PROMINENT BOTANIST-EVOLUTIONIST, ACADEMICIAN ARMEN TAKHTAJIAN DIES

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 19, 2009
SAINT PETERSBURG

SAINT PETERSBURG, NOVEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. One of the most prominent
botanists of the 20th century, Academician of the Academy of Sciences
of Russia and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Hero of
Social Labor Armen Takhtajian died in Saint Petresburg on November 13.

He was 99.

A. Takhtajian belonged to the constellation of the world’s renowned
botanists-evolutionists. He created an evolution system of the
plants, which was accepted by the scientific botanical society and is
considered as the best and most reliable. He made a great contribution
to almost all the main branches of the contemporary science on plants.

For many years he held the post of director of the Institute of Botany
of the USSR Academy of Sciences and participated in the development
of strategic directions in botany.

A. Takhtajian’s contribution to the development of botany in Armenia
was also considerable. He was the first director of the Institute of
Botany of Armenia’s Academy of Sciences in 1943-1948. After moving
to Leningrad, he continued cooperting closely with Armenian botanists.

Thanks to his efforts, the Armenian botanical school has become
one of the leading schools. With his assistance, such directions in
contemporary botany as taxonomy, palynology, karyology, etc. have
developed in Armenia.

NT was informed by the information and analytical center of the RA
National Academy of Sciences that Armen Takhtajian was buried in
Smolenski cemetery of Saint Petersburg.