WAY IN SCIENCE OF A.O. SAPEHIN – A PROMINENT GRADUATE OF NOVOROSSIAN (ODESA MECHNYKOV NATIONAL) UNIVERSITY (To the 100-th anniversary of Ukrainian Academy of Sciences)

Introduction . Great scientists – coryphaei of science often are talented in its different fields. A.O. Sapehin’s scientific interests included separate sections of botany, cytology, genetics, and selection. Most of the works devoted to the life and activity of the scientist describe only some stages of his life, without giving the complete notion about the immensity of the significance of his works. The aim of our work was to analyze the life way of a graduate student of now Odesa National Mechnykov University Andrii Opanasovych Sapehin, investigate the main landmarks of his biography and evaluate his contribution into development of science.  Results . The main life stages of A. O. Sapehin - a botanist, geneticist, breeder and scientist with exceptional scientific-organizational and pedagogical abilities, were considered. The main attention was paid to the time when he lived in Odesa. Here he studied and worked at the department of botany of at that time Novorossian university. Three directions of A. O. Sapehin’s work were determined: his research in the field of botany (bryology), selection and genetics, development of new varieties of agricultural crops, organizational work to create Institute of selection and genetics. Organizationalo work of the scientist, who worked at many leading positions: the director of the botanical garden of the university, the rector of the agricultural institute, the director of Odesa Institute of selection and genetics and the director of Kyiv Institute of Botany, is shown. Conclusion . The collection of mosses, kept in MSUD, which were identified by A. O. Sapehin, including 18 species from 13 genera and 7 families, were analysed and presented for the first time. The most productive period in A. O. Sapehin’s life, which helped him to achieve the tops in science and become an academician of Ukrainian NAS, is described.