The Antarctic landscapes captured by the great scientist Emil Racovita a century ago were presented at the National Museum of History of Moldova. Along with the photographs taken during the famous “Belgica” expedition, the exhibition also includes images from the Racovita family home in Suranesti. During the opening, participants emphasized that this exhibition enhances the prominent personality of the scientist and highlights his essential contribution to the development of science, reports IPN.
The general director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Eugen Sava, mentioned that Emil Racovita was a student of Ion Creanga and had several mentors who shaped him as a world-class scientist. He emphasized that the future scholar completed his studies at Sorbonne and, due to his exceptional intellectual abilities, managed to penetrate the international academic world. Eugen Sava stressed that Emil Racovita’s merits are outstanding, being the first Romanian scholar who participated in an expedition to Antarctica.
The manager of the “Stefan cel Mare” County Museum in Vaslui, Ramona-Maria Mocanu, states that the exhibition pays tribute to the complex personality of Emil Racovita and even presents “3D” photographs, taken with a special device designed for stereoscopic images. According to her, the exhibition values not only the well-known scientific contribution of the scholar, but also his human side, capturing Racovita in his family environment.
Emil Racovita was a member of the Romanian Academy and subsequently its president, senator and rector of the University of Cluj. The scholar passed away in Cluj, on November 17, 1947.
The exhibition was followed by a round table that aims to valorize the scientific and cultural heritage left by the scholar Emil Racovita.
