Ivars Lacis, Professor at the University of Latvia, is nominated for the position of the President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences

On March 20, 2012, at a LAS Senate meeting, speeches were delivered by two LAS presidential candidates: Ivars Lacis, academician Dr. habil. phys., and Ojars Sparitis, academician Dr. habil. art. It was decided to put down their names on the LAS presidential ballot-papers for elections scheduled for April 12, 2012, during the LAS Spring General Meeting. In accordance with the LAS statutes, the Academy is managed and represented by the President who is elected for four years and for not more than two terms in a row. The President of the previous term is proposed for the positions of the Vice-President and a member of the Senate and the Presidium. Since the start of his academic career in 1969, Ivars Lacis has been Senior Laborant at the UL Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, Head of Optical Materials Laboratory, Assistant, Senior Professor, Lecturer, Professor, leading scientist of the Institute of Solid State Physics, Head of the Department of Optometry and Optical Science, Science Pro-rector. Professor Lacis’ scientific interests are perception of vision, eye movements, threshold of stereo vision, instability of binocular vision, growth of crystals, glass structures and the optical features of solid state matter. In 2000 – 2007, when Lacis was Rector of the UL, a doctoral school was launched at the University; scientific grants and grants for emeritated professors were introduced, the UL Laser Centre was established. Professor Lacis established UL study laboratories (Semiconductor Physics, Solid State Chemistry and Materials Technology, Optics and Physiological Optics) and has been Advisor to more than 50 Diploma, Bachelor, Master and Doctoral theses. Professor Lacis participates in academic and professional organisations: since 1994 he has been Senator of the UL and a member of the Latvian Physical Society; since 1997 – a member of Latvian Optometrics and Optics Association and a member of the Latvian Association of Professors; since 1999 – a member of the Opticians Association of America; since 2011 –Senator of the Latvian Academy of Sciences; since 2010 – Vice Chairman of the Latvian Council of Science; since 2008– Chairman of the UL Foundation Board; since 2003 – Chairman of the Steering Committee of the EURATOM Latvia Branch; since 1992 – Director of the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programmes of Optometry at the UL. Professor Lacis has been granted several honour titles and awards such as Belgium King’s Order (2006), “Commendatore” of the order “Al Merito”, Republic of Italy (2004), “Comendador” of the order “do Mérito”, Republic of Portugal (2003), Officer of the Legion of Honour Order, France (2001), Full Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (2000) and Certificates of Distinction of the Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Latvia (1999, 2007).

Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.