The "Lysenko Prize" is associated with Agricultural Sciences. What type of prize is it ? Who is awarding it? Who qualifies for it?
Historical background of the prize and the criteria used to select awardees.
I have not heard about the Lysenko prize, but Lysenko was a Soviet Biologist that had very strange ideas about heredity and may other aspects of biology. He did not accept Mendel's theory of heredity transferred by genes. He was highly regarded by communist leaders and dissidents to his theory were not taken seriously to put it mildly.
Whereas Soviet physics for example attained very high levels, Soviet Biology has been very backward relevant to western biology, I think that Lysenko prize could be a prize for non-scientific thinking and actions. Wikipedia has an excellent description of Lysenko and all his activities.
By searching for "Lysenko prize" my feeling was correct. I found the following:
Since 1990, the Club de l'Horloge awards each year the "Lysenko Prize" to an author or person who "has contributed the most to scientific and historical misinformation, using ideological methods and arguments."
Not a prize one should aspire to
Hi Prof.,
It is not to say much about your inquiry. But I found the following URL link from the website of awarding organization (http://www.clubdelhorloge.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=129). The translation indicate the award as a real hoax. By the way could you drop me your e-mail, I have something to discuss with you?
Dear Prof. Eloff,
I now understand what the "Lysenko Prize" is all about. Thank you so much for your answer.
Best regards,
Belay
Dear Fekadu,
Many thanks for the URL link. The article is detailed and very informative. As you well know, I can read French and have no problem to understand the contents. I will drop you a line at your e-mail address.
Best regards,
Belay
Dear Mr Belay, I know the question is already answered. I just had noted it and may have some additional comment. I live in Czech Republic, formerly in the sphere of influence of Soviets.
The Lysenko unscientist was having profound effect on our biologists. We had originally much higher biology standards than the Soviets evre had, but due to the Lysenkos theories, many biologists were fired or jailed. Mendel's theory was sneered at, as unscientific and deemed in contradiction with Darwin's theory.
Communists believed in Darwinianism and believed that by mere evolutionary preasure rganisms evolve without any restriction. They believed that in society, when they apply pressure on people that even people will evolve and the will create "better" new people :-(.
Whatever was in the way had to be cleared form the way. Lysenko was the origin of all this.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agricultural Science