The Memory of Meritorious Scientist - Academician Elguja Shapakidze

     The Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia announces with deep sadness that the meritorious scientist, teacher, true member of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia, Academician, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Academician-Secretary of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia, Head of the Academic Department of the Academy, Professor Elguja Shapakidze, has passed away.

Mr. Elguja Shapakidze was born in the city of Tbilisi on August 20, 1942 in the family of a servant. In 1958, he graduated with honors from Tbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili Secondary School No. 53 (former Boys' Secondary School No. 7) and started working as a foreman at the Tbilisi electric locomotive factory, where he worked until 1962. At the same time, in 1959, he enrolled at the Faculty of Agricultural Mechanization of the Agricultural Institute of Georgia, which he graduated with honors in 1965 and was awarded the qualification of a mechanical engineer.

     After graduating from the institute, he left to work as a senior designer in the problem laboratory of "Vineyard laborious works" of the Agricultural Institute of Georgia. In 1968, Mr. Elguja was enrolled as a graduate student of the Department of Soil Cultivation Machines and Tools of the Agricultural Institute of Georgia. In 1972, he defended his candidate's thesis on the topic: "Mechanization of soil cultivation in the storage lane of the vineyard" and was awarded the scientific degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences.

In 1966-1967, he completed mandatory military service and was a reserve captain.

     In 1974, he was elected by a competition as the head of the mechanization department at the teaching-research faculty of sericulture of the Agricultural Institute of Georgia.

   In 1978, he was awarded the scientific title of senior scientific worker.

   In 1981, Mr. Elguja was appointed as the deputy dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Mechanization, and in 1987, by the decision of the scientific council of the institute, he was elected as the dean of the same faculty, where he worked until 2005.

     In 1985, he was awarded the scientific rank of docent, and in 1993 - professor.

   In 1994, Mr. Elguja defended his doctoral thesis on the topic: "Mechanization of time-consuming technological processes of sericulture" and was awarded the scientific degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences.

   In 1995, he was elected as a corresponding member of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia, and in 2015 as a full member (academician).

   In 1997, Mr. Elguja was elected as an Academician of the International Academy of High School Science;

In 2004-2009, he was elected as the academician-secretary of the engineering department of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia.

     In the period of 2005-2007, Mr. Elguja worked as a professor of the Department of Soil Cultivation and Construction Machinery of the State Agricultural University of Georgia and as the head of the quality assurance service of the university.

   From 2006 to 2013, he was elected to the academic position of a full professor at the State Agrarian University of Georgia (now the Agrarian University of Georgia) in the direction of agricultural mechanization.

In 2011, he was elected as a full member - Academician of the Engineering Academy of Georgia.

     During his work at the university, he was actively engaged in teaching-pedagogical and scientific-research activities. In 1998-2005, he was the chairman of the Engineering Dissertation Council of the State Agrarian University of Georgia.

     Since 2012, he has been the coordinator of BACSA, the United Nations Sericulture Association in Georgia.

   From January 4, 2013 until the last day, Mr. Elguja Shapakidze worked in the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia as the head of the academic department, academician - secretary of the Academy.

   He was actively involved in scientific research activities. He has published 283 scientific works, including 8 monographs, 8 manuals, 13 recommendations, received 10 copyright certificates, 8 invention patents, 6 rationalizing proposals.

     Under his guidance, 4 dissertations for obtaining the degree of technical sciences and two dissertations for obtaining the academic degree of doctor have been defended. He has participated in many local and international scientific conferences, symposiums and congresses.

         In 1988, Mr. Elguja was awarded the "Labor Veteran" medal. In 1999 he was awarded the "Order of Honor" by the order of the President of Georgia, in 2006 he was awarded the honorary title of "Engineer of the Year". In 2016, his paper "Georgian silk production - problems, rehabilitation, revival" was awarded the prize of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia for the best paper in the agricultural field. In 2017, he was awarded with an honorary certificate of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences for his achievements in the field of agro-engineering.

         In the form of Academician Elguja Shapakidze, Georgian agricultural science has lost a renowned scientist and teacher, respectable and worthy person whose name will remain forever in the memory of his friends, colleagues and students.