Baltic Association of the History and Philosophy of Science
Janis Olgerts Kletnieks 1929-2021
The Lithuanian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science sends deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of the distinguished geodesist and historian of science, honorary doctor of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and bearer of the Order of the Three Stars Dr. sc. ing. h. c. Janis Olgerts Kletnieks on the occasion of his death.
We have lost an honorary member of our Association, a sincere friend of Lithuania, and an activist in the struggle for independence of the Baltic States who both researched and fostered scientific and cultural ties between our kindred nations. The loss of Dr. Kletnieks is a big blow to the Baltic Association of the History and Philosophy of Science, which he helped found and to whose success he devoted great efforts.
Unforgettable are the joint Latvian-Lithuanian paleo-astronomical expeditions organized by Dr. Kletnieks in Lithuania and the Solovetsky Islands of the White Sea. They are an excellent example of Latvian-Lithuanian scientific cooperation. He made generous donations of artifacts and books he authored to the Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology. His work in Egypt – the joint Latvian-French expedition to research the Temple of Karnak and the Pyramid of Djoser – is a good example of his contributions to the understanding of human civilization: the connection between the astronomical notions of the ancient Balts and the religious beliefs, traditions and cultural-historical expressions of other peoples of Europe and the Middle East.
The shining example of Dr. Kletnieks’ personality and his life’s work encourages us to continue going the way of Baltic cooperation.
Dr. Ramunas Kondratas
President
Lithuanian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science
The Estonian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science joins the Lithuanian colleagues in expressing the condolences.