On 8 April, the General Assembly of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (Lietuvos Mokslų Akademija, LMA) held its annual and election meeting, where Prof. Eugenijus Norkus, chemist at the FTMC Department of Catalysis, twice laureate of the Lithuanian Science Prize, academician, was specially honoured.
According to the LMA press release, at the beginning of the event, LMA members Vytautas Konstantinas Sirvydis (90) and Giedrius Uždavinys (85) were congratulated on the occasion of their jubilees. The LMA Commemorative Medal was awarded to academician, FTMC scientist emeritus Prof. Habil. Dr Albertas Malinauskas. Eugenijus Norkus was awarded the LMA Presidium's Acknowledgement, the LMA Commemorative Medal and the Theodor Grotthuss Commemorative Medal for his merits to chemistry.
Congratulations to the Professor, we are truly proud!
(Prof. Habil. Dr Eugenijus Norkus, Prof. Habil. Dr Aivaras Kareiva ir LMA President Prof. Habil. Dr Jūras Banys. Photo: Virginija Valuckienė / LMA)
(Photo: FTMC)
(Photo: FTMC)
In January, E. Norkus celebrated his 70th birthday, on which occasion the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, sent his greetings and gratitude for his significant contribution to Lithuanian science:
(Photo: FTMC)
"First and foremost, I would like to thank my family. A scientist's job isn't typical nine-to-five. Sometimes you stay much longer, and I was often away from home until late… But my family endured it all, thank God," laughs the chemist.
Talking about his career path, the scientist also thanks his parents: "They were both chemists. The late, dearly remembered Professor Kazys Daukšas used to say that only people with no imagination choose their parents' profession. His son and daughter are also chemists..."
The academic says that, apart from chemistry, he has always been interested in fish and fishing - so perhaps he would have chosen ichthyology? But chemistry won out - and this was strongly influenced by the teachers at the then Vilnius 16th Secondary School (now Užupis Gymnasium).
"I remember my teachers fondly - at least 90 percent of them (laughs). And the chemistry teacher, the unforgettable Genovaitė Banevičienė, was a real celebrity. Two of us at FTMC - myself and academician Albertas Malinauskas - were her students. We both won first place more than once in national chemistry Olympiads. She prepared us extremely well," E. Norkus recalls.
(Prof. Habil. Dr Eugenijus Norkus with his family members. Photo: Virginija Valuckienė / LMA)
The Professor has been active in scientific research for nearly 50 years. After graduating from Vilnius University in 1978, he began working at what was then the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (later renamed the Institute of Chemistry). In 2010, following the merger of three institutes, it became the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC).
Since 2005, he had headed the Department of Catalysis, a position he voluntarily passed on last year to his colleague, Dr. Loreta Tamašauskaitė-Tamašiūnaitė.
"Our Department has always been distinguished by its achievements - many of our colleagues and peers say the same. I believe we’re still doing quite well today. There's continuity, and the current head of the Department is an excellent team leader.
Right now, I'm involved in one scientific project and leading another… As for how long they will keep and nurture the old folks like me - we'll see,” the academician says with a laugh.
Written by Simonas Bendžius
Info: LMA and FTMC