DEPARTMENT OF GEOMORPHOLOGY AND PALEOGEOGRAPHY OF THE IVAN FRANKO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LVIV: STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Department of Geomorphology (since 2000 – Geomorphology and Paleogeography) of the Faculty of Geography, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, formed on the basis of the existing Lviv school of geography, which possessed old traditions and scientific achievements in the research of relief, in particular, of its development and formation. On the occasion of the anniversary, the article attempts to analyze the main achievements of the Department over the 70-year period, to highlight the main stages of its development and to outline the new challenges facing the Department today. There is the “Engineering, ecological and regional geomorphology” scientific school successfully functioning at the Department. Within its borders, the “Paleogeography of the Pleistocene” research direction is rapidly developing with significant achievements recognized at the international level. Anthropogenic and dynamic geomorphology, historical and geographical research, and geomorphological mapping with the use of GIS and remote sensing have been intensively developed. Over the last decade, research on the environmental issues, including spatial planning and design of nature reserves and ecological networks, as well as the study of geoheritage, geotourism and geoeducation have been singled out into independent areas. Overall, there are four development stages of the Department: the first ‒ from its foundation (1950) till 1970, the second ‒ during 1971-1990, the third ‒ during 1990-2010, and the fourth ‒ from 2010 till present. For each of them, the main scientific and practical achievements of the Department are briefly analyzed. The most important event in the first stage was the launching of fundamental comprehensive regional research, including the Ukrainian Carpathians, under the supervision of P. Tsys; in the second one ‒ the development of regional and engineering-geomorphological research and the introduction of stationary and semi-stationary research of modern relief-forming processes for the first time in Ukraine; in the third one ‒ the formation of a research school of engineering, ecological and regional geomorphology and the rapid development of Pleistocene paleogeography, as well as of environmental research; in the fourth one ‒ active development of the “Engineering, Ecological and Regional Geomorphology” scientific school and of the “Pleistocene Paleogeography” research direction, as well as of the investigations related to geoheritage, geotourism and geoeducation. The main current challenges are outlined at the end of the article. Key words: geomorphology; paleogeography; stages of development; scientific school; research directions; research; achievements; challenges.