Draft:Siarhei Besarab

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Siarhei Besarab
Сяргей Бесараб
Born
Novogrudok, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityBelarusian
CitizenshipBelarusian
EducationBelarusian State University
Occupations
EmployerNational Academy of Sciences of Belarus (2010-2020)
Call signEU1AEY
Websitehttps://steanlab.github.io

Siarhei Besarab (Belarusian: Сяргей Васілевіч Бесараб; Russian: Сергей Васильевич Бесараб; romanized: Siarhiej Vasilevič Biesarab) is a chemist[1][2], inventor, science journalist[3], civil activist[4] and most well-known Belarusian public popularisator of chemical sciences and nuclear safety expert. After 2020 Belarusian protests, Besarab got fired because of his political position, and lost his right to work in his profession. Later he faced political persecution from the authorities for his popular science writings criticizing the safety systems of the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant and discussing Russian nuclear weapons. Under the threat of imprisonment from State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belarusian KGB) he was forced to leave Belarus and since June 2023 lives and works in EU.

Childhood and education[edit]

Siarhei Besarab was born in 1984 in the Western Belarusian city Novogrudok, Grodno Region[5]. Besarab received his Bachelor's of Science from Department of Radiation Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Belarusian State University. He earned his master's degree in chemistry at the University of National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Then Besarab obtained his PhD in surface science at the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus[4].

Career[edit]

Research[edit]

From 2010 onward, Besarab has been working as a research scientist[6] in the Laboratory of Adsorbents and Adsorption Processes at the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences in Belarus. The primary focus of the scientific works is exploring the properties of inorganic porous materials, finding effective adsorbents, and developing new catalysts[7]. Besarab has authored 12 patents for inorganic porous materials and catalyst carriers[2].

The Besarab's research findings were ranked[8] among the TOP100 in both fundamental and applied research at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus from 2011 to 2015. Also Besarab's scientific work earned him two prizes in the Republican scientific research competition, in 2009 and 2011[2]. Additionally, in 2016, he clinched the first prize in the Belarusian part of the Skolkovo StartupTour-2016 and made it to the semi-finals of the competition with a device he made to clean the air from toxic mercury fumes [9].

Besarab worked as a scientific advisor with the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Pediatric Surgery, where he contributed to developing polymer hydrogels for less invasive heart attack treatments[10][3][11], and introducing additive technologies in cardiac surgery. Later, in 2017 he has also been responsible for organising (as a scientific superviser) and running the first Belarusian scientific hackathon, SciHackathon[12][13].

Science Journalism and Media appearances[edit]

Siarhei Besarab, as a scientific and technology journalist, who specializes in the topics of chemistry, radiation, public safety and technologies, has written over 200 articles[14]. His writing career began with his short technological publications in papers like the Computerra and the Computer News. In 2021, he earned the title of Best Technology Author of the Year and won the «TechText-2022» competition hosted by Habr.com[15]. Besarab is also actively promoting and popularizing alternative and non-traditional food sources, like insect-derived protein and «novel food»[16]. As futurologist, Besarab has also contributed articles on a variety of technological and science-related topics[17][18][19].In 2020, Besarab teamed up with Justyna Sauka to create a series of short audio essays in Belarusian about phytochemistry of different plants for the kids' show «Clever. Tireless. Resourceful» on Belarusian Radio's channel «Culture».[20]

Also Besarab, as scientists, has written commentars for a number of news outlets, including Belarusian newspaper Nasha Niva, European Radio for Belarus, BelSat TV and international like Voice of America, Radio France internationale, Deutsche Welle. Since 2020, Besarab has been recognized as one of the most well-known scientific experts[21], regularly invited by independent Belarusian media outlets to discuss scientific, technological, public safery topics and promote science.

Public activies[edit]

Besarab became known when he, the only chemist among Belarusians, issued an official rebuttal to the accusations made against the civil activist Stsiapan Latypau from the Square of Changes, alleging a plot to poison Militsiya officers using agricultural chemicals[22][23].

