Scientifi c Dynasties in Engineering Science and Education of Ukraine in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries: Vasyl and Volodymyr Albitsky

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study on the influence of the Albitsky family dynasty on the development of engineering science and education in Ukraine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The influence of Professor Vasyl Ivanovych Albitsky on the formation of the scientific worldview of his son, Volodymyr Vasyliovych Albitsky, is examined. The study focuses on scientific mentorship, the role of family traditions in professional development, and the issue of the younger Albitsky’s scientific independence. It also addresses the socio-political factors that shaped the careers of members of scientific dynasties in the early 20th century, including academic competition, political beliefs, and public perception. The research methodology is based on the historical-biographical method, which enabled the tracing of V. V. Albitsky’s professional development, and the comparative-historical method, which allowed for the analysis of social, economic, and political influences on his academic trajectory. A problem-chronological approach was employed to identify the main stages in the scientific work of both father and son, while interdisciplinary analysis was used to assess their contributions to engineering education and science. The study reveals that V. V. Albitsky’s career was significantly shaped by the scientific authority of his father, V. I. Albitsky, who played a key role in the development of higher technical education and hydraulic science at the Kharkiv Technological Institute. V. V. Albitsky received extensive training, worked actively in the Institute’s Hydraulic Laboratory, and made a substantial contribution to the advancement of testing methods for hydraulic structures and pipeline cleaning systems. At the same time, his academic career was influenced by the socio-political context of the early 20th century. His loyalty to monarchist ideas, as well as conflicts with revolutionary-minded students and members of the academic community, ultimately limited his opportunities for further professional advancement. The biography of V. V. Albitsky serves as a case study of how political convictions could affect the scientific work and career trajectories of scholars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.