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A glance at my life:
I was born in a small town of Zdolbuniv which is located in
the north-west part of Ukraine (Rivne region) neighboring Belarus and
Poland. The region is mostly rural with only a few major industries. My
father was a technician at a local cement plant repairing large electric
engines and my mother was a nurse. As a little boy I was often taken
by my parents to nearby forests and streams for mushroom hunting and
fishing. This is when I took my first lessons about how to love and
understand nature and preserve it for future generations.
As a high school student, I was
particularly interested in two disciplines: chemistry and physics,
especially electronics. While electronics I learnt from my father who was
an extremely enthusiastic amateur in the field, chemistry was an entirely
my own passion. This is why I have decided to study chemistry at the top
university in my country. After graduation from the university
I have returned to Zdolbuniv, because I always
wanted to return home, and found a job at the very cement plant where my
father used to work. I liked the job very much because it required both
chemical education and electronics skills. It was a happy episode of my
life: I lived among many old friends and schoolmates and close to my
parents. This time did not last long though...
Due to economic crisis in Ukraine in the
mid nineties I had to leave home in search for "better life":
life in which I could earn enough to afford marriage and a family of my
own. In 1994 I went to Czech Republic where I found a job as a researcher
in J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry. Research has always
fascinated me and I was glad to move to Canada to continue my career in the
Department of Chemistry at the University of Guelph where I was accepted as
a graduate student. I was very fortunate to join the research group of
Professor Jacek Lipkowski to work in one of the best electrochemical
laboratories in the world.
All my life I dreamt of living in a small
community and going to work on foot, just like my father did when we were
living in Zdolbuniv. Knowing that most of the
advanced research facilities are located in populated cities I was
convinced that my dream is impossible to fulfill. However, when I first
visited Acadia as a graduate student attending an international conference
in summer of 2001 I realized that I was wrong. In 2002 I graduated from the
University of Guelph and joined Acadia University as an Assistant
Professor.
I believe that at Acadia I have acquired harmony in my life.
My present occupation requires much of the abilities and skills that I
have, giving me satisfaction of fulfillment of my talent. In addition,
I love to spend my free time with my family in this "Canada's
Ocean Playground" that is so well-represented in Wolfville. North and
South mountains, Wolfville ridge, cape Blomidon
and cape Split, numerous lakes and streams, vineyards and orchards, extreme
tides,- they all are part of our playground.
..
Having served for over 15 years I am still excited to be a
part of Acadia community. University life is a very strenuous and
time-consuming activity that can and does make you tired by the end of a
day, week or academic year. Recently, I have discovered that physical
exercises, particularly running, can restore my efforts and provide me with
seemingly endless supply of energy and optimism. I try to pass this discovery
to others. Hope it lasts
To be continued...
Family:
I am a happy father of two children, Lydia
and Anton, (who are students now) and a husband of one wife, Lena.
Favorite activities:
I and my family enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, mushroom hunting,
hiking, cycling, skiing, canoeing, and sometimes mountaineering as well as
gardening and other backyard activities. Since 2013 I started running. It
has become my major activity.
Hobbies:
When the weather is not right for outdoor activities, I often
spend my time on electronics (my lifetime hobby), auto and home repairs (yes I like it!) and occasionally on beer and kvass
brewing or winemaking.
Languages:
In addition to English I am fluent in Ukrainian
and Russian.
I can also communicate in Czech and Polish
(performance is in need of practice).
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