Later on, Besarab got involved in creating an Appeal from representatives of Belarus's scientific community[24][5], condemning the violence against civil society that erupted after the 2020 presidential election. As a consequence, he was fired[25] from the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences, lost his right to work in his profession and added to the list[26] of Belarusian scientists repressed for political reasons. In response to the authorities' actions, the scientific community issued The Scientists’ Open Letter Against Repressions supporting their persecuted colleagues, signed by over 800 Belarusian scientists[27]. However, the official leadership of the National Academy of Sciences didn't react to the civil activists' actions. In response to that, Besarab, along with other colleagues who faced repression, became one of the founders of the Belarusian Scientific Solidarity Fund[28].

At the beginning of March 2022, right after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Besarab posted an Open letter from the Belarusian scientific community against the war in Ukraine[29] in the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus group on the social network LinkedIn, where he was the creator and administrator. In response, the leaders of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus issued[30] a public rebuttal of the facts outlined in the letter.

In 2022, Besarab looked[31][32] into statistical data from a list of Belarusian citizens who faced repression from the authorities and came up with a unique «map of Belarusian extremism»[33], a «portrait of a Belarusian extremist»[34], and a «portrait of a repressed Belarusian scientist»[35].

In April 2023, Besarab joined[36] the «Until All Are Free» campaign and took under his informational patronage[37] a political prisoner, chemistry student Artsiom Bayarski, repressed after 2020 Belarusian protests

As a civic activist, Besarab remains actively engaged in drawing attention to the ongoing politically motivated repression against scientists by the authorities in Belarus[35]. He sheds light on the existing problems in Belarusian science[38][39] and seeks ways to solve them[3]. Also his faced attacks from state newspaper, like Belarus Today, propagandists due to his civic activism[40].

Political persecution for scientific journalism[edit]

Many of Besarab's popular science articles focus on topics like radioactivity, dosimetry, and citizen safety from radiation[41]. He's well-known among Russian-speaking readers as a scientific journalist who covers issues like radioactivity, nuclear plant safety, and the environmental impact of nuclear waste.

After the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant was launched, Besarab essentially became one of the most active public technical critics of the station's radiation safety systems[42][43][44][45][46]. In spring 2023, when Lukashenko mentioned bringing Russian tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus, Besarab started posting exact descriptions of potential storage sites for nuclear weapons on his blog and speaking with independent Belarusian news outlets[47][48]. Consequently, all content from his science blog was labeled by Belarusian authorities as extremist's content[49][50]. Under the threat of imprisonment from Belarusian KGB (facing criminal charges for causing harm to the state[51][52]) and fearing for his life, Besarab had to leave Belarus and seek political asylum in the European Union[53]. Later, about a year later, all of Besarab's analytical predictions about where Russia might place nuclear weapons in Belarus were confirmed by independent analysts' findings (FAS).

Logo of LAB-66 blog
Logo of LAB-66 blog

LAB-66[edit]

In 2019, Besarab started the science blog in Telegram named LAB-66[54], аn independent information source initially focused on making chemistry and chemical sciences more popular.

Throughout the time the blog has been around, its analytical articles have been reprinted numerous times by publications in Belarus and Ukraine media. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, journalists from the prominent Belarusian OSINT project Belarusian Hajun frequently utilized information from the LAB-66 in their investigations.

Based on Telegram statistics[55], as of 2024, the LAB-66 blog has more than 18,100 readers, making it the biggest platform in Belarus focused on promoting chemistry and scientific communication in the areas of chemical sciences and civil safety (radiological and chemical protection of the citizens).

References[edit]

