Недељко Кошанин : (1874-1934)

Abstract

Born of a husbandman's family, in the village of t deni — vicinage of Čačak — on 13 October 1874, Nedeljko Košanin successfully completed his primary and secondary education and enrolled at the Superior School in Belgrade — department of Natural Science and chemistry. Graduating in the circumscribed studying schedule and achieving exceptional results, Nedeljko Košanin completed his studies notably. He acquired a doctorate Ph. D at the University of Laipcig in 1905; the scope of his studies being botany — an integral part of the department of plant physiology. On returning to Belgrade, he was shortly engaged as a school teacher in a grammar school, followed by him undertaking different lecture standings at the University of Belgrade. He was appointed temporary docent, subsequently becoming a permanent lecturing professor. Head of the Botany Institute and the Botanical Garden of the University of Belgrade, Nedeljko Košanin founded the periodical 'Herald of the Botany Institute and Botanical Garden', consequently this periodical is still in print today. Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy 1927-1928, corresponding fellow of the Royal Academy of Serbia 1914-1922, Nedeljko Košanin became a permanent fellow in 1922 right up to his death in 1934. He was a fellow member of a number of European Botanical Societies in Prague, Berlin, Paris and Warsaw. On returning home, Nedeljko Košanin focused his survey on nature, despite the fact that his Ph.D thesis deals with plant physiology, due to the fact that conditions of work in that experimental field were lacking. It could be stated that he was a biologist, predominantely a comprehensive botanist. His most renowned results were achieved in the field of flora taxonomy, systematics and phitogeography. Nedeljko Košanin's scientific work includes scientific publications, surveys and reviews in the field of ethnomology, algology, climatology, phitocenology and ecology, thus covering a 30 year span of constant research. Overall he published 58 scientific surveys, some in German, a number of them can be considered pioneering discoveries of Serbia and Yugoslavia. Nedeljko Koganin gave a detailed description of 11 completely unknown platn species, 8 have been recognised as being basic regional flora of Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. His discoveries have undoubtedly enriched our knowledge and understanding of local flora, as well as Balkan flora in general, enabling us to percieve floristic bonds and links, the close relationship of Balkan flora with the flora of Upper Asia and the Mediterranean. Nedeljko Košanin should be eminently merited for his discoveries in the field of geobotany, he made a clear distinction of basic floral and plant characteristics, their specific features, unique for Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. Even though more than 30 years have passed since his death, his conclusions are still being quoted in SCI. As a token of appretiation 10 new plant species have been named after him by other scientists. He was not only an exceptional scientist, but also a gifted teacher, never failing to appear at his lectures, and he never took temporary absence from the University of Belgrade. Apart from holding consulting sessions, he also went on excursions with his fellow students. He wrote a botanical text book for secondary school education and a book for University students The Physiology of Plants. Nedeljko Košanin's political standpoints were socialist from the very beginning. For over 30 years, he stood for workers' and people's rights. His work and activities greatly enhanced the development of the workers' movement, their self esteem and perception, acknowledged in our country and abroad. His standpoint was very clear — democracy in socialism — and when 'The Opposition's Manifest of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia' was founded, Nedeljko Košanin participated by signing his name to the document. It has not been ascertained whether his political activities and viewpoints were ever linked to his teaching vocation. Nedeljko Košanin died in Belgrade in 1934.