Barys Kit Scientist (also: Boris Kit) (born: April 6, 1910; old calendar: March 24)

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Belarusian mathematician, physicist, chemist, & philosopher

News Article: Barys Kit turns 90

"Barys Kit, the outstanding Belarusian mathematician, physicist, chemist, philosopher, and enlightener, turned 90 on April 6." "A graduate from the Navahradak (Novogrudok) Lyceum and the Vilna (Vilnius) University, Mr. Kit worked as teacher and later as director of Vilna's Belarusian Lyceum, which he managed to move to Navahradak at the beginning of World War II." "During the Nazi occupation of Belarus, Mr. Kit founded new educational institutions, including the Molodechno Management and Trade Institute. He was persecuted by the occupation authorities for his activities."

"Mr. Kit emigrated to the United States after the war. He worked in governmental agencies and large corporations, including 25 years for space research programs."

"Mr. Kit is the author of the first manual on rocket propellant. He took part in all the US space projects, including in mathematical support of the mission to the Moon, one of the greatest achievement of the 20th century."

"Mr. Kit is vice president of the International Astronautical Academy, a member of scientific societies and academies and honorable professor of the Hrodna (Grodno) State Institute and Navahradak's (Novogrudok's) honorable resident."

"Mr. Kit, whom writer Vasil Bykau (Bykov) called 'Belarusian number one in the world,' has been living in Frankfurt am Main since 1972."

"Mr. Kit believes in a bright future for free, independent and democratic Belarus and maintains close links with his fellow countrymen."

"An evening on the occasion of Mr. Kit's birthday will be held at the Francisak Skaryna National Enlightenment Center at 6 p.m. on April 6 [2000]. His friends and followers will share their impressions of meetings with the scientist. The center will host an exhibition devoted to Mr. Kit's birthday."

"The Francisak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society (BLS) has sent its best wishes to Mr. Kit on his birthday. The BLS expressed hope that the Society's idea to set up a Belarusian National University will be put into practice in cooperation with Mr. Kit."

Source: BelaPAN, No. 20; Thursday, April 6, 2000; 3:40 p.m.

Further Information

• For those who read Belarusian, there is a chapter about Mr. Kit in the book, Sons and Stepsons of Belarus, [Syny i Pasynki Belarusi] edited by S. V. Barys; Polymya Publishers, Mensk, 1996.

  Note: Photographs used on this Web page are from this book (page 373 and page 412).

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