The awarding ceremony of the prominent Belarusan researchers took place on October 3 in the BLC in Kaunas.

The presenters of the ceremony — Valer Bulhakau, philosopher and editor of the ARCHE magazine and Iryna Dubianietskaya, theologian — recalled that the Award of the International Congress of Belarusan Studies aims at marking achievements in humanitarian or social sciences throughout the year, promote scientific research as well as contribute to improving the quality of scientific research.

At the beginning of the ceremony the participants of the Congress remembered Uladzimir Abushenka, the prominent Belarusan scientist, sociologist, who has recently passed away, with minute's silence.

After that the presenters recalled what the Award of the Congress is given for.

The Award has three nominations: history, social and political studies, and humanitarian sciences.

In 2015 certain changes related to the awards took place. Thus, a new honorary award for foreign researchers was added. This year monographs published in 2013-2014 in English or Russian were also considered.

In result, the award was given to Anastasia Skepyan for the book “Slutsk princes” (Belarusan “Kniazi Slutskija”. — EuroBelarus) that was published in Minsk in 2013. The book was announced to be the best historical monograph.

Zora Kipel Award for the best monograph in the sphere of humanitarian sciences was given to Mikalai Haustovich for the book “Research and materials: Belarus’ literature of 18-19th centuries” that was published in 2014 in Warsaw.

The award for the best foreign book was given to Margarita Balmaceda, a Harvard professor. She wrote a monograph “Living the High Life in Minsk. Russian Energy Rents, Domestic Populism and Belarus’ Impending Crisis”.

Special awards were given to the authors of articles: Siarhei Tokts (historical article “Fertility and mortality in the traditional country community of Belarus of XIX — early XX century (based on Hlybokski parish); Aliaksei Lastouski and Nadzeya Yafimava (the article in the social and political field “The origins of nationhood in the Belarusan historical memory”).

Our congratulations to the winners!

EuroBelarus Information Service