Russian scientist to receive honorary degree

BOWLING GREEN, O. -- Russia may be thousands of miles away from Bowling Green, but Dr. Natalia Tarasova has used the common language of science to bring together students from Bowling Green State University and D.I. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology in Moscow. In recognition of her concern for students and her nation as well as for her contributions to the scientific community worldwide, Tarasova will receive an honorary doctor of science degree from BGSU on May 9.

Tarasova heads the Department of Sustainable Development at Mendeleyev. The professor earned her master’s degree in applied mathematics from the Institute of Electronic Engineering and her doctoral degree in radiation chemistry from Mendeleyev.

In 1997 she was appointed to the Russian Academy of Sciences, which is Russia’s highest scientific honor, and was presented the Russian Medal of Education by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the mid-1980s, Tarasova organized two teleconferences between students at Mendeleyev and Tufts University in Medford, Mass. The conferences, called “Space Bridges,” brought Russian and American students together to study current issues and discuss their potential impact. In the fall of 1990, Tarasova became acquainted with BGSU when she organized a Space Bridge on global warming between then-BGSU President Paul J. Olscamp and Mendeleyev Rector Pavel Sarkisov.

Following that initial connection with BGSU, Tarasova met with Dr. Douglas C. Neckers, executive director of the BGSU Center for Photochemical Sciences, to discuss research partnerships. As a result of those meetings, four Mendeleyev alumni enrolled in the Ph.D. program in photochemical sciences in the fall of 1991. Twenty-one students from Mendeleyev have since completed their doctoral work at Bowling Green and 21 Russian students are presently enrolled in the photochemical sciences program. Graduates of the program teach, serve as research scientists and work in industry.

Tarasova will be conferred an honorary degree during the Graduate College commencement ceremony, at 7 p.m. Friday (May 9) in Anderson Arena, the first of five separate ceremonies on May 9 and May 10 for members of the spring 2003 graduating class at BGSU. University President Sidney A. Ribeau will preside.

(Posted May 1, 2003)