OREANDA-NEWS. On April 01, 2008 Ukio bankas, having received authorizations from the internationally recognised Professor of Anthropology Birute Galdikas, who is of Lithuanian descent, established the International Birute Galdikas Environmental Charity and Support Foundation in Lithuania, reported the press-centre of Ukio bankas.

One of the Foundation’s major aims is to support research in the field of environment protection and grant the possibility to Lithuanian students to go on traineeships to Indonesia.

“Having visited our country last year, the world’s famous Professor of Anthropology, of Lithuanian descent, granted authorisations to Ukio bankas to establish an environmental foundation after her name. Ukio bankas, a supporter of science and active promoter of responsible business ideas, granted financial and legal support for the Foundation’s establishment,” Edita Karpaviciene, chairwoman of Ukio bankas Board, said.

Members of the Foundation’s Board and Honorary Council were elected this year. Ukio bankas Board chairwoman Dr. E. Karpaviciene became Board chairwoman and director Dalia Ibelhauptaite, having been interested in B. Galdikas activities for mane years, was elected Honorary Council chairwoman of the International Birute Galdikas Environmental Charity and Support Foundation. The Foundation’s Board members are Gintaras Ugianskis, chief executive officer of Ukio bankas, and zoologist Laimutis Budrys, director of the Ministry of the Environment Department of Environment Protection. Apart from director D. Ibelhauptaite, the Honorary Council includes representatives from the academic world: Dr. Alius Ulevicius, Assoc. Prof. of the Ecology and Environmental Research Centre of Vilnius University Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Egidijus Bukelskis, Dr. of Biomedical Sciences, zoologist, Assoc. Prof., Vilnius University Faculty of Natural Sciences.

“I am happy that prominent personalities from the science, business and art world agreed to become members of the Foundation’s Board and Honorary Council. I believe that they will contribute to efficient development of the Foundation’s activities and I will manage to implement my old wish to transfer my knowledge to Lithuania’s youth and researchers,” Prof. Birute Galdikas said.

“With the aim to popularise the name of Prof. Galdikas and her achievements, we will actively participate in the Foundation’s activities, provide support for talented students of Lithuania willing to absorb experience from the famous scientist,” Mrs E. Karpaviciene said.

A world-known researcher B. Galdikas specializes in primatology, nature protection and ethology. Her long-term activities in Indonesia aimed at protection of endangered species of orang-utans and their natural environment was appreciated and awarded the United Nations “Global 500”, the Eddie Bauer “Hero of the Earth” and other prizes.

The researcher of Lithuanian descent not only makes Lithuania, where her family comes from, famous bus also seeks closer cooperation with Lithuanian researchers’ community. She looks for successors whom she could transfer all the knowledge gained during her life and research activities. Hopefully, this year the first students will go for study and research work to Borneo Island in Indonesia, where B. Galdikas has been working for 37 years. Students interested in this opportunity are invited to e-mail their applications at b.galdikas@ub.lt.

B. Galdikas environmental foundations operate in the USA, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Australia. The International Birute Galdikas Environmental Charity and Support Foundation established by Ukio bankas will disseminate achievements of the professor in our country, introduce B. Galdikas activities to Lithuanian organizations and the youth, develop environmental ideas and furnish information to Lithuanian public about global environmental problems.

B. Galdikas Awards:
2008 – LTV project “List of National Properties. Spread around the World”, nomination recipient;

2007 – TV3 project “The Honour of Lithuania”. Award for her life-long merits;

1997 – the highest Award of the Republic of Indonesia for exceptional activities in the environmental field;

1997 – laureate of Tyler Prize for environmental achievement, groundbreaking field research and lifetime contributions to the advancement of environmental science;

1993 – the United Nations Global 500 Award;

1991 – the Eddie Bauer Hero for the Earth Award;

1990 – PETA Humanitarian Award.

Dr. B. M. F. Galdikas has been featured in such internationally famous publications as Life, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, numerous television documentaries, and twice, together with her son, on the covers of National Geographic and encyclopaedia about the most famous women scientists of the century.