Volodymyr Palash, Professor at the Department of Welding Manufacture, Diagnostics and Restoration of Metal Structures, Institute of Engineering and Transport, has recently celebrated his eightieth anniversary. On the occasion of his jubilee, Professor shared valuable memories of his work in Lviv Polytechnic with the journalists of the Audytoriya weekly newspaper.
– Please, tell us about the beginning of your cooperation with the University and further career development.
– I entered Lviv Polytechnic in 1957 to the Department of Mechanical Engineering, speciality «Welding». After graduation in 1962 I worked at the Department of Metal Science, defended my thesis, and then went to Welding Department. At the Department at first I was a Senior Lecturer, then – an Associate Professor. From 1982 to 1987 I was the Head of the Department. Since 1987 I headed the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Road Transport. At the same time, he continued to work at Welding Department. I was a Dean until 2001. At that time, the Departments merged and formed the Institutes. Two our Mechanical Departments formed the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Transport. Then I got the title of Professor and continued my work only at Welding Department.
– Which events related to Polytechnic do you remember with pleasure? What changed your life?
– I always loved Polytechnic. I tried to work efficiently and was treated properly. To my mind, my major achievement was accomplished when I was a Dean – we organized an International Symposium of Ukrainian Mechanical Engineers in Lviv at the Department. It happened in 1993 and was not easy. It is now possible to organize a conference in a week. At that time it took us a whole year of hard work to prepare. This event was the first in Ukraine and the first that was held in Ukrainian. The participants were not only from our country, but from Ukrainian societies abroad as well. After that every two years we have been holding this Symposium. Next year it will be the 20th jubilee event. According to the materials of the Symposiums, we began to publish the monthly journal «Mechanical Engineering» in Ukrainian. At that time it was the first in Ukraine. The editor-in-chief was my Deputy Kindratskyi. He did a tremendous amount of work to make this journal exist. We had often to translate articles from Russian. The journal was recognized in Ukraine and it has been published until recently. In addition, the Symposium provided a good impetus for new researches. For example, lots of dissertations were defended at our Institute. And, as for me, it had a huge influence on the formation of the Ukrainian technical language.
– Are you constantly working with students. Which of their achievements were the most significant?
– Lots of our graduates became researchers. There were defended five doctoral and about a hundred candidate theses. About 2,500 engineers graduated from our Institute and we maintain relations with them. Now not everyone works in the field he’s qualified for, but at our Institute there is the highest percentage of graduates in Ukraine, who after completing their Master’s degree work in their field. I have always had a great pleasure in working with students.
– You have spent many years working at Polytechnic. What was your incentive?
– During my studies and in the future, I had a desire to work. I find a great pleasure in doing what I love. I have many awards, it is also a pleasure. I can say that I am a happy person.
