Georgian National Academy of Sciences
The Georgian Academy of Sciences (GAS) (Georgian: საქართველოს მეცნიერებათა აკადემია, Sakartvelos Mecnierebata Akademia) unites the 62 scientific research institutes and centers of the Republic of Georgia. The Academy coordinates scientific research in Georgia and develops relationship with the academies and scientific centers of foreign countries. At present there are 65 academicians (full members) and 64 corresponding members working at the GAS.
History
GAS was established in February 1941, in Tbilisi. The founder Academicians of the Academy were: Giorgi Akhvlediani (linguistics), Ivane Beritashvili (physiology), Arnold Chikobava (Iberian-Caucasian languages), Giorgi Chubinashvili (arts), Simon Janashia (history), Alexandre Janelidze (geology), Korneli Kekelidze (philology), Niko Ketskhoveli (botany), Tarasi Kvaratskhelia (subtropical cultures), Niko Muskhelishvili (mathematics, mechanics. First President of the Academy), Ilia Vekua (mathematics. 1972-1977 was the second President of the Academy), Akaki Shanidze (linguistics), Alexander Tvalchrelidze (mineralogy), Dimitri Uznadze (psychology), Kiriak Zavriev (constructive mechanics) and Philip Zaitsev (zoology).
Other notable members of the Academy were: Ekvtime Takaishvili (history), Shalva Nutsubidze (philosophy), Giorgi Tsereteli (oriental studies), Simon Kaukhchishvili (classical philology), Konstantine Gamsakhurdia (literature), Boris Kuftin (archaeology), Sergi Jikia (turkology), Elepter Andronikashvili (physics), Sergo Durmishidze (biochemistry), Giorgi Melikishvili (history), Nikoloz Berdzenishvili (history), Victor Kupradze (mathematics), Teopane Davitaia (geography), Givi Khutsishvili (physics), Revaz Dogonadze (physics), Leonide Gabunia (paleobiology), Andria Bitsadze (mathematics), Giorgi Dzotsenidze (geology), Iovel Jebashviili (mathematics), Evgeni Kharadze (astronomy), Malkhaz Abdushelishvili (anthropology), Otar Lortkipanidze (archaeology), Giorgi Chogoshvili (mathematics), Valerian Gabashvili (oriental studies), Levan Chilashvili (archaeology), etc.
Current members
Today, among the members of the Academy are well-known scientists: Andria Apakidze (archaeology), Ketevan Lomtatidze (linguistics), Revaz Gamkrelidze (mathematics), Tamaz Gamkrelidze (linguistics), Mzia Andronikashvili (linguistics), Giorgi Kharadze (mathematics), David Muskhelishvili (history), Guram Mchedlidze (paleobiology), Giorgi Nakhutsrishvili (botany), Vladimer Papava (economics), Zurab Tatashidze (geography), Georgi Kvesitadze (biotechnology), Albert Tavkhelidze (physics), Tinatin Kaukhchishvili (philology), etc.
Presidents of the Georgian Academy of Sciences: Niko Muskhelishvili in 1941-1972, Ilia Vekua in 1972-1977, Evgeni Kharadze in 1977-1986, Albert Tavkhelidze in 1986-2005. Since February, 2005 President of the Academy is Academician Tamaz Gamkrelidze.
Georgian scientific schools of mathematics, physics, psychology, philosophy, physiology, botany, oriental studies, linguistics, history, archaeology, ethnography and paleobiology have won world recognition.
GAS is a National Scientific Associate of the International Council for Science (ICSU, France).
Among other science academies of Georgia are: the Abkhazian Regional Academy of Sciences (founded in 1995, in Tbilisi), the Georgian National Section of EUROSCIENCE (founded in 1998, in Tbilisi), the Georgian Academy of Agrarian Sciences (founded in 1991, in Tbilisi), the Georgian Academy of Bio-Medical Sciences, etc.