„LECTIONES VILNENSES ANDREAE SNIADECKI“ – PRACTICE OF HERITAGE

DISSEMINATION

Dr. Birutė RailienėWroblewski Library of the Lithuanian

Academy of Sciencesb.railiene@gmail.com

10th International Conference on the History of Chemistry,

Aveiro, Portugal. 2015 Sept. 9–12

Biography of an inspiring personality is a tool and source to organize commemoration events

• „Lectiones Vilnenses Andreae Sniadecki“ was started by a lonely enthusiast in 2012, and now it became a good practice for historians of chemistry to meet; each time expanding and attracting a community of science history enthusiasts.

Biographical study and bibliography of published works, also works about Andrew Sniadecki (Jędrzej Sniadecki, 1768-1838), a famous professor of chemistry at the University of Vilnius, Lithuania, inspired us to bring back to life a tradition to celebrate his birthday. The event was rather popular within the university community in 19th ct.

The personality of Sniadecki has several highlights:• Leading steps in education of chemistry, establishing a

scientific school;• Leading tractate in philosophy of nature in Europe;• Attempt to discover a new element vestium (known as

Ruthenium, discovered later by K. Klaus);• Revolutionary ideas in physical education for children;• Humorous nature and popular social activity.

• Collegium medicum – a place, where A. Sniadecki gave lectures of medicine. In the courtyard the first botanical garden of the University was started, to grow herbs for lectures of pharmacology.

Original place where A. Sniadecki gave lectures of

chemistry is still available for public.

Początki chemii stosownie do teraznieyszego tey umieiętności stanu dla pozytku uczniów i słuchaczów ułożone y za wzor lekcyi akademickich słuzyc maiące. – Wilno : Druk. Akademicka, 1800. – T. 1. – X, 401 p.; T. 2. – 326, [38] p.

Chemijos pradmenys / iš lenkų kalbos vertė: Emilija Ivaškevič, Mudis Šalkauskas; spaudai parengė, įžanginį straipsnį ir straipsnį anglų kalba parašė Birutė Railienė. – Vilnius : Vilniaus univ. l-kla, 2004. – 322 p. : lent. – ISBN 9986–19–622–1.

Teorya jestestw organicznych. – Warszawa : Druk. nr 646, 1804. – T. 1. – 264 p.

Theory of Organic Entities – a leading tractate in philosophy of nature in Europe . In few years was translated to German and French languages.

Attempt to discover a new element vestium (known as Ruthenium, discovered later by K. Klaus) gives a good example how one should not give up in research.

Picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenium

• Fizyczne wychowanie dzieci / dzieło Jędrzeja Śniadeckiego ; wydanie Kazimiera Józefa Turowskiego. – Sanok : Nakł. i druk. K. Pollaka, 1855. – IV, 149, [1] p.

• O fizyczném wychowaniu dzieci. –

Wilno : Nakł. A. Assa, 1856. – 251, [1] p.

Revolutionary ideas in physical education for children were well accepted both by contemporary and future colleagues.

Wiadomości Brukowe. - Wilno, 1816-1822.

Humorous nature and popular social activity.

Wiadomości Brukowe (Wilno, 1816-1822). Published by a “secret” society “Szubrawcy” (Engl. – Rascals).

• Attraction: a tradition of annual meetings for the affinity group was warmly accepted by science history lovers;

• Target group: scientific heritage if presented in an attractive form – amuse young generation which is our target group, but lobbying is our reality – we have to find who will pay for history of science investigation;

• Dissemination: all forms considered: short articles in popular scholarly press, newsletters, facebook; documentary film; public lectures; meetings; demonstrations.

Dr. Birutė Railienė and dr. Roman Sioda – enthusiasts of Andrew Sniadecki. Before the seminar on A. Sniadecki‘s heritage. 2011, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa.

Dr. B. Railienė gives a lecture on the occasion of naming an auditorium after Andrew Sniadecki at the faculty of Chemistry of Vilnius university in 2012.

The president of the Lithuanian Association for History and Philosophy of Sciences Prof. J. A. Krikštopaitis introduces the ideas of A. Sniadecki at the first Lectiones. 2012, Vilnius.

Dr. Rimantas Vaitkus (President of the Lithuanian Chemical Society, First deputy chancellor of the Government) and dr. Birutė Railienė opening the second Lectiones. 2012, Vilnius.

Prof. Dobilas Kirvelis itroduces main ideas from the book „Theory of Organic Entities“ at Lectiones. 2013, Vilnius.

Prof. Aivaras Kareiva and Krzysztof Sniadecki-Lempke, an ancestor of Andrew Sniadecki at the Lectiones. 2014, Vilnius.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXodQjH7Geo

Secret conclusion:• Annual meeting within an affinity group

guarantees a positive load for a laborious work during all coming year