The Organiser of Student Scientific Work: 100th Anniversary of Prof. Jurgis Slavėnas

The Organiser of Student Scientific Work: 100th Anniversary of Prof. Jurgis Slavėnas

21 April 2024 marks the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Jurgis Slavėnas, professor of mechanics of materials, doctor of technical sciences, laureate of the State Prize, and long-time chairman of the Students’ Research Council. On this occasion, KTU Museum organised a virtual exhibition “The Organiser of Student Scientific Work: 100^th Anniversary of Prof. Jurgis Slavėnas”, using digital copies from KTU Museum, KTU Photo Archive and the Emeritus Club. The exhibition was prepared by the Head of KTU Museum Dr. Audronė Veilentienė.

Studies

Jurgis Slavėnas was born on 21 April 1924 in Delnickai Village (Krosna Volost). In 1941, he graduated from Rygiškiai Jonas boys gymnasium in Marijampolė. He was admitted to the Construction Department of the Faculty of Construction of Vytautas Magnus University. When the Nazi authorities restricted the admission of students, J. Slavėnas was first admitted as a guest student and later became a student. When the Nazi army occupied the University buildings and terminated studies, J. Slavėnas returned home. From 1944 to 1947, he worked as a technician, later as an engineer and chief engineer for the Road Board. J. Slavėnas wanted to return to the university, but he was not admitted at first because his parents were too rich. It was only with the support of Prof. K. Baršauskas that J. Slavėnas returned in 1947 to continue his studies. During his studies, J. Slavėnas actively participated in the activities of the Student Scientific Society. In 1951, he graduated from the Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering of Kaunas Polytechnic Institute with honours, having defended his diploma as a road engineer. After graduating from the institute, J. Slavėnas was assigned to a military unit in Arkhangelsk as an engineering supervisor.

Wedding of the parents Jurgis Slavėnas and Veronika Tumosaitė, 1923.

Mother Veronika Slavėnienė and her sister Ona Arnaustauskienė, 1927.

Jurgis Slavėnas – a student of Marijampolė Boys Gymnasium, 1940.

Drawing of J. Slavėnas,1938. (the original drawing is at KTU Museum)

5th grade of Marijampolė Boys Gymnasium, 1939.

Jurgis Slavėnas after graduation from the gymnasium, 1940.

Student’s record book of the student of VDU Construction Faculty J. Slavėnas, 1941–1942.

Drawing by J. Slavėnas, student of the Construction Department at VMU Construction Faculty, 1942. (the original drawing is at KTU Museum)

Projects by J. Slavėnas, student of Kaunas State Vytautas Magnus University, 1948. (the original drawing is at KTU Museum)

Students of the road speciality at Kaunas State Vytautas Magnus University, 1950.

Invitation to the Student Scientific Society's reporting-election meeting addressed to J, Slavėnas, 1949. (the original invitation is at KTU Museum)

Jurgis Slavėnas in the graduates' drawing room, 1951.

Congratulations to Kaunas Polytechnic Institute graduates, 1951.

At Kaunas Polytechnic Institute

From 1953 to 1956, J. Slavėnas was a doctoral student of the Department of Structural Mechanics at KPI Faculty of Mechanics. In 1957, he defended his thesis as a candidate (now – doctor) of technical sciences titled “On the Question of the Scaling Factor in Fatigue Tests on Steel”. He was teaching a course on Strength of Materials to students since 1957. He was awarded the title of associate professor in 1962 and professor in 1982. J. Slavėnas, together with Jeronimas Baušys and Stasys Vasauskas, was awarded the State Prize for his work in the field of metal strength research in 1969. From 1962 to 1971, Assoc. Prof. J. Slavėnas was the Research Supervisor for the Student Scientific Work at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and from 1971 to 1981, he was the chairman and later the deputy chairman of the KPI Students’ Scientific Work Council, and the chairman of the Republican Students’ Scientific Work Council. Prof. J. Slavėnas was one of the authors of the textbook “Resistance of Materials” and wrote 7 teaching tools and many scientific articles. He was a gifted teacher and taught thousands of engineers, supervised doctoral students, and was responsible for the Fatigue Strength Research Laboratory.

Dissertation of J. Slavėnas, 1957. (the original document is at KTU Museum)

KPI Department of Structural Mechanics, 1957. (the original photograph is at KTU Museum)

KPI Department of Structural Mechanics, 1962. (the original photograph is at KTU Museum)

A record sheet signed by teacher J. Slavėnas, 1963. (the original document is at KTU Museum)

Wife Petronėlė Slavėnienė with daughters Jūratė and Aušra, 1964.

Brothers Jurgis, Juozas, Jonas and Algirdas Slavėnai with their mother, 1968.

Prof. J. Slavėnas with KPI representatives at the Student Scientific Work Conference in Riga, 1976.

KPI Department of Material Resistance, 1964.

Invitation to a symposium for J. Slavėnas, 1971.

Plenary session of the student scientific and technical conference in Kaunas, 1978.

Assoc. Prof. J. Slavėnas gives a presentation at the scientific conference, 1978.

KPI Student Scientific Society's reporting-election meeting, 1980. (the original photograph is at KTU Museum)

Prof. J. Slavėnas and the chairman of the central board of KPI Student Scientific Society Arūnas Tomkevičius, 1983.

Prof. J. Slavėnas and KPI Vice-Rector Česlovas Jakimavičius look at the students’ scientific work, 1983. (the original photograph is at KTU Museum)

KPI Vice-Rector Prof. J. Gecevičius, Prof. J. and Assoc. Prof. E. Žukienė visit the exhibition of the students’ scientific work, 1985. (the original photograph is at KTU Museum)

Publication. J. Muralis, J. Slavėnas. Material Resistance Homework Assignments, 1989. (the original publication is at KTU Museum)

In the Independent Lithuania

After Lithuania gained its independence, Kaunas Polytechnic Institute became Kaunas University of Technology on 31 October 1990. Until 1993, Prof. Jurgis Slavėnas worked at the Department of Material Resistance of KTU Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. After his retirement, Prof. J. Slavėnas was actively involved in the activities of KTU Veteran Club “Emeritus” by heading the 12-person Historical Memory Preservation Group, which maintained a virtual calendar of KTU historical and commemorative dates and thus contributed to the preservation of the historical memory of KTU. In the monograph “From Higher Courses to Kaunas University of Technology, 1922-1997”, published in 1997, Prof. J. Slavėnas wrote an article “Students’ Scientific Work (SSW)”, and in 2005, the Publishing House “Technologija” published his publication “Department of Structural Mechanics, 1922-1962”. In the publication dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Emeritus Club in 2018, Prof. J. Slavėnas wrote:

“Past, present and future are the real components of a continuous and uninterrupted time scale. They are closely interconnected and cannot exist without each other… Only through the joint efforts of all of us will the University’s honourable historical memory be given its due recognition and preservation. And it is best for everyone to begin their work by learning about their roots”.