Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography

Al. Javakhishvili Geographical Society of Georgia

The first-ever national university in the Caucasus was opened in 1918 laying the foundation for a European-type higher school in Georgia, based on Georgian educational traditions. Today the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University is one of the first scientific-research institutions of Georgia. It implements about 200 local and international scientific grant programs annually. 

Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography was founded in 1933 on the basis of the Faculty of Geography of the Tbilisi State University. Some Attempts of establishing geographical institutions in Georgia were undertaken even earlier. The initiator and inspirer of this event was Alexander Javakhishvili, the founder of Geographical science and Georgian school of Geography, academician of Georgian Academy of Sciences. The Institute of Geography and TSU will be organizers of the international conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Professor David Ukleba.

David Ukleba was born on December 27, 1919 in the village of Simoneti (Terjola region). The study period at the Faculty of Geography and Geology of Tbilisi State University coincided with the beginning of World War II and David was unprecedented and then battalion Commissar fought at the North Caucasian Front and was awarded with the Orders and Medals.

He had been working at Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography from 1950 until his death, where he laid the foundation and headed the Department of Landscape Study and later the Department of Physical Geography. He created a solid foundation for development of landscape science in Georgia.

Designed to serve the research of natural conditions and resources of the mountainous areas, he devoted more than 200 scientific works, including 7 monographs, many of which are printed in Georgian, Russian, English, French, Polish and Czech languages. The famous scientific works published by Ukleba were devoted to physical and geographical zones and studying of the regions of Georgia and its regions, in particular the fundamental work - "Physical-geographical zoning of East Georgia for agriculture purposes" and "landscapes and physical-geographical areas of the eastern part of Georgia" (1968 and 1974). Large-scale physical-geographical zoning for agriculture purposes done by Ukleba for the first time in Georgia and the typographic map of Eastern Georgia was drawn up. Which accurately reflect the full picture of landscape differentiation of the area. This work was successfully followed by a doctoral thesis.

Anthropogenic landscapes of different ranges have been established by classification and general agricultural assessment of the mountainous countries for the first time in Georgia by Ukleba, the issue was dedicated to monograph "Georgian Anthropogenic Landscapes", published in 1983 in Russian. The profound scientific analysis of the work on the results of the interaction between the nature and nature of the given nature is a complete picture of anthropogenic landscape modification. The scientifically grounded opinions about landscape restoration, protection and rational use are expressed.

With the guidance of David Ukleba, his leadership was created for the first time in Georgian and Russian languages ​​by the landscape map of Georgia (co-authored by Dr. M. Saneblidze and Prof. KK Jakeli).

Based on the methods of landscape research developed by Ukleba with his direct participation the first geographical map of Transcaucasus was created in 1983 in Moscow as a result of joint work of leading geographers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Georgia.

David Ukleba also worked in translation - many geographical guidelines have been translated from foreign languages.

For the first time, geographical terminology was created in Georgian-Russian and Russian-Georgian language by Ukleba.

David Ukleba is included in the 1998 biography published by the American Biographical Institute in the "5000 Famous Person of the World".

He was awarded with a number of award ceremonies, awarded the title of merit of Georgian scientist, laureate of Georgian state prize (1994), winner of Vakhushti Bagrationi Prize winner (1987, 1993).