I. Make sentences using the following words and expressions

1. the largest, the BSU, educational centre, in the Republic of Belarus, scientific, is, cultural.

2. workers, began attending, 1390 students, three faculties, at its, social sciences, regular classes, medicine.

3. the development of the University, in fact, promoted, which, the connections with European countries, created, of the Republic, the educational system

4. the State Library, the Belarussian Academy of Sciences, many research institutes, and, of, also, the development, made great contribution to, The BSU.

5. is staffed, highly qualified, the university, by, teachers.

II. Complete the following sentences.

1. 14 professors and 25 associate professors ...

2. The connections with European countries ...

3. Today the BSU has ...

4. The university is staffed ...

5. They teach students ...

6. It’s interesting to notice ...

7. The students enjoy ...

The Biology Faculty

The Belarusian State University was founded in 1921 and in 1922 the Pedagogical Faculty began its work. That Pedagogical Faculty included the first biological departments: botany, zoology and human physiology. So the year 1922 can be considered the birth year of the Biology faculty though the independent department of natural history was opened in 1931.

To enter the Pedagogical Faculty students had to pass three oral exams: physics, maths, social science. There were three terms in a year and lessons took place usually in the evening from 5 p.m. till 8 p.m. Some courses were obligatory, some others students were allowed to choose. To move up to the next course students had to pass tests. If anybody didn’t pass two or more tests, he remained in the same course for the second year.

An interesting fact is that students had to pay for their education until 1930 but children from pour families had opportunity to study free.

University teachers carried out not only pedagogical but also research work with the students. The first works in the field of Belarusian flora and fauna were made. Moreover, they began researches in new fields such as functional and evolutional morphology of animals; physiological processes in a plant cell; selection and hybridization of plants. That meant that the basis and main principles of Belarusian science were formed exactly at that time.

Our faculty is famous for its zoological museum but only few students know that it was created in 1922. In 1930 the BSU Botany garden was founded.

Very soon the Biology Faculty began to enlarge, some new departments were opened: the department of plant taxonomy, plant physiology and microbiology on the basis of the department of botany. The department of zoology was divided into two: zoology of invertebrates and zoology of vertebrates.

The surprising fact is that since 1927 the teaching had to be conducted in the Belarusian language only. The exception was made for the
Jews who studied in Jewish.

In 1950s the chromosomal inheritance theory was prohibited. Nevertheless the chair of genetics was founded in 1957.

In 1960s-70s investigations in many fields were carried out. Such departments as the department of microbiology, biochemistry and ecology appeared at our faculty.

In 2001 the Biology Faculty got a new building in Kurchatova, 10 with more study-rooms, new labs, new equipment. There were enough space for the zoological museum and the greenhouse there.

Today our faculty includes nine departments: the department of Botany, Zoology, Phisiology and Biochemistry of Plants, Phisiology and Biochemistry of Human and Animals, Genetics and Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology (created in 2002) and the department of Ecology and Teaching Methods of Biology.

The dean of the faculty is V.V.Lysak. Concerning social and cultural life of the students one shouldn’t forget about the theatre at the Biology faculty. Its performances are popular among the students and teachers. The faculty has its own billboard newspaper “Vita”. The internet version of it exists too. It’s always a great pleasure to read a new issue, full of humor, smart jokes, interesting facts and useful information.

Our students are always proud of their faculty.

Vocabulary

include – включать

department – кафедра

consider – считать, рассматривать

term – семестр

opportunity – возможность

study free – учиться бесплатно

research – исследование

mean – значить, подразумевать

create – создавать

enlarge – увеличивать