Alexander Mikhailovich Lyutsko was born on January 23, 1941, in Chizhevichi, Soligorsk district, Minsk region. In 1963, after graduating from the Physics Faculty of Belarusian State University, he worked at the Research Institute of Oncology and Medical Radiology. Alexander Mikhailovich started his pedagogical activity in 1970 at Nuclear Physics Chair of BSU. From 1978 to 1987, he was the head of the instrumental and radioisotope research methods laboratory of the Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and traveled a lot on scientific-research vessels.
After coming back to the motherland, А. М. Lyutsko, deeply aware of the negative consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster, was involved in works on damage elimination, informing the public about the situation in the country. In 1990, he published the book «Chernobyl Background» about radioactivity and its impact on the human body. It continued in the book «Chernobyl: a chance to survive» which was published in 1996. А. М. Lyutsko was one of the first who issued the necessity of training the specialists in the radioecological field. It was reflected in the solutions of the 1st congress commemorating Andrey Dmitrievich Sakharov in 1991 and supported by the United Nations.
On January 23, 1992, following the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus at Belarusian State University named after V.I. Lenin, International Sakharov College on Radioecology was opened, A.M. Lyutsko was appointed Rector.
On April 20, 1992, in the zone of radioactive pollution in Babchin, Khoiniki district, Gomel region, the college branch was founded for the students to undergo training on the fields and for the scientists of the institute to do scientific research. In 1992, at International Sakharov College on Radioecology, the International Board of Trustees was created, which includes scientists and world-known public figures. In June 1993, the scientific-research sector was created at the college. In October 1994, the college was reorganized into International Sakharov Institute of Radioecology. To improve the educational process at the institute, in March 1995, based on the Chairs of «Nuclear Physics and Radiochemistry», «Radioecology and Agricultural Biology», Radioecology Department was created. The same year in October, there was further integration of the Chairs into the Departments: Radiobiology and Medical Ecology Department was created on the basis of the Chairs «Medical Ecology», «Pathology and Immunology», Humanitarian Education Department was created on the basis of the Chairs «English», «French and German». This year Institute Council started to work – the highest governing body of International Sakharov Institute of Radioecology.
Superior organizational abilities, the commitment of the Rector of the Institute, deep vision of the problems in radioecology allowed the institute to gain international recognition in the short term and involve in the educational process high-qualified pedagogical and scientific personnel.
Alexander Mikhailovich Lyutsko – the author of 69 scientific works, among them: 2 monographies, 4 study guides for secondary schools in radiation safety. On his initiative and under his supervision, the Concept of Radioecological Education in the Republic of Belarus was developed.
The pedagogical and scientific-research activity of A.M. Lyutsko was estimated high both in the republic and abroad. He was elected the member of the New York Academy of Sciences, was also a member of the National Committee on Radiation Protection, was the participant of many credible international organizations, he was the first in Belarus to gain the academic title of a Profesor in the specialty «Ecology».
Alexander Mikhailovich was a remarkable teacher, who constantly did experiments, following traditional approaches to the educational process, applied new nontraditional teaching methods. His scincerity, immediacy, equal treatment with his colleagues and students commanded warmth and respect. He was fully dedicated to students’ education, directed them to a creative and decent future, thanks to his efforts, in 1992, the Guild of Students was created, unique and the only structure of student government in the universities of the republic. His enquiring mind, high knowledge, curiosity, desire to travel, and learn the world reflected themselves in published and unpublished travel notes, where he demonstrated himself as a psychologist, a romantic, and an optimist.
On September 7, 1997, Alexander Mikhailovich passed away.
«Recollections of the colleagues of Alexander Mikhailovich Lyutsko»:
Gurachevsky Valery Leonidovich – link to the videо
Timoschenko Andrey Igorevich – link to the videо
Kovaleva Tatyana Grigorievna – link to the videо
