F. Litke
The Russian Geographical Society was always led by distinguished scientists and prominent public leaders of their time. The Society’s Charter, adopted in 1849, stated that in case a member of the royal family honored the organization by becoming its chairman (before the 1917 revolution the head of the Society was called “chairman”), the Society would appoint a vice-chairman from its own ranks. This was the case with Grand Prince Constantine Nikolaevich, and later, with Grand Prince Nikolai Mikhailovich. The day-to-day activities of the Society were supervised by its vice-chairmen: Admiral F. Litke and a famous explorer Mr. P.Semionov-Tyan-Shansky.
In 1914 a distinguished geographer Mr. Y.Shokalsky became the Society’s chairman. For many years he was in charge of the sea and ocean research; in fact, it was Mr. Shokalsky, who came up with the notion “World Ocean”. He was a member of the Society for 58 years, and its leader for 17.
The tragic events of the 1930-1940 that afflicted Russia were also reflected in the history of the Society. During the witch hunt the Society’s Chairman Mr. N. Vavilov, an internationally acclaimed geneticist, was accused of being “too academic” and “too distant” from the practical needs of the collective-farm-based agriculture. His international standing did not save Mr. Vavilov from being arrested.
In subsequent years, the Society was led by Mr. L. Berg, an ichthyologist; Mr. E. Pavlovsky, a zoologist; Mr. S. Kalesnik, a glaciologist. At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century the prominent professors from Saint Petersburg State University were in charge of the organization. In 2002 Admiral A. Komaritsin was elected President of the Society.
In December 2009 the Minister for Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Disaster Management, Mr. Sergei Shoigu, became President of the Russian Geographical Society. In a secret ballot, his nomination was supported by 193 congress attendees out of the 215 present.
According to the Society’s Chapter, the President is the sole leader of the Society, and the head of the Academic Council and the General Committee.
The Russian Geographical Society Presidents and Vice-Presidents (from 1845 through today)
