Page 32 - IJSA, Vol. 3, No 1, 2020

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2020

scientific and public organizations. Together with F. and

S. Oldenburgs, Grevs, Krasnov, Shakhovsky and others
he created a liberal orientation circle of the Priyutino
Brotherhood. Like some other members of the circle, V.
Vernadsky strove for public education, collaborated in
the Posrednik publishing house, in the St. Petersburg
Literacy Committee.
Having entered the society, V. Vernadsky got the
opportunity to communicate with future scientists,
representatives of various sciences. There Vernadsky
met Shevyrev, Lukashevych, Vodovozov, Ulyanov. In
the circle for the study of literature for the people he
developed a strong friendship with Krasnov, S. and F.
Oldenburg, Shakhovsky, Kornilov, Grevs and others
(see Figure 5).

Figure 4. The former building of the First Gymnasium
in Kharkiv.

In 1876, after the family moved to St. Petersburg,
Volodymyr entered the third grade of the gymnasium.
And in 1881 he finishes it the ninth in the outstanding
graduation. Among the graduates of the gymnasium
were Professor Krasnov, physicist Tyurin and others.
But there were sad circumstances: six months before
thegraduation his father suffered a second stroke and he
gradually faded away. During the last six months
Volodymyr Ivanovych did not attend gymnasium
because he took care of his father together with his
mother. Despite this, the same year he entered St.
Petersburg University.
Teaching scientists inspired him deeply, and at the Figure 5. From left to right are: Dmitry Shakhovskoy,
beginning of his career he decided to devote his research Andrey Krasnov, Sergey Kryzhanovsky, Fedor
to subjects of soil science, mineralogy, crystallography Oldenburg. In the middle row: Mikhail Kharlamov,
and general philosophy – dealing with the problems of Nikolai Ushinsky, Vladimir Vernadsky. Lying:
natural sciences and the humanities. From the third year Alexander Kornilov, Sergey Oldenburg, Alexander
V. Vernadsky specialized in crystallography and Obolyaninov.
mineralogy and was influenced by Mendeleev who
taught inorganic chemistry (Gumilevskij, 1967, p. 29). The characteristics that S. Oldenburg provided to each
However, no matter how significant was the influence member of the circle are interesting: “Shakhovsky is the
of individual courses, lecturers, interesting smartest; Vernadsky is the most talented. Fedir
conversations, casual encounters, a real teacher of Oldenburg is the kindest and the most affectious.
V. Vernadsky and a leader for the whole life became the Complementing each other, the three of them would
founder of a completely new science in soil science, the constitute a triune creature – Shakhverburg. They were
original thinker Vasyl Vasylyovych Dokuchaev linked by friendly, fraternal relations for a long time and
(Gumilevskij, 1967, p. 30). considered these relations to be vital. Throughout their
Dokuchaev taught mineralogy at the university. He was lives, the fraternity members maintained relationships
distinguished by the breadth of scientific interests, the which were continued by their children” (Sytnik &
ability to generalize various materials. He had a well- Bevz, 2017, p. 34). In this circle V. Vernadsky met his
developed ability to observe thanks to which he future wife Starytska. The society united talented youth
understood the nature. “During his explanations the on the basis of decency, honesty and mutual assistance.
dead and silent relief suddenly came to life and gave That is, the brotherhood also had a social orientation:
numerous and clear indications of the genesis and nature “… first of all, they were worried about the search for a
of the geological processes taking place in its hidden living, specific, common cause that they could do
depths,” Vernadsky wrote (Balandin, 1979, p. 14). together – immediately, now” (Shakhovskoj, 1992,
Dealing with the problems of the natural and human p. 178).
sciences, starting from the third year V. Vernadsky The fraternity had the following rules:
specialized in crystallography and mineralogy and was 1. Work as hard as you can.
influenced by Mendeleev who taught inorganic 2. Consume (for yourself) as little as possible.
chemistry (Gumilevskij, 1967, p. 29). 3. Look at other people’s troubles as at your own
V. Vernadsky took an active citizenship, participated in (Vernadsky, 1988a, pp. 6–7).
student unrest in 1882, he was elected to student

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