Scientific activity of Prof. Pranciškus Baltrus Šivickis at University of Philippines in 1922–1928.Is he still remembered in Philippines?

Abstract

Pranciskus Baltrus Sivickis worked as Professor of Zoology at University of Philippines (UP) in 1922–1928. Irrespective of his quite short stay in this country, P. B. Sivickis is still remembered there. However, some important facts of his scien­tific activity are still obscure to Philippine scientists. In 1997, Philippines cele­bra­ted the centenary of Jose S. Domantay, an internationally acclaimed echinodermist. In commemoration of the event, M. F. Cichon wrote an article where he mentioned the first publication of J. S. Domantay that had been in general the first article on Philippine holothurians and “which he co-authored with P. B. Sivickis”. M. F. Cichon wrote about the influence exerted on J. S. Domantay by Philippine scientists, alas, in this context he did not mention P. B. Sivickis. M. F. Cichon was unaware that the first article on holothurians was a publication of the master thesis of J. S. Domantay supervised by P. B. Sivickis; therefore, the initial and the most important influence was exerted namely by him. In 2010, a 100-year anniversary of biology in UP was celebrated. On this occasion, F. Lacanilao made a survey of professors’ publications in SCI-indexed journals and made a top list of Philippine biologists. P. B. Sivickis was entered into this list. However, F. Lacanilao had no information on the following events: the exact dates of P. B. Sivickis’ service at UP, his publications in Science and Nature, his scientific career after his departure from Philippines. Also, in the survey he was referred to as an American. In 1923, P. B. Sivickis established Marine Biological Station in Puerto Galera (PG) and in 1924–1925 was Director of the Station. He demonstrated a perfect insight to choose PG as a location for the Station. In the 1980s a study by UP found out that PG area can boast the highest diversity of marine species in the world. PG was registered as a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1973 and listed by Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World in 2005, and is the only bay in Philippines to be listed there. It is a pity that Philippine scientists did not remember who had been the founder of the Station in PG and the date it had been founded: according to M. D. Fortes, the Station was established by University of Philippines in 1932.