News
2007 is an anniversary year for HSR. It was in fact fifteen years ago, in April 1992, that a meeting of a group of hydrographers approved the charter of a Hydrographic Society of Russia, and this was the moment that it came into existence. Preceding this event went two years work on the part of enthusiasts of this idea: Viktor Rybine, Nikolay Jagodnitsin, Valery Samsonenko, Georgy Zima and others. The charter was written based on provisions of the charter of the Hydrographic Society, London but certainly took into account the Russian reality of that time.
And the time was unusual. The country was under the influence of ‘perestroika’ (reorganisation) under which it changed completely; government and economy became entirely other. New opportunities opened up for everybody in business, but new problems also appeared. Many of these problems could not be solved by one individual alone. Therefore new public associations came into being on a professional basis. One such was HSR. It was officially registered in June 1992.
The basic principles of the Society were voluntary membership, legality, decency, honesty, equality, and mutual respect among members. The basic purposes were determined as follows: assistance and development of scientific and practical hydrography, professional perfection of those so engaged, satisfaction of their business interests and assistance to increase educational levels within the field of hydrography.
New officials and members of Council were elected. Dr Nikolay Neronov was elected as president and Viktor Rybine, secretary. During all these fifteen years all Society officials and Council members have worked gratuitously. HSR activity began by the organisation informing its members concerning events within Russian and international hydrography, new achievements, new publications and so forth. To serve this purpose, HSR information newsletters began to be circulated to all members and over the past fifteen years 61 such newsletters have been released.
Participation in the educational preparation of young hydrographers has been counted a main purpose. It is pertinent to remind readers that HSR initiated the international certification of hydrographic courses at the Admiral Makarov Academy and St Petersburg Naval Institute. HSR honorary diplomas have also been founded to reward graduates of these educational institutions who have achieved the best results.
Regular ‘round tables’ have been arranged at which some vital questions of developments in hydrography and oceanography, research reports, new devices, etc. have been discussed. As a measure of its interest, the Society has supported activities devoted to anniversaries of historical events, hydrographic researches, geographical discoveries, prominent hydrographers and seafarers.
Carrying the rights of an independent public organisation, HSR has repeatedly directly addressed various governmental instances, raising questions concerning the development of hydrography in Russia, and protection of the rights of its members.
The HSR now has some 235 members, among them two Honorary and two Deserved members. The scientific potential of the Society is significant. Among members are numbered twenty holding scientific doctorates, 21 professors, 48 candidates of sciences, one academician and one corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Science; there are also some members of other academies. This allows the offering of qualified opinions on scientific works and monographs.
The HSR is co-founder of the magazine Navigation and Hydrography, and is also among the promoters of the international conferences ‘Current Status and Challenges of Navigation and Oceanography’ organised and held by the State Research Navigational and Hydrographic Institute, Ministry of Defence.
The Society has participated in organising other conferences and meetings. Unusual for hydrographers was a scientific conference, ‘The Sea History of Cossacks’, held in 1996 together with the Centre for Study of Cossack History and Culture, and another meeting devoted to Ivan Schneider, the well-known captain of sailing vessels Sedov and Kruzenstern
(1997). In the latter case, the meeting concluded with a performance of some songs devoted to the captain and sailing.
The next HSR Annual General Meeting will be held in April this year and will certainly pass in an atmosphere of celebration of this jubilee.
NO-2007
The next NO-2007 conference will take place in St Petersburg from May 20th to 25th 2007. Apart from plenary sessions, work in seven sections is stipulated. For detailed information address organising committee, Mr. Vladimir Bakhmutov. Phone: +78123279980, fax: +78123223319, e-mail: gningi@navy.ru.
Viktor Rybine, HSR Council member
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