  1. ^ MotolkoHelp. "Opinion. Siarhei Besarab, a research chemist, on the impact of reagents on bridge design". MotolkoHelp. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  2. ^ a b c "К Дню изобретателя и рационализатора" [By the Day of Inventors and Innovators]. Изобретатель (in Russian). 198 (6). 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "В Канаде рассказали о прорывной разработке, которую в Беларуси зарубили много лет назад. Как такое происходит, объяснил автор проекта" [Canada told about a breakthrough development, which was killed in Belarus many years ago. The author of the project explained how this happens]. Зеркало (in Russian). 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  4. ^ a b "«Каб я ведаў, што гэта дзяржтаямніца, то можа і не пісаў бы так хвацка». Хімік Сяргей Бесараб расказаў, як сумяшчае навуку і грамадзянскую пазіцыю" [Chemist Siarhei Besarab told how he combines science and civic activism]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  5. ^ a b Melkazioraŭ, Mikita. Яго звольнілі з Акадэміі Навук: Лукашэнка, бомба 50 кілатон, чаму навука Беларусі ў срацы. Навуковец Сяргей Бесараб [He was fired from the Academy of Sciences. Scientist Siarhei Besarab tells about Lukashenka, a nuclear bomb of 50 kilotons and why the science of Belarus is destroyed] (Video) (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  6. ^ "List of publications. Siarhei Besarab". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  7. ^ Адсорбенты и носители катализаторов. Научные основы регулирования пористой структуры [Adsorbents and catalyst supports. Scientific foundations of porous structure regulation] (in Russian). infra-M. 2014. ISBN 978-5-16-009581-3.
  8. ^ Kilʹchevskiĭ, A. V.; Natsyi︠a︡nalʹnai︠a︡ akadėmii︠a︡ navuk Belarusi, eds. (2016). Katalog top-100 rezulʹtatov fundamentalʹnykh i prikladnykh issledovaniĭ NAN Belarusi [Catalog of TOP-100 Results of Fundamental and Applied Research of NAS of Belarus for 2011-2015] (in Russian). Minsk: "Belaruskai︠a︡ navuka". ISBN 978-985-08-2009-9.
  9. ^ "Сколково продвигает идеи молодых" [Skolkovo promotes the ideas of the young scientists]. Навука (in Russian). 2587 (16): 2. 2016.
  10. ^ "First ScienceHit in HTP". www.park.by. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  11. ^ "Наука в ударе" [Science is on fire]. www.sb.by (in Russian). СБ-Беларусь. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  12. ^ "Научный хакатон в Минске: домашний наркотест, синтез генов и алгоритм для перебора картофеля" [Science hackathon in Minsk: home drug test, gene synthesis and algorithm for potato screening]. dev.by (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  13. ^ "Амерыканскія навукоўцы прыдумалі, як візуальна сачыць за людзьмі па WiFi замест камер. Аказваецца, беларусы прэзентавалі падобны метад 6 год таму" [American scientists have figured out how to visually follow people via WiFi instead of cameras. It turns out that Belarusians presented a similar method 6 years ago]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  14. ^ Besarab, Siarhei. "Сергей Бесараб. Авторские публикации" [List of author's publications by Siarhei Besarab]. steanlab.github.io (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  15. ^ "Технотекст: все номинанты, победители и немного тайны" [Techtext: all the nominees, winners and a bit of mystery]. Хабр (in Russian). 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  16. ^ "Ці каштавалі мяса саранчы? А яно ўжо прадаецца ў Польшчы. Знайшлі беларуса — фаната такой ежы" [Have you tasted locust meat? It's already on sale in Poland. We found a Belarusian who's a fan of this food.]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  17. ^ "Фантастическое будущее, которое уже наступает. Белорусский ученый рассказал о главных ожиданиях от науки в 2024 году" [A fantastic future that is already coming. Belarusian scientist told about the main expectations from science in 2024]. Зеркало (in Russian). 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  18. ^ "Рассказываем, как новые технологии меняют войны (многие уже существующие разработки наверняка покажутся вам фантастикой)" [We tell you how new technologies are changing wars (many existing developments will probably seem like science fiction to you)]. Зеркало (in Russian). 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  19. ^ "«Мы назіраем разгортванне ядравага рэнесансу». Пра будучыню АЭС разважае навуковец Сяргей Бесараб" ['We are witnessing the unfolding of a nuclear renaissance'. Siarhei Besarab, a Belarusian scientist, speaks about the future of the nuclear power plant.]. belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  20. ^ "Нататкі фітахіміка — Вікікрыніцы" [Phytochemist's Notes]. be.wikisource.org (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  21. ^ Besarab, Siarhei. "Сергей Бесараб. Комментарии в СМИ" [Full list of comments by Siarhei Besarab in the media]. steanlab.github.io (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  22. ^ Штейн, Евгения (2020-09-21). "Удобрение, «Белизна» и средство от кротов. Ученый-химик раскритиковал историю об «отравителе» с «площади Перемен»" [A chemical scientist criticized the story about the "poisoner" from Square of Changes]. Onlíner (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  23. ^ "Житель минской «Площади перемен» Степан Латыпов пытался покончить с собой в зале суда, заявив перед этим, что милиция угрожала возбудить дела против его родных и соседей" [Stepan Latypov, a resident of Minsk "Square of Changes", tried to commit suicide in the courtroom, saying that the police threatened to bring cases against his relatives and neighbors.]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  24. ^ "Экс-калега расказвае пра міністра адукацыі: «У Акадэміі навук яго называлі «Граза дзядам»" [A former colleague tells about the new Minister of Education of Belarus]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  25. ^ "Как Лукашенко репрессировал беларусских ученых, выступивших за новые выборы" [How Lukashenko repressed Belarusian scientists who spoke in favor of new elections]. Наш дом (in Russian). 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  26. ^ "Открытое письмо учёных против репрессий" [The Scientists’ Open Letter Against Repressions]. stoprepression.github.io (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  27. ^ Свабода, Радыё (2021-01-14). "Больш за 800 беларускіх навукоўцаў падпісалі ліст у падтрымку калегаў, звольненых з Акадэміі навук" [More than 800 Belarusian scientists spoke in support of their colleagues dismissed from the Academy of Sciences for political reasons.]. Радыё Свабода (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  28. ^ "Появился фонд солидарности для учёных, которые потеряли работу" [A solidarity fund for scientists who have lost their jobs has emerged]. dev.by (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  29. ^ "Национальная академия наук Беларуси в LinkedIn: Обращение белорусской научной общественности" [National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on LinkedIn: Appeal of the Belarusian Scientific Community]. ru.linkedin.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  30. ^ "НАН опровергла фейк относительно позиции белорусских ученых" [NAS refuted a fake about the position of Belarusian scientists]. web.archive.org. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  31. ^ "36-year-old Minsk resident named Aliaksandr, born under Taurus zodiac sign: Portrait of typical Belarusian 'extremist' • News". Voice of Belarus. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  32. ^ "Где в Беларуси живут «экстремисты»? Анализ списка МВД из 1700+ человек" [Where do "extremists" live in Belarus? Analysis of the Ministry of Internal Affairs list of 1700+ people]. dev.by (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  33. ^ "Where do most "extremists" live in Belarus?" [Where are the most "extremists" in Belarus?]. Новы Час (in Belarusian). 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  34. ^ "36-летний минчанин Александр. Белорусский ученый составил портрет среднестатистического «экстремиста» — вот он какой" [A Belarusian scientist has compiled a portrait of an average "extremist" - here he is]. Зеркало (in Russian). 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  35. ^ a b "Вядомы хімік склаў партрэт рэпрэсаванага навукоўца. Некаторыя высновы нечаканыя" [A well-known chemist has compiled a portrait of a repressed scientist. Some of the conclusions are unexpected]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  36. ^ "Siarhei Besarab: "It is necessary to convey to the world community those terrible crimes"". Фонд "СТРАНА ДЛЯ ЖИЗНИ". Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  37. ^ "Опекуны политзаключенных. Сергей Бесараб" [Guardians of Belarusian political prisoners. Siarhei Besarab]. dissidentby.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  38. ^ "«Мае знаёмыя робяць у Акадэміі разлікі для расійскіх ракет». Што адбываецца з беларускай навукай" [What happens to Belarusian science during the war in Ukraine]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  39. ^ "Навуковец патлумачыў феномен рэжыму і ацаніў страты беларускай навукі за час кіравання Лукашэнкі" [The scientist explained the phenomenon of the regime and estimated the losses of Belarusian science during Lukashenko's rule]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  40. ^ Муковозчик, Андрей (2023-08-28). "Путаные мысли приводят к путаной жизни" [Confused thoughts lead to a confused life]. www.sb.by (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  41. ^ "Сергей Бесараб. Тематические статьи: Радиация" [Siarhei Besarab's Publication List. Topic: Radiation]. steanlab.github.io. