Newspaper Publications of Naturalist Mykola Shcherbak (to his ninety-fifth anniversary)

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the publications either by the Ukrainian zoologist, herpetologist, conservationist, museologist, corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, public figure M. Shcherbak or about him, which were published in newspapers and deposited in the personal fund of the scientist at the Institute of Archival Studies of V. I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine. The methodology of work is based on the usage of source, archival, chronological, comparative, biographical and prosopographic research methods. Scientific novelty. For the first time, the journalistic and popularizing works of M. Shcherbak were comprehensively researched, the main themes and storylines of the scientist’s newspaper investigations were determined. Publications about M. Shcherbak in newspapers were considered. The circle of newspapers with which M. Shcherbak as scientist and public figure cooperated, is outlined. The study of news paper publications by M. Scherbak and about him makes it possible to expand knowledge about the scientist’s creative and social activities, his interests and civic position. Conclusions. In personal fund of M. Shcherbak, a corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, at the Institute of Archival Studies of V. I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, newspaper publications of the scientist, his interviews, published in domestic and foreign media are stored. They could serve as documentary sources for researching M. Scherbak’s multifaceted activity and creativity. The newspaper publications of the naturalist scientist deal with the problem of the animal world protection, raise the issue of improving domestic environmental protection legislation, formation people ecological culture, inform about zoologists’ researches and discoveries, highlight the activities of the Zoological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, tell about people who explored nature. The publications dedicated to M. Scherbak reflect the activities of the herpetologist scientist, his role in the creation and development of the Zoological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is revealed, the participation of the scientist in international herpetological forums is highlighted, his work on the preparation of the Red Book of Ukraine, the activist’s struggle for the rehabilitation of former political prisoners and the protection of their rights is reflected.

Keywords

• m. shcherbak, newspaper publications, personal archival fund, institute of archival studies of v. i. vernadsky national library of ukraine, zoology.