TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF ACADEMICIAN NAN OF UKRAINE, EVGENIY SHNYUKOV

Abstract

This article is devoted to the life and activities of Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Academition NAN of Ukraine Evgeniy Shnyukov. Professor Shnyukov was a world-famous Soviet and Ukrainian scientist, founder of the discipline of marine geology in Ukraine, and Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He was born on March 26, 1930 in the city of Arkhangelsk, located at the mouth of the Northern Dvina River, and he passed away on November 1, 2022 in Kyiv at the age of 93. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and a highly honored researcher, having been twice a laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of science and technology. His scientific interests were extremely wide and were covered by more than 700 publications. He was the first among geologists to come to the conclusion that, as a maritime state, Ukraine was obligated to develop marine geological research. Akademician Shnyukov promoted the exploration of marine geology at Odessa I. I. Mechnikov State University, constantly and fruitfully working with scientists of the Department of General and Marine Geology as its chief scientific consultant. With great respect, he spoke about our successes and treated the staff of the department and students with great warmth. His integral feature was that he treated great scientists and young employees with equal respect. He loved Odessa very much, called it his “Little Motherland,” and often visited to conduct joint expeditions in the Black Sea and along its coast as part of joint domestic and international scientific projects. He also organized international scientific conferences. In 1992, by decision of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Department of Marine Geology and Sedimentary Ore Formation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was established, with E. F. Shnyukov appointed as its head. Until his last breath, Shnyukov worked tirelessly to confirm the status of Ukraine as a maritime state and to provide it, through research, with energy resources and raw materials. The scientific achievements of Akademician Shnyukov include his founding of a new direction in the field of sedimentary ore formation – the metallogeny of mud volcanism – with which he contributed to the expansion of the mineral and raw material base of Ukraine. In fact, he is the “father” of marine metallogeny. An outstanding and talented scientist, a person full of vital optimism, a sense of humor, benevolence, sensitivity, and an outstanding personality – Evgeniy Shnyukov will forever remain in the hearts of his friends and colleagues, as well as everyone who knew him, communicated and worked with him, respected him, and loved him.