The 6th of March 2007 will bring the 60th birthday to Ivan Oleksandrovych VAKARCHUK, the renowned Ukrainian scholar in the field of theoretical physics, Doctor Sci. in Physics and Mathematics, the distinguished educator and public figure, Professor and Rector of the Ivan Franko National University in Lviv.
Ivan Vakarchuk was born at the village of Stari Bratushany in Yedynets District, Moldova. In the years 1965-1970 he was a student at the Faculty of Physics of Ivan Franko State University in Lviv. In 1973 he completed the post-graduate course at the Lviv Branch of the Institute of Theoretical Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. He was awarded for his theses a scholarly degree of Candidate in 1974 and that of Doctor of Science in 1980. Vakarchuk held the posts of junior (1973-1978) and later on senior (1978-1980) research fellow of the Lviv Branch of the Institute of Theoretical Physics of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences. In 1980 – 1984 Vakarchuk was Head of Department of Quantum Statistics at the Lviv Branch of Statistical Physics of the Institute of Theoretical Physics of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences. In 1984 he was awarded the scholarly title of Full Professor at the Department of Theoretical Physics, Ivan Franko State University in Lviv. A year later he became Head of this Department. In 1990 Professor Ivan Vakarchuk was elected Rector of Ivan Franko State University in Lviv.
Professor Ivan Vakarchuk has published widely both in this country and abroad. He authored over 250 papers as well as several solid monographs and manuals, among them «Lectures on General Theory of Relativity» (1990), «Quantum Mechanics» (1998, 2004, 2007), «An Introduction to the Many-Bodies Problem» (1999) and «Theory of Stellar Spectra» (2003). He was also editor of a number of Ukrainian translations of scientific and popular scientific books of foreign authors.
Professor Ivan Vakarchuk is renowned for the vastness of his research interests: mathematical methods in theoretical physics, physics of quantum liquids, theory of super-fluid helium, astrophysics and, more specifically, theory of stellar spectra, theory of disordered systems, physics of magnetic systems, fundamental problems of quantum mechanics, specific problems of geophysics, issues of philosophy of science and some others. In each area of his scholarly interests Professor Vakarchuk has come up with novel insightful approaches to the study of versatile physical phenomena and processes as well as phenomena from people’s life.
Professor Vakarchuk pays particular attention to the most recent advances in science as well as to the issues of philosophy of science including the interconnections in the methods of research applicable to both the sciences and the humanities, the problem of two cultures, a search for the common mathematical mechanisms that are ‘responsible’ for phenomena in the humanitarian and social spheres.
Professor Vakarchuk launched a number of educational and research initiatives that have gained the all-Ukrainian recognition. In 1992, as Rector of this University he introduced an independent admission scheme giving secondary school graduates a chance to get enrolled into the University by passing computer-assisted entrance tests which was one of the earliest such projects in this country. He also launched the enrollment programme for secondary school graduates from the country-side aimed at finding eligible young people and ensuring to them equal admission prospects with those open to the pupils leaving town schools. He is also President of the Lviv Region Junior Academy, a body initiating interested senior school-children into elementary research in a number of areas and at the same time unfolding their creative abilities. Rector Vakarchuk also came up with the initiative to open several secondary educational establishments affiliated to the University: Lviv Physical-Mathematical Lyceum, the Classical Gymnasium in Lviv, the Gymnasium in the town of Busk named after Yevhen Petrushevych and also the novel educational establishments that are associated branches of the University: Secondary General Education School-Lyceum at the village of Koziova and The Strilky Boarding School with advanced teaching of specific subjects.
Professor Vakarchuk is a staunch supporter of the introduction of the elements of the humanities into the teaching of sciences and the implementation of the interdisciplinary approach as a principle of the classical University education. His stance in respect to these matters is manifested in the establishment of the joint annual Lviv-Warsaw workshop on the philosophy of science. Likewise, conducive to this are the individual interdisciplinary syllabi for those who continue to study the humanities, an obligatory course of the Latin language in its culturological interpretation for students of all faculties and the creation of the experimental students’ theatre Proscenium.
Professor Vakarchuk has been editor-in-chief (since 1990) of the Transactions of Lviv University in the field of physics. In 1996 he also founded and became editor-in-chief of the Journal of Physical Studies that has been recognized by the European Physical Society. It publishes papers in all major branches of experimental and theoretical physics. Since 1996 Professor Vakarchuk has been editor-in-chief of the scientific-popular journal Svit Fizyky («The World of Physics»). Since 2003 he has been sitting on the editorial board of the Vyshcha Osvita Ukrainy («Higher Education in Ukraine») periodical.
Rector Vakarchuk is Head of the Council of Rectors of the Higher Educational Establishments of the 3rd and 4th levels of accreditation in Lviv Region. He presided over the Ukrainian Physical Society in 2001-2004 and was people’s deputy to the Supreme Council of the USSR in 1989-1991. Rector Vakarchuk has been full member of Shevchenko Scholarly Society (since 2003), member of the State Awards and Heraldic Commission (since 2005). He also sits on the Committee for Ukrainian State Prizes in the Field of Science and Technology.
His entire activity is characteristic of Rector Vakarchuk as a determined and consistent reformer of education and research. This fact can be seen from his numerous reports delivered to the Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine, contributions at the parliamentary hearings and in the mass media.
Under the leadership of Rector Vakarchuk the Ivan Franko National University in Lviv set up five new faculties (Faculty of International Relations, The Philosophical Faculty, Faculty of Pre-University Training, Faculty of Culture and Arts, Faculty of Electronics) as well as three colleges (The Teacher Training College, The Law School and The College for Sciences), seven new research institutes and about fifty chairs. In the course of these years the overall number of students of all forms of training and post-graduate students has increased from twelve to thirty-two thousand people.
Rector Ivan Vakarchuk was given a number of state awards and honorary distinctions: Diploma of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR (in 1977 and also in 1981); Honorary Distinction of the President of Ukraine (in 1996); State Prize of Ukraine for Science and Technology (in 2000); Distinction of the Polish-Ukrainian Chapter awarded during the trip to Ukraine of Pope Paul John II (in 2001); Honorary Doctor of Krakow Pedagogical Academy (in 2002); Honorary Title of the People’s Ambassador of Ukraine (in 2002); Barabashov Prize awarded by the Ukrainian National Academy for distinguished achievements in astrophysical research (in 2004); the Order for Merits of the 2nd degree (in 2005); Honorary Diploma of the Supreme Council of Ukraine (in 2005); Virtuti Militari Officer’s Cross of the Polish Republic (in 2005); the title of the Distinguished Figure of Ukraine in Science and Technology (in 2006).
Professor Vakarchuk combines his devotion, honesty, commitment and adherence to principle with kindness and attention to people’s needs. He has come to be highly respected by the academic community and the general public of Lviv Region and the whole Ukraine.
Rector Vakarchuk is a distinguished personality not only in research and education but also in the social-political life of the country. Under any political circumstances he has always been an ardent supporter of Ukraine’s national interests and of the Ukrainian language and culture. During the 2004 presidential elections in Ukraine he was one of the first to publicly defend the right of the people to free elections and the democratic values of the orange revolution.
Professor Ivan Vakarchuk owes his success to his colossal working ability, phenomenal memory, high professionalism, perseverance and steadfastness in reaching the set objective as well as courage and will-power augmented by innate sensibility, humanness and decency.
His dignified and responsible stand as an ordinary person and a citizen, his academic position as a scientist and teacher of the young determine what is the profile of a new Ukrainian intellectual of the European format characterized by academic and social responsibility for both words and deeds. His in-depth spiritual integrity in all the spheres of activity both as a researcher and as our University Professor and Rector, his self-sacrificial humble and quiet but always meaningful work bear witness to the Ukrainian national spirit that has managed to survive in the most dramatic turns of history to reincarnate itself in the brightest personalities.
Rector Ivan Vakarchuk is truly considered a moral authority of the intellectual and social life not just in Lviv and Halychyna but also in the entire Ukraine. By paying tribute to our Rector we pay tribute to the intellectual and public position of the Ivan Franko Lviv National University.
Your Excellency Highly Esteemed Rector of Alma Mater!
May we ask you to accept our most sincere wishes on the occasion of your 60th birthday! May we wish you quite wholeheartedly strength and inspiration in your scientific and pedagogical activity, good luck and success in all scholarly, teaching and administrative initiatives, a lot of happiness, good health, love, kindness and long years of life! May your sincere and friendly words uttered by the Academic, Intellectual and Humanist continue to encourage all students, post-graduates and colleagues! May we all keep cherishing for many a year the joy and delight from communicating with the man whom we all hold in great respect and who is our Professor and our Rector!
Let each day of your life feel the warmth and kindness from your beloved ones!
The Academic Community
of the Ivan Franko National University in Lviv