I am very sad to report that Prof. Viktor Dublyansky, 82, passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2012 in Sankt Petersburg, Russia. He was seriously ill during last few years.
Professor Dr. Victor Dublyansky is regarded as a founder of Speleology in the ex-Soviet Union as he had played one of the key roles (together with Dr. Boris Ivanov and Dr. Vladimir Ilyukhin) in the formation of organized speleological activity in the end of 50s - beginning of 60s. He made an immense contribution to the development and promotion of speleology, both as a science and as a specific social movement, and also to the development of karst science, particularly karst hydrogeology.
Victor Dublyansky worked as a researcher and senior researcher in the Institute of Mineral Resources at Simferopol, Crimea (Ukraine) in 1957-1978 and then as a professor at the Simferopol State University (1978-1997). In 1997 he moved to Perm, Russia, where he was a Professor and the Engineering Geology Department chair at the Perm University. He retired in 2008 and moved to Sankt Petersburg in 2009.
Viktor Dublyansky studied caves and karst in many regions of the former Soviet Union and led numerous research expeditions. He visited karst regions in many Eastern European countries, Canada and USA. He authored and co-authored more than 500 scientific papers and 18 books. His numerous honors and awards include: 6th International Speleological Congress Award (1974), Honorary Member of the Ukrainian Speleological Association (1992), Emeritus Scientist of Ukraine (1993), A.I.Morozov's Medal (2001), Honorary Member of the Russian Geographical Society, awards of the Bulgarian Speleological Society, the Crimean government, government of the Perm region, etc.
Prof. Viktor Dublyansky was a dedicated cave explorer, an outstanding cave and karst scientist, a great mentor and a great person. He is survived by his wife Galina Dublyanskaya and two sons, Andrey Dublyansky of Simferopol and Yuri Dublyansky of Innsbruck, Austria. His family and many people around the world will miss him.
Alexander Klimchouk
Ukrainian Speleological Association
Ukrainian Institute of Speleology and Karstology