Activities of V. Ligin as chairman of the Odessa branch of the Russian Technical Society in the 1880s

Abstract

The activity of the prominent Odessa public figure Valerian Mykolayovych Ligin, his role in the development of science and technology, and the formation of professional technical education are considered. The purpose of this article is to study the key aspects of Valerian Ligin’s life, highlight his scientific work, analyze the results of his active activities in the public life of the city, primarily as the head of the Odesa branch of the Imperial Russian Technical Society in the 1880s. The article reveals the origin of Ligin, the process of obtaining him of higher education, forming the circle of his scientific interests. Chronologically, the process of obtaining a master’s degree and a doctor of sciences in mathematics, as well as the scientific path from an associate professor to an honored professor of the department of mechanics, dean of the physics and mathematics faculty of Novorossiysk University, are covered. The contribution of V. Ligin to science is highlighted. For more than two decades, he actively worked for the Odesa branch of the Imperial Russian Technical Society. The article reveals the achievements of V. Ligin as the head of the Odesa branch in the 1880s: an increase in the number of members of the society, an increase in the number of departments, improvement of the process of discussion and resolution of scientific and technical issues, the construction of its own premises for holding meetings of the society, the initiation of its own printed journal («Notes of the Odesa branch of the Imperial Russian Technical Society»), increased communication with representatives of science and technology from other cities of the Russian Empire, participation in various scientific and industrial exhibitions, etc. The educational activity of V. Ligin is an important aspect of this intelligence: the opening of new schools, the creation of the Permanent Commission for Technical Education, efforts to open a higher technical school in Odesa. His active participation in the public life of the city as a member of more than 20 scientific, educational and charitable societies is revealed. V. M. Ligin, as the head of the Odesa branch of the RTT, together with his associates, contributed to the economic growth of the region, the development of science and technology, and the formation of professional technical education.