Belarusian science has suffered a great loss. On October 25, 2015 at the age of 92 died Nikolai Alexandrovich Borisevich, an outstanding scientist in the field of molecular spectroscopy, luminescence, laser physics and infrared technology, Doctor of Physical-Mathematical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Russian Academy of Sciences, Foreign Member of several foreign academies, a prominent state and public figure, manager of Soviet and Belarusian science, veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of Socialist Labor.
Nikolai Alexandrovich Borisevich was born on September 23, 1923 in Luchnoy Most Village, Berezino District, Minsk Region in a rural family. From 1941 to 1944 he was a member of the underground Komsomol group and a soldier at partisan unit 152, since 1944 he was an artillerist in the Red Army who reached Berlin. For the courage he displayed during the war Nikolai Borisevich was awarded with two Orders of the Red Star, Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st and 2nd class and several medals.
Nikolai Borisevich graduated from Belarusian State University in 1950. He was President of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR for 18 years from 1969 to 1987. His name is associated with the rapid development in the BSSR of physics, mathematics, informatics, chemistry, Earth sciences, photobiology and other sciences. He initiated establishment of design bureaus, experimental and industrial manufactures, regional research centers, development of defense-related works at the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Under his management the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR became one of the best academies of the Soviet Union, BSSR scientists occupied the leading positions in the world in a range of major scientific areas.
The contribution of Nikolai Borisevich to development of optics, spectroscopy and their applications is invaluable. He is the author of more than 600 publications. For his outstanding scientific achievements Nikolai Borisevich was awarded with the Lenin Award, State Prizes of the USSR and the Republic of Belarus. He supervised more than 30 PhDs, 12 of the scientists he supervised are Professors, among them there are 3 Academicians and 1 Corresponding Member.
The contribution of Nikolai Borisevich to development of science has been celebrated with honorable state awards. He was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Order of the October Revolution, three Orders of Lenin, Order of Friendship (Russian Federation), Order of Francysk Skaryna. He was given the title of Hero of Socialist Labor and awarded with the Order of Lenin and the Sickle and Hammer golden medal in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium, Supreme Council of the USSR of December 27, 1978.