letopis sazu 2011

SLOVENIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS IN THE YEAR 2011President's Address to SASA Assembly, 28 th February 2012Dear Members of the Academy, Honorary Member Dr. France Bernik , Ladiesand Gentlemen,We have scarcely hung the new calendar on the wall, but one sixth of theNew Year is already behind us. By tradition the February, the so-called financialassembly is not only the day for the economic-financial report and the plan ofour Administrative Director, but also for the President’s substantive and workingreport for the last year.Last year Slovenia and the world went through a time of important changes,which were felt in every corner of the society, hence also in the Slovenian Academyof Sciences and Arts (SASA). There was plenty of activities and numerous events,of which members were notified by reports from meetings of the Executive committeeand meetings of the Presidency. As of late, you have been receiving informationon public appearances of the Academy members and different echoes andreflections in select mass media. I will summarize some of these events briefly inthe following minutes.First of all, I must pause in reverent memory of our colleagues, to whom wehad to bid farewell in the past year. They are Academy members Robert Blincand Tone Pavček and corresponding members Prof. Dr. Norbert Elsner , Prof.Milka Ivić , Dr. Lukas Conrad Hottinger and Prof. Henry Teune . They were distinguishedpeople, eminent in their achievements, faithful friends. They are andwill be sorely missed.We have maintained relations with sister Academies. SASA’s executive delegationparticipated in the festive ceremony on the 150 th anniversary of theCroatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, while I accepted an invitation to thecelebration of the 170 th anniversary of the Serbian Academy of Sciences andArts. I also participated in the festive session of the Austrian Academy of Sciencesin Vienna.In the past year the Academy was also active in public life. We continuedour role in the work of government bodies. I will make mention of the Councilfor science and technology and the Council for higher education, in which wecooperated in the formation of documents on the long-term vision for Slovenianhigher education and science. We also presented our views on the state policy ofadministration and financing of science to the international public. We receivedassurances that funds for basic research will not be decreased.26