Geologija Vilniaus ir Kauno universitetuose nuo Mineralogijos katedros įkūrimo

LTGeologijos ir mineralogijos raida Lietuvoje buvo veikiama pažangių Apšvietos amžiaus mokslinių idėjų, taip pat politinių ir socialinių lūžių, Abiejų Tautų Respublikos padalijimo, Vilniaus universiteto uždarymo (1832). Nuo tada Lietuva carinės Rusijos priespaudoje universiteto neturėjo 90 metų (1832-1922). Šiuo ilgu laikotarpiu veikė su Vilniaus universitetu susijusios katedros: Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės (LDK) Vyriausiosios mokyklos Gamtos istorijos katedra (1781-1803), Mineralogijos katedra Imperatoriškajame Vilniaus universitete (1803-1832), Stepono Batoro universiteto Geofizikos (1920-1928), Geologijos (1920-1939), Mineralogijos (1920-1934) bei Mineralogijos ir petrografijos katedros (1934-1939), Lietuvos / Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto Mineralogijos (1922-1926), Geologijos (1923-1926) katedros ir Mineralogijos ir geologijos katedra (1926-1940), Vilniaus universiteto Geologijos ir Mineralogijos katedros (1940-1963), Vilniaus universiteto Geologijos ir mineralogijos katedra (1963-2013). Jų istorija yra nagrinėjama šiame straipsnyje.

ENThe development of geology and mineralogy at Vilnius University was influenced by the progressive ideas of the Educational Period as well as by various social-political events in Lithuania. During these turbulent periods therewere departments with different profiles and professors: Natural History Department (1781-1803), Imperial Vilnius University Mineralogy Department (1803-1832), Stephan Batory University geological departments (1919-1939), Lithuanian / Vytautas the Great University geological departments (1922-1940), Vilnius University geological departments (1940-1963), Vilnius University Geology and Mineralogy Department (1963-2013). Their history is presented in this article. Natural History Department. After abolishing the Jesuit Order, to which Vilnius University (academy) belonged, the Educational Commission was established in 1773. The Commission proposed to reorganise Vilnius University to the Principle School of Lithuanian Great Duchy (LGD). It was expanded and physical and natural sciences were introduced. New faculties and departments were established, world-famous scientists and professors were invited. For the first time in Lithuania lectures on mineralogy at university level were given, geological fieldworks were organised, and collections of minerals, rocks and fossils were accumulated. These collections were the basis for the first Natural History Department. Imperial Vilnius University Mineralogy Department. It should be emphasized that from 1803 the Mineralogy Department existed even without official documentation. The course in mineralogy was given in Polish. Staff of the Mineralogy Department was travelling to Western Europe to visit educational and research institutions, mines, metallurgical plants. They were also taking the course given by famous at that time Mineralogist A. G. Verner. They gathered Europe-famous mineral, rock and fossil collections.They prepared and published first textbooks in Polish. They were organizing applied geological expeditions, performing geological field works. Lectures in mineralogy were started to be given by the expert in this field R. Symonowicz. This was an essential change in mineralogy and consequently a separate branch of science was formed in Lithuania. Stephan Batory University geological departments. In 1920, at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Departments of Geophysics (1920-1929), Geology (1920-1939), and Mineralogy (1920-1934) were established. The latter department was renamed the Department of Mineralogy and Petrography in 1934. Staff of the departments contributed to training of geography teachers, lecturing geological subjects to students of geography, biology, chemistry, pharmacy and agriculture. They supervised several students in quaternary geology and geomorphology. The departments were under the lead of the following professors: L. Łukaszewicz, B. Rydzewski, E. Pasendorfer, P. Radiszewski and S. Malkowski. They studied the Vilnius Region, its mineral resources, performed petrographical mapping, compiled a morphological map of the Vilnius Region, and investigated crystalline and sedimentary rocks and fauna of Poland. [...].