Scientific knowledge is important not only for the expansion of mankind's ideas about the world. The results of the work of scientists are used in enterprises, in the agro-industrial complex, medicine, education, and other areas of human activity. In order to emphasize the importance of scientific achievements for society, the Day of Belarusian Science was established in the Republic of Belarus.
Story
On the Belarusian lands, science was born in the 7th – 8th centuries of our era. Here foundry, pottery, blacksmithing, and weaving were actively developed. Successful completion of the work depended on how well the master knew physics and chemistry.
With the spread of Christianity, temples and monasteries became centers for the development of scientific thought. Books were copied here, chronicle compiled, libraries arranged. The most famous educators of that time are Euphrosyne of Polotsk and Cyril of Turov.
In the Renaissance, science and education gradually became secular. An important role in this was played by typography. The first printer was Francis Skorin. A printed book was produced and distributed faster than a manuscript; therefore, it was available to more readers.
In modern and modern times, Belarusian scientists have been actively working in the field of natural science and technology. In 1929, the Institute of Belarusian Culture was opened in Minsk, subsequently transformed into the Academy of Sciences.
In the 30s, many representatives of the Belarusian intelligentsia became victims of repression. During the war, scientists worked in evacuation. In the postwar years, scientific institutions returned to the republic and continued research.
The formation of the information society contributed to the revision of science development strategies, so in 2005 they created the High-Tech Park.
Culprits of the day
Doctors and candidates of sciences, employees of research institutes, teachers, graduate students, undergraduates, members of student scientific societies have the right to postpone work and set up a festive table on the Day of Belarusian Science (the last Sunday of January).
The flagship of scientific achievements of the republic is the National Academy of Sciences, which conducts research in the field of physics, chemistry, mathematics, biochemistry, materials science, etc. The Minsk Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Engineering, the National Institute of Education and other scientific organizations also work in Belarus. Research is also carried out at university departments, in nature reserves and sanctuaries, medical institutions, and museums. Therefore, the Day of Belarusian Science is a holiday for many citizens of the republic.
Festive events
Conferences, seminars, exhibitions, thematic publications in scientific journals are timed to the holiday date. So, in the foyer of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the exposition “Achievements of Domestic Science - Production” is constantly working. In 2012, the ceremonial meeting of the scientific community demonstrated the results of the achievements of technical sciences, and two years later, scientific problems were discussed at a press conference held by the State Committee on Science and Technology.
On the Day of Belarusian Science, scientists are addressed by the president of the country, deputy heads of the presidential administration, and other officials. Outstanding scientific papers are awarded.
Scientific achievements
Belarusian scientists conduct research in all areas of human knowledge. So, a new generation of lasers was created at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Devices are much smaller than their predecessors and do not harm the eyes.
Cast iron parts will become much stronger thanks to the inventions of employees of the Institute of Metal Technology, and with the help of fiber-optic industrial endoscopes (developed by the Belarusian-Russian University of Mogilev), the diagnosis of hard-to-reach places of aggregates and machines will become more efficient and reliable. In the treatment of atherosclerosis, it is planned to use an ultrasound device created by specialists of BNTU.
Also, DNA is studied in the republic, emeralds are grown, new varieties of agricultural plants are created, cultural artifacts (Slutsk belts) are revived , space exploration, new methods of treating diseases, training and education of the younger generation are being developed. Therefore, when the Day of Belarusian Science comes once again, scientists have something to demonstrate for the holiday.
Problems and prospects of the development of science in Belarus
In recent years, the government has increasingly funded applied research. The urgent problem is the creation of organizations combining scientific and production personnel. There is an acute question of the examination of research results, investment attraction. These and other problems are discussed on the Day of Belarusian Science.
When a holiday is celebrated, scientists and leaders talk about painful things. So, the chairman of the NASB Presidium is concerned about the aging of personnel, the reluctance of young people to engage in science. The reasons for this are low salaries and the loss of prestige in the profession of a researcher. Many experts go to work abroad. The head of state sees the solution of these problems in the reduction of staff and the search for extrabudgetary sources of financing. The Day of Belarusian Science and Its Achievements is the President’s special concern.
The development of the humanities is defined as the development of a scientific basis for regulatory documents and the solution to the problem of strengthening the institution of the family. Based on the results obtained by humanities, the ideology of the state is formed. This is the day of Belarusian science. Where is a similar holiday celebrated outside Belarus?
Science Day in other countries
The tradition of honoring scientists in the post-Soviet space originates in the USSR. In April 1918, “Outline of a Plan of Scientific and Technical Works” came out from under the pen of V. Lenin. Since then, scientists have received congratulations on the third Sunday of April.
After the collapse of the USSR in Russia and Ukraine, festive dates (February 8 and the third Saturday of May) are dedicated to the founding of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
At the international level, World Science Day for Peace and Development is annually celebrated. UNESCO launched this initiative in 2001. Evolutionary theory fans celebrate Darwin Day on February 12th.
There are also science festivals, professional holidays of narrow specialists: physicists, chemists, etc. Therefore, congratulations to domestic and foreign scientists can be done almost every month of the year.