an immense educational mission.

The real science is always dynamic. But, at the same time, it is also traditional and full of ideas of continuity of concepts and generations. Its strength at all stages of life in Russia has been in passing scientific traditions from leading scientists and keepers of scientific achievements to young talents. And when such a tie is preserved, science remains full-blooded and promising. Even stopping fruitful scientific activities, the older generation has remained and remains an invaluable carrier of ideas of scientific progress.

The present situation in the Russian Academy of Sciences is contradictory. While remaining a keeper of age-old scientific traditions, possessing a unique roster of scientists creating a weighty part of Russia’s intellectual potential, the resources of the Academy of today are not fully made use of by Russian society. And this is a reflection of the calamitous state of Russian civilization as a whole, since the Russian Academy of Sciences has for 275 years been an indicator of the state of Russian civilization, and, to a certain degree, its creator and intellectual inspirer. It is sad that the interests and tastes of a certain influential part of modern society, rejecting the eternal humanistic ideas and traditions of Russian society, today attempt to deprave Russian science, too, put its necessity, its connection with the Fatherland and selfless work to doubt.

But the 21st century is on the threshold. And the passing century leaves the new one a complex tangle of acute global contradictions. In the 21st century, the national security of Russia, a multinational state with an enormous territory, a special and unique geopolitical situation, deep historical traditions and problems, to a considerable degree will be determined by:

The possibility and ability to find a solution to these supercomplicated problems is drastically dependent on the devotion of the state to the development of science and education.

And life will make the state demonstrate this devotion.

In 275 years Russia managed to cultivate a unique tree of academic science bearing remarkable fruit for its people and world civilization, changing the image of this country. Powerful branches of the whole of Russian science and education, and many impressive achievements of our people have started out from this tree. Not every state is up to it!

Storms and hurricanes racing over our homeland sometimes break the branches of the tree of science, and inflict deep wounds. But the Academy and academic science will support Russian in all its basic deeds.

 

Russian Academy of Sciences President

academician

Yu.S.Osipov