20.Try to revise the information about the Ukrainian scientists .
V.Vernadsky became the first President of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences which was established in 1919.
The whole life of V.Milianchuk was devoted to music.
Dmytro Rozhansky belonged to the constellation of the greatest physicists of Ukraine.
K.Tsiolkovsky was the author of many important works in the field of aerodynamics and rocket engineering.
The author of more than 50 scientific works, I. Puluy was the first to begin the investigation of invisible X-rays and the first Ukrainian to be awarded the Nobel Prize.
The Ukrainian land has always been rich in talents, however, until recently their names have not been associated with Ukraine.
Under the supervision of Yevhen Paton, the technology and apparatuses for automatic assembly welding were developed.
The Central Scientific Library in Lviv bears the name of V.Vernadsky.
The first academic centers appeared in Ukraine in the 16th and 17th centuries, among them: Ostroh College (1576), Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (1632) and Lviv Technical College (1661).
Ukrainian scientists were given good opportunities for fruitful and creative activities in the Soviet period.
21. Write down 5-10 questions you would like to ask (or to be asked) about prominent countrymen. Then choose a partner and ask each other questions. Begin some of your questions with the following phrases:
Could you tell me ...?
Do you know ...?
Do you happen to know ...?
Is it true that ...? I’ve heard that .... Is it really so?
Could you explain why/ where/ what ...?
What do you think about ...?
Unit 20.
Ukrainian names in world science
1.Read and translate the text:
Science is considered to be the highest form of human mental activity that reflects the development of nature, society and thinking. Each nation is proud of its scholars, researchers and inventors, because their work not only promotes the economic prosperity of the country, but also ensures the progress of mankind. The Ukrainian land has always been rich in talents, and the contribution of our countrymen to the world science and culture can hardly be exaggerated.
A lot of Ukrainian scientists are known to have been repressed in the Soviet period, as, for example, geographer Stepan Rudnytsky (1877-1937). Their scientific work was ignored, and their names were deliberately hushed up. As a result, other countries have benefited from the inventions and discoveries made by Ukrainians, while very little is known about them in Ukraine. On the other hand, those scientists of Ukrainian origin who did win the recognition in their Motherland (e.g. Volodymyr Vernadsky, Kostiantyn Tsiolkovsky, Serhiy Koroliov), are world-famous as Russian or Soviet scientists.
One of the earliest-known Ukrainian names in the world of science is that of Yuriy Drohobych-Kotermak (1450-1494) who. like many of the prominent people of the Renaissance, was named after his native land. Having obtained education at the universities of Poland and Italy, Yuriy Kotermak became famous all over Europe as a physician, philosopher, astronomer, and poet. His creative activity was highly appreciated by Bologna University where he held the post of Rector.
The first academic centers appeared in Ukraine in the 16th and 17th centuries, among them: Ostroh College (1576), Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (1632) and Lviv University (1661). These educational establishments trained specialists both in humanities and natural sciences. The end of the 19th century was especially fruitfulfor the development of the Ukrainian science. Numerous scientific societies, including Lviv Scientific Society named after Taras Shevchenko, were of particular importance, as they managed to create a proper atmosphere for training scholars devoted to their Motherland. Nevertheless, a lot of scientists had to go abroad in search for better conditions for their work. For example, Ivan Puluy (1845-1918), born in Ternopil region, is considered to have been one of the greatest scientists of the Austro- Hungarian Empire. Having gained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Vienna University, Ivan Puluy became Rector of Prague Higher Technical School. The author of more than 50 scientific works, he was the first to begin the investigation of invisible X-rays as early as 1877. But because of his indecision, the researcher didn't publish the results of his work and couldn’t claim his right to the discovery. So, Wilhelm Roentgen who started investigating the rays in 1885, won all the fame and was awarded the Nobel Prize. The creative activity of Ivan Puluy was extremely versatile: he invented cathode-ray tubes, vacuum tubes and greatly contributed to the development of telephone networks, miners’ lamps and neon signs. Being linguistically gifted, Ivan Puluy worked successfully on the translation of the Bible into his native Ukrainian language.
One can hardly find a field of knowledge which has not been enriched by the many-sided activity of Ukrainian scientists. For example, Ukraine is represented in the field of mathematics by such outstanding mathematicians as Mykhailo Ostrohradsky (1801-1861), the author of works on mathematical analysis, analytical mechanics and hydromechanics; Heorhiy Vorony (1868-1908) who developed the theory of numbers; Volodymyr Levytsky (1872-1956) and Mykola Chaikovsky (1887-1970) wiio were educated and fruitfully worked in Lviv.
In the sphere of physics a great deal was done by Vasyl Milianchuk (1905 - 1958) who concentrated on the spectrum analysis, quantum theory and electrodynamics; Olexander Smakula (1900-1983) born in Ternopil region, professor of the universities of Germany and the USA, was granted many patents in the field of optics and laser technology; Ostap Stasiv (1903-1985) who was educated in Lviv and worked as a professor at Drezden University for 20 years, carrying out research in solid-state physics; Mykola Pylchykov whose extensive research dealt with the problems of optics, Earth’s magnetism and radioactivity; Hryhoriy Sharpak who got the Nobel Prize in 1992 for the design of nuclear particle detectors. Invaluable contribution was made by Ukrainian physicists Kostiantyn Tsiolkovsky, Serhiy Koroliov, Arkhyp Liulka. Yuriy Kondratiuk and Ihor Sikorsky into the development of aircraft and space-rockets construction.
One of the well-known Ukrainian names in the field of civil engineering and mechanics is that of Stepan Tymoshenko (1878-1972) who was born in Chernihiv region. He made a successful career in Germany and the USA, carrying out research into strength of materials.