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  42. ^ "Хімік Сяргей Бесараб патлумачыў, што не так з БелАЭС і якая перадавая тэхналогія выкарыстоўваецца Украінай у вайне" [Chemist Siarhei Besarab explained what's wrong with Astravets Nuclear Power Plant]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  43. ^ "Сяргей Бесараб: БелАЭС – гэта кабальная сувязь Беларусі з Расеяй на 50 год наперад - Беларускае Радыё Рацыя" [The Astravets Nuclear Power Plant is like a tight-knit tie between Belarus and Russia for the next 50 years]. web.archive.org. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  44. ^ "«Это худшая зависимость!» Беларусь подсела на российскую урановую иглу" ['This is the worst dependency!' Belarus is hooked on the Russian uranium needle]. belsat.eu (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  45. ^ "Будучыня БелАЭС: выкарыстанне для патрэб Расеі і запужванне для астатняга свету? - БЕЛАРУСКАЕ РАДЫЁ РАЦЫЯ" [Is the future of the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant all about serving Russia's needs and scaring the rest of the world?]. web.archive.org. 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  46. ^ "«БелАЭС ужо прывяла да апраменьвання людзей». Эксперты – пра радыяцыйнае забруджванне ў Беларусі" [The Astravets Nuclear Power Plant has already caused people to get radiation exposure. Experts are worried about radioactive pollution in Belarus.]. belsat.eu (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  47. ^ "Дзе размесцяць расійскую ядзерную зброю, выбух якой можа знішчыць цэлы горад?" [Where will they stash the Russian nukes in Belarus that could wipe out a whole city?]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  48. ^ "Сяргей Бесараб: Лагер пад Асіповічамі – хутчэй для ахоўнікаў ядзернай зброі, чым для ПВК «Вагнер» - БЕЛАРУСКАЕ РАДЫЁ РАЦЫЯ" [Siarhei Besarab says the camp near Osipovichi is probably meant to guard Russian nukes, not host the Wagner PMC]. web.archive.org. 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  49. ^ "День "экстремистских" формирований и материалов: хроника преследования 17 мая" [Day of "extremist" formations and materials: chronicling political persecution on May 17]. spring96.org (in Russian). 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  50. ^ Constanta, Human (2023-07-18). "Обзор борьбы с «экстремизмом» в Беларуси за апрель-июнь 2023" [Overview of Combating "Extremism" in Belarus (April-June 2023)]. Human Constanta (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23. [In his papers, chemist Siarhei Besarab mostly steered clear of politics, but he did discuss the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant and spoke to independent media, which got him in trouble.]
  51. ^ "Набыў у Менску радыяактыўныя пацеркі. Хімік расказвае, як засцерагчыся ад выпраменьвання дома" [A chemist explains how to keep yourself safe from radiation at home]. Зелёный портал (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-30. [Siarhei Besarab, a radiation chemist, scientific blogger, and former Academy of Sciences employee, now lives in the European Union. He's facing charges from Lukashenko's authorities that could lead to 25 years in prison]
  52. ^ "«Калі б за справу ўзялася ваенная контрвыведка, мяне б, хутчэй за ўсё, знайшлі. Таму я хутка з'ехаў з Беларусі»" [Siarhei Besarab: if the military counterintelligence had taken up the case, I would have most likely been found out. That's why I left Belarus in a hurry]. Зелёный портал (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  53. ^ "Беларускі навуковец, якому давялося ўцячы з Беларусі тайнымі сцежкамі, напісаў «кароткі дапаможнік па экстраннай эвакуацыі»" [A Belarusian scientist who had to flee Belarus by secret paths has written a "brief manual on emergency evacuation"]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  54. ^ "Научно-Технический·LAB-66·Лабораторный журнал беларуского химика" [Scientific and Tech - LAB-66 - Laboratory Journal of Belarusian Chemist]. Telegram (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  55. ^ "Telegram-канал "Научно-Технический·LAB-66·Лабораторный журнал беларуского химика" — @lab66 — TGStat" [Statistics for Telegram-channel "Scientific and Tech - LAB-66 - Laboratory Journal of Belarusian Chemist]. TGStat.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